La Sonora Mazurén have grown out of Bogotá’s ever-expanding alternative music scene, hotbed of multi-directional, neo-tropicalia, as championed by names such as the Meridian Brothers and Los Pirañas. Formed by accordionist and vintage keyboard manipulator Iván Medellín and bassist Nicolás Eckardt with guitarist Juan David Lacorazza and drummer Luis Lizarralde, the band has burgeoned into an incendiary septet, enlisting the percussion and vocal talent of Diana Sanmiguel from the trailblazing all-female Afro-Colombian combo, La Perla. The Sonora train has been gathering momentum, developing their unique sound – variously described as spacial-tropical, lysergic cumbia, psychedelic chicha or African fuzz – over countless live shows and a series of special one-sided vinyl singles. This year they released their first full studio album through Barbès Records, Bailando con Extraños, produced by Meridian Brothers mastermind, Eblis Alvarez.
Iván Medellín accordion, keyboards, vocals
Nicolás Eckardt bass
Luis Lizarralde drums, timbales
Roberta Léone percussion, vocals
Miguel Rore percussion, vocals
Diana Sanmiguel percussion, vocals
Juan David Lacorazza electric guitar