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Nod in the 'Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album' category caps off enormous year

Grupo Fantasma’s critically acclaimed “Sonidos Gold” has been nominated for a Grammy, a fitting end to a 2008 that was packed with rave reviews and massive touring across North American, Europe, and beyond. Highlights include the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the horn section performing with Prince at Coachella and the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and a ten day engagement to entertain troops stationed in Kuwait and Iraq.

The band’s reputation as the funkiest, finest and hardest working latin orchestra to come of the United States in the last decade was expanded by the June 2008 release of “Sonidos Gold” and the incredible response that followed. “They blast off in their own funktified, genre-breaking directions” exclaimed Billboard Magazine and the Boston Globe declared that “Fantasma is honing a decidedly 21st-century version of Latin groove.” Their trademark innovative sound and incendiary live shows garnered a cover feature in Pollstar Magazine, radio spots on NPR’s “Day to Day” and PRI’s “The World” and extensive press coverage throughout North America and Europe. The album also spent several months in the top ten of the CMJ world charts.

The record’s dozen tracks, guided by the deeply rooted traditions of cumbia, salsa, funk, and pyschedelia are as pertinent to the past as they will be influential on the future. “It’s the definitive Grupo Fantasma album, the one we’ve wanted to make since the beginning” declares Adrian Quesada, one of the band’s guitarists, co-founders and head producer. “The sound is organic, live, while sonically it’s big and roomy with psychedelic and cinematic undertones. It pays homage to the forefathers of this music yet is forward thinking at the same time.” When asked about working and recording with the album’s special guests Larry Harlow and Maceo Parker, Quesada states “These guys are musical institutions. When you feel like maybe you're losing steam and someone like Larry or Maceo is schooling you and stressing the importance of carrying the torch, you can't help but feel re-energized and part of a larger, more important picture in the scheme of things.”

Jose Galeano, the band’s elder statesman and primary songwriter (and nephew of the infamous percussionist “Chepito” from the original Santana band) was especially moved by the recognition. “Just like Prince’s seal of approval, the Grammy nomination sends a message that the band’s music and performances are of the highest quality, and that we can conquer anything we put our minds to. It is quite an accomplishment. Finally the masses will know that that we kick some serious ass!” Grupo Fantasma’s momentum will continue into 2009 with confirmed appearances at Langerado and Festival International de Louisiane in the spring, and European and North American dates throughout the entire year.

AWARDS
• 2009 Grammy Nominees - Best Latin Rock / Alternative Album
• 2009 Austin Music Awards - Best Latin Band
• 2008 Premios de Musica Latina (Univision Awards) Best Band
• 2007 Premios de Musica Latina (Univision Awards) Best Latin Rock
• 2007 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2006 Premios de Musica Latina (Univision Awards) Best Band
• 2006 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2006 Austin Music Awards: Best Horns
• 2005 Premios de Musica Latina (Univision Awards) Best Latin Rock
• 2005 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2005 Austin Music Awards: Best Horns
• 2004 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2003 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2002 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band


QUOTES
• “Fantasma is honing a decidedly 21st century version of Latin groove." -Boston Globe

• “They blast off in their own funktified, genre-breaking directions." -Billboard Magazine

• "The ten members of Grupo Fanatsma represent a new generation in Latin music." -Washington Post

• "A floor-burning 12-track collection of hip-shakers and provocative grooves." -San Francisco Bay Guardian

• “Real Musicians playing real music.” -Prince

• "The grassroots success of Grupo Fantasma marks them as one of the decade's most important independent artists in the Latin genre." - All Music Guide

• "This freight train of a Latin band could easily hold its own in a sweaty bandbox in the Bronx...they'll knock you down with the grooves." -The Village Voice

• "One of the all-time great Texas bands...Their catchy sounds straddle so many musical genres that putting them in a particular niche seems pointless." -Pop Culture Press

• "One of the sickest live bands ever." -Philadelphia Weekly

• Grupo Fantasma was as tight as one would expect from a band that routinely backs up Prince" -LA Weekly