About Cimarrón
Los Llanos Orientales are vast plains that stretch from Colombia into Venezuela. The mestizo people that inhabit these savannahs on the great Orinoco River are descendents of Spanish settlers, African slaves and indigenous people.
This is cattle rearing country where life revolves around country ranches. Music accompanies daily work such as milking and cattle drives. Most striking is the festive dance music called joropo, a fiercely virtuosic display of rippling melodies played on harp, bandola (a small pear-shape chordophone) and cuatro (small guitar) accompanied by bass, cajon (percussion box) and maracas. This rapid and joyous music is sung with high pitched voices reminiscent of Andalusian gypsy roots music.
Cimarrón is the most accomplished llanera group in Colombia. A seven piece band led by harpist and composer Carlos Rojas, they have been working together for over twenty years and have performed in Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Sweden, France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Holland, Wales, England, Spain and the USA. These musicians are immersed in the sounds of ‘los llanos’; they seek to explore and experiment with their rich heritage whilst retaining the essence of the tradition.
Carlos Rojas was among a select group of Colombian musicians who accompanied Gabriel Garcia Marquez and performed at his Nobel Prize award ceremony in Sweden in 1982. Cimarron’s Smithsonian album ‘Si Soy Llanero’ was nominated for a Grammy in 2005. In 2008, Cimarrón delivered a showcase at Womex that garnered great acclaim from professionals within the industry, including Giant Magnet Producing Director, Brian Faker.
“Incredible …. a memorable showcase that deservedly finished with a standing ovation” -MONDOMIX
“By far the most talked about/enjoyed WOMEX artists were definitely Cimarrón, no contest” - Ian Anderson, fRoots Magazine
Show Info
Eve Alvord Theatre
Pantages Theatre in Tacoma
50 minutes
We suggest ages 5+
Watch the video
Show Times – Seattle
Day
Date
Time
Code
Tues
5/11
1:00pm
C07
Wed
5/12
1:00pm
C15
*Thur
5/13
11:30am
C20
Fri
5/14
1:00pm
C33
Sat
5/15
1:00pm
*In Spanish
Show Times – Tacoma
Day
Date
Time
Code
Mon
5/17
11:30am
ZC04
School/Org Tickets
Type
Price
School/Org.
$9.00
Subsidized
$4.50
Schools/Groups: this show can be part of a package rate. Order now!
2010 Performers
Colombia
“Absolutely brilliant!”
-Lucy Duran BBC Radio 3
About Cimarrón
Los Llanos Orientales are vast plains that stretch from Colombia into Venezuela. The mestizo people that inhabit these savannahs on the great Orinoco River are descendents of Spanish settlers, African slaves and indigenous people.
This is cattle rearing country where life revolves around country ranches. Music accompanies daily work such as milking and cattle drives. Most striking is the festive dance music called joropo, a fiercely virtuosic display of rippling melodies played on harp, bandola (a small pear-shape chordophone) and cuatro (small guitar) accompanied by bass, cajon (percussion box) and maracas. This rapid and joyous music is sung with high pitched voices reminiscent of Andalusian gypsy roots music.
Cimarrón is the most accomplished llanera group in Colombia. A seven piece band led by harpist and composer Carlos Rojas, they have been working together for over twenty years and have performed in Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Sweden, France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Holland, Wales, England, Spain and the USA. These musicians are immersed in the sounds of ‘los llanos’; they seek to explore and experiment with their rich heritage whilst retaining the essence of the tradition.
Carlos Rojas was among a select group of Colombian musicians who accompanied Gabriel Garcia Marquez and performed at his Nobel Prize award ceremony in Sweden in 1982. Cimarron’s Smithsonian album ‘Si Soy Llanero’ was nominated for a Grammy in 2005. In 2008, Cimarrón delivered a showcase at Womex that garnered great acclaim from professionals within the industry, including Giant Magnet Producing Director, Brian Faker.
“Incredible …. a memorable showcase that deservedly finished with a standing ovation”
-MONDOMIX
“By far the most talked about/enjoyed WOMEX artists were definitely Cimarrón, no contest”
- Ian Anderson, fRoots Magazine