Percussively speaking 

Join us this Saturday for a talk/concert/performance with Laura Robles about Afro-Peruvian rhythms and their recent development, as well as her practice with the cajón. Laura Robles will discuss topics such as sonic migration, the "sonic aggression" in Lima, how racism impacts the evolution/transmission of traditional rhythms, and the significant role humor and "chabacaneria" play in improvisation.

Laura Robles plays Cajón, Batás, Congas, E-Bass. She was born in 1981 in Swaziland and grew up in Peru. At the age of four, she started to access the rich Afro-Peruvian musical tradition through the teachings of master Amador “Chebo” Ballumbrosio. After this, Juan "Cotito"  Medrano (internationally known for his work with Susana Baca) took her under his wing. At the age of 13 she was accepted at Susana Baca's "Instituto Negro Continuo", intensively studying Cuban folklore and popular music as well as the complex music of the Yoruba culture. For ten years now, Laura has been considered one of the most important players of the cajón in Peru, the central instrument of folklore that was influenced by West African percussion.