Passing the Garifuna Torch

Aurelio Martinez




Laru Beya (Sub Pop/Next Ambiance NXA 002, 2011)

It’s been 7 years since Aurelio Martinez’s splendid Garifuna Soul album, and a lot has happened since. The music of the Garifuna, a Central American people whose dual African and indigenous heritage make for some of the most heartfelt, deeply rooted sounds on the planet, has rightly become better known worldwide.

Sadly, the man who was most likely to bring the music ever further, Belize’s Andy Palacio, passed away suddenly in early 2008, shortly after his universally acclaimed release Watina. Palacio was a friend and mentor to the Honduras-born Aurelio Martinez (who was featured on Watina), but Palacio’s untimely death ended their relationship and any possible future collaboration.

Aurelio’s new Laru Beya is dedicated to Palacio and would certainly have done the late master proud. For just as Watina stepped beyond tradition but still respected it, Laru Beya expands upon punta, paranda and other sacred and secular Garifuna rhythms... read more