Grupo Fantasma Celebrates New CD

By Liz Lopez –

Grupo Fantasma was formed in 2000 and the musicians come from Latin American and Texan backgrounds. This year marks the band’s 15th anniversary since they played their first show as Grupo Fantasma at the Empanada Parlor in Austin. Known far beyond the Austin music scene, they have been heard on national stages for their work as the backing band for the legendary Prince (ALMA Awards on ABC, Golden Globes, CBS Super Bowl Bash), among others. The band is constantly evolving and now, Grupo Fantasma is set to release their fifth studio album, Problemas, on October 30, 2015 on Blue Corn Music.

Produced by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos, Los Super Seven), this is the band’s first studio album since their GRAMMY award-winning 2010 release, El Existential. Berlin is someone they admired, and would be a well-seasoned, sympathetic producer (as a horn and keyboard player with wide-ranging musical taste) who genuinely enjoyed the band’s oveur and was eager to work with them.

Interestingly, Problemas manages to sound both familiar (integrating elements of heavy metal, indie rock, funk, hip-hop, jazz) and foreign (African, Eastern European, gypsy, South American, Cuban, Tex-Mex) at the same time, bearing repeated listens that slowly reveal nuances and deeper levels the more you hear it.

Band members are: Jose Galeano (timbales, vocals); Kino Esparza (vocals, hand percussion); Beto Martinez (guitar); Greg Gonzalez (bass); John Speice (drums); Matthew “Sweet Lou” Holmes (congas); Gilbert Elorreaga, (trumpet); Josh Levy (baritone saxophone) and Mark “Speedy” Gonzales (trombone).

The CD release and 15th Anniversary party will be held on October 30^th at the Mohawk in Austin. Opening the show will be Making Movies based out of Kansas City, Missouri. For tickets and more information, visit http://www.MohawkAustin.com.

SOURCE: Grupo Fantasma