Adrian Quesada - guitar Johnny Lopez - drums Jose Galeano - vocals, timbales Gilbert Elorreaga - trumpet Beto Martinez - guitar Kino Rodriguez - vocals Greg Gonzalez -bass Joshua Levy - saxophones Matthew "Sweet Lou" Holmes - congas Mark "Speedy" Gonzales - trombone
Management & Texas Booking:
David Lobel
Diaspora Music Group, LLC
dslobel@diasporamusicgroup.com
Booking - US (out of Texas):
Ryan Craven
The Agency Group
ryancraven@theagencygroup.com
Booking - Canada
Rob Zifarelli
The Agency Group
robzifarelli@theagencygroup.com
Booking - Europe
Coda Agency
Anke Links
anke@codaagency.com
Music Licensing
Devin Lasker
Primary Wave Music
dlasker@primarywavemusic.com
Influences
Fania, Discos Fuentes, Aniceto Molina, James Brown, Santana, War, Malo, Irakere, Fruko y sus Tesos, Eddie Palmieri, Cortijo y su Combo, La Tropa Colombiana, Andres Landero, Earth, Wind and Fire, etc etc
"A floor-burning 12-track collection of hip-shakers and provocative grooves." - San Francisco Bay Guardian
GRUPO FANTASMA Bacalao Con Pan/Arroz Con Frijoles 12" VINYL BUY IT HERE!!! ""Bacalao Con Pan" is a massive jammer with heavy drums and lots of riffing guitar" - Dusty Groove
GRUPO FANTASMA Comes Alive BUY IT HERE! "One of the finest live albums to come out of the ATX" - Austin Chronicle
GRUPO FANTASMA Movimiento Popular BUY IT HERE!
Our second studio effort, an instant classic.. "The future of latin music" - Knowtheledge.net
GRUPO FANTASMA Self Titled BUY IT HERE!
The album that started it all, raw and uncut early GF! "One of the finest releases in any genre this past year" - Houston Press
We are proud to finally air the brand new video based on the cheesy 70's and 80's PBS telethons we loved to hate Thanks to all who put in the hard work to make this happen! Be sure to hit the "HQ" button in the lower right hand corner of the viewer to get the full on queso.
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BIOGRAPHY
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GRUPO FANTASMA NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY
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
Respex from Berlin. Gracias por el add, espero poder verlos algún día. Son buenísimos, pero supongo que ya lo habrán escuchado mil y una vez. Best latin band to out come since... Irakere?! Un saludo
wow thanks for the add it seems i came late to the Fantasma phenomena, i love Sonidos Gold will go out on pay day and pick up the earlier 3 , great vibe keep it going boys
I caught your show in Laredo Texas and was captivated. A little bit of influence of one of the first Funk/Latin bands of the 70's called "WAR"....thanks for the music.
Just wanted to thank ya'll for the awesome time at Josabi's. We drove 5 hrs to see you guys. I danced so much my legs were sore for two days. It was all worth it and hope to see you all again.
