Rumillajta

The music of the Andes Mountains comes to life through the playing of La Paz, Bolivia-based quintet Rumillajta (pronounced roomy-yaktee). Combining original songs and traditional tunes, the group bring a modern sensibility to the music, singing about such contemporary issues as foreign debt and the plight of Bolivia's miners. While the musical traditions of Bolivia remain the cornerstone of their sound, the band has incorporated music from throughout the Andes Mountain region. Rumillajta, whose name comes from the Quecha word for "ruins of stone," are known for their innovative harmonies, rich instrumentation, and rhythmic complexity. Most of the group's instruments are built by lead quena (Andean flute) player and composer Adrian Villanueva. Prior to forming Rumillajta, Villanueva performed with such Bolivian groups as los Trovodores de Bolivia. The band is rounded out by charango player and composer Juan Jorge Laura, lead singer and zampona (pan pipes) player Nestor Tintaya; guitarist, composer, arranger, and background singer Juan Carlos Cordero, and zampona player and percussionist Max Cordero Ponce.