The group proposes to take you on a hypothetical trip through Andalusia
and making a foundamental halt in Cuba, in Brazil until
Buenos Aires to the rediscover of the traditional latin-american
culture.
The music, which is composed and arranged by Silvio Zalambani, is inspired
by many characteristic styles of these countries, of which it underlines their
european and above all common african origin.
The "Grupo Candombe" started in 2000 as a research project
about the traditional latin-american music, after being inspired by a
presentation of Ernesto Cardenal's book "Quetzalcòatl",
ex Minister of Nicaragua (thanks to "Circolo degli artisti"
of Faenza).
The group has performed in different theatres, clubs and festivals. In
2002 the project was proposed in Brazil, thanks to the invitation
of USP University of San Paolo.
In 2003 Silvio Zalambani and his Grupo Candombe performed at the XXIII Festival del Caribe - Fiesta del Fuego in Santiago de Cuba and in Guantànamo and they were the first italian group of this kind. The group was invited by Dr José Millet, president of this traditional music and culture festivals, considered to be the most important festival of all caribbean countries.
In 2005 with thanks to the cultural sponsorship of Emilia Romagna, he represented Italy with both his projects ("Tango Tres" and "Grupo Candombe") at the "VI World Tango Festival" that took place at "Lope de Vega" Theatre in Seville (Spain). Thanks to the success he was interviewed by Mr Gabriel Soria, the vice-president of the Tango National Academy of Buenos Aires for the argentinean "Solo Tango" TV.
Also in 2005 the group played with brasilian musician Mario Féres (pianist in Jacques Morelenbaum quartet), in UNAERP and USP Universities at Ribeirao Preto, San Paolo, Brazil.
In 2006 Grupo Candombe joined XI edition of "Metastasio Jazz" at Prato's Metastasio theatre.
In 2007 they represented Italy again at the "VII World Tango Festival" that took place at Teatro Municipal in Valparaíso (Chile) and inside the same tour they played in Buenos Aires (Argentina), performing live on Radio Palermo, on Radio Nacional of Argentina and at "T.Tasso" Cultural Center, through the sponsorship of the Buenos Aires Italian Institute of Culture and of Emilia-Romagna Region.
Again in 2007 the project was presented at Goiânia "Teatro Municipal", inside International Festival "Camargo Guarnieri" organized by UFG-ECAM University of Goiás state (Brazil).
The group recorded two CDs, both edited by Mobydick in "Carta da Musica" series. The first CD "Grupo Candombe" was released in 2001 (and reprinted in 2004) and presented at the Alighieri Theatre of Ravenna and then the live concert was broadcasted by RAI Radio3-Suite directed from Rome; the second CD "Grupo Candombe 2" was released in 2005 and was presented on RAI Radio1, during the program "Brasil".
In 2009 the group will record its third CD and will partecipate to the next edition of World Tango Festival, that will take place in S.Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina).
The CDs were presented on RSI-Rete2 (an italian Radio in Switzerland), Radio Swiss Jazz and Radio RaBe of Bern (Switzerland), RCV 99 FM of Lille-France, Radio Palermo and Radio Nacional both of Buenos Aires (Argentina), Radio USC of Cali (Colombia), Radio Planicie of Lima (Peru) and KOOP Radio of Austin-Texas (USA), and were given good critics in magazines such as All about Jazz, Jazz It, Jazz Italia, Musica di Repubblica, Latinoamerica en vilo (Miami-Florida, USA).
