Locarno
Gig Seeker Pro

Locarno

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | INDIE | AFM

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | INDIE | AFM
Band World Latin

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Album Release Promo"

Locarno is the new Latin project of Juno award winning musician and Paperboy’s frontman Tom Landa. The music, like him, is part Mexican but with strong doses of Cuban Son, Folk Music, Pop and Funk. There are threads of Son Jarocho and Salsa but the songs are more edgy and contemporary than that. The music could be compared to Manu Chao, Ozomatli or Rodrigo and Gabriela but although there are similarities it is truly original and a new flavour in the Latin music genre.

Tom has been writing and recording the material for Locarno over the past year. His goal is to create music which is heavily influenced by Mexican music but using musicians around him in his hometown of Vancouver. A key to the sound is Tom’s partnerships with producer Joby Baker. Joby has produced a number of World/Latin albums including Alex Cuba’s self-titled Juno Award winning album. Adonis
Puentes adds his voice to the opening track, Candela. Other musicians
included Miguelito Valdes who lends his trumpet and percussion
talents to the project. Miguelito performs regularly with the Juan de
Marcos Afro-Cuban Allstars. Other members of Locarno are
Paperboys alumni Nick La Riviere on trombone and playing violin
Kalissa Hernendez. Some of the guest artists include two great
guitarists, Alpha Yaya Diallo and Marc Atkinson.

Tom says of the project, “I’ve been threatening to make this album
for a long time. A record sung completely in my native language and which showcases my roots. I’m delighted to finally be able to share it with you. The music is a mix of what I listen to, my imagination at work, my favourite musicians and where I come from. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it - Jericho Beach Music


"Locarno Review"

Tom Landa is known to many of us from his work with The Paperboys and here, under the Locarno moniker, her hares a solo set of songs honoring his Mexican roots. Mexican music (and Latin American music, more generally) has always been a strong element in Landa's songwriting, but on "Una Mas Y Ya Nos Vamos" all of the songs are sung in Spanish and a couple of tunes are traditional Mexican pieces.
Despite the focus, it's a very eclectic mix that feels short at seven songs. "Candela" (Candle) is stripped down Latin funk, somewhat reminiscent of Los De Abajo, while "Joah" is a blast of exuberant acoustic pop. The trad "La Bruja" (the Witch) closes the disc in more sombre fashion.
Production by Joby Baker is warm and tight,m doing the music perfect justice. My only complaint is the relative brevity of the record, although one imagines that with this release Landa may be only testing the waters. More Locarno in the offing? We can hope! - Penguin Eggs - Richard Thornley


Discography

2011 Una Mas Y Ya Nos Vamos (Jericho Beach Music)

Photos

Bio

Locarno is the Latin music project of Paperboys front-man Tom Landa. The music, like him, is part Mexican but with strong doses of Cuban Son, Folk Music, Pop and Funk. The band is a culturally diverse group with members from Mexico, Chile, Cuba, and Canada. There are threads of Son Jarocho and Salsa, with the songs a little more edgy and contemporary than usual. The music could be compared to Manu Chao, Ozomatli or Rodrigo and Gabriela but, although there are similarities, it is truly original and a new flavour in the Latin music genre.

Tom was born and raised in Mexico City to a Mexican father and a Canadian mother. He moved to Ontario during his teenage years where he put behind his Mexican Musical Roots in favour of the new sounds that surrounded his new environment. Records by The Smiths, Tracy Chapman and Spirit of The West dominated his turntable and cassette player, until a record by Los Lobos, a Mexican American band, brought him 'back home'. La Pistola y El Corazon was a recording where Los Lobos played a variety of Mexican musical idioms including Son Jarocho which had a huge impact on Tom. From that moment on, Landa rediscovered his musical roots and began his musical quest to not only learn more about this music, but also write and arrange songs in this genre. Thanks in part to The Canada Council, this musical path eventually led him to study Son Jarocho in Veracruz Mexico, under the tutelage of Ramon Gutierrez of the group Son De Madera.

For the past few years Tom has been writing and recording the material for his project Locarno. His goal is to create music which is heavily influenced by Mexican music but using the elements and musicians around him in his hometown of Vancouver. A key element to this sound is the partnerships he has created with producer Joby Baker who has worked with several World/Latin artists including Alex Cuba and Miguelito Valdes who lends his trumpet and percussion talents to the project. Miguelito was born and raised in Havana Cuba and has played with Afro Cuban All Stars, Omara Portoundo and The Buena Vista Social Club. Rounding up the group is Jason Woods on drums and percussion, Kalissa Hernandez on Violin and vocals and Nick La Riviere on trombone.

Locarno’s debut recording, Una Mas Y Ya Nos Vamos (tr. One More and We’re Gone) was released in June 2011. It is receiving a great from fans and already reviewers are saying the album was “adding exciting new flavours and blends to Latin music.”