First impressions can be deceiving. Initial reaction: this is some smoking hot rock band from Cuba reimaging the son. It’s got the percussion and the vibe. Or maybe they’re Colombian, serving up tasty Cumbrian rhythms. They’re singing in Spanish, so they have to be from Cuba or Latin America.
Well, yes and no. Making Movies incorporates and modernizes Latin music traditions, but it turns out they’re from Kansas City, not Havana or Bogota. Brothers Enrique (lead vocals, guitar) and Diego Chi (bass) were born in Panama, and percussionist Juan-Carlos Chaurand is originally from Mexico. Yet they grew up in MO and brought all of their influences together to create something truly unique (a soup as Enrique describes it, or Xopa in Spanish).
After a few personnel changes, the group is now the aforementioned three plus Duncan Burnett on drums. Their fourth album, Xopa, also boasts guest appearances from Ruben Blades, Marc Ribot, David Hildago (Los Lobos), Martha Gonzalez, and more
“Xopa”
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