TANGA is a bombastic world fusion mob mixing up tropical dance beats with East African marimba, Colombian Cumbia and Cuban Jazz . Fresh for 2018, their third album on the TrebleFive label - Reencarnación - is the band's most ambitious and adventurous to date; a powerful sonic statement that weaves tropical dance beats and afro-latin sounds inspired by their musical travels in Ecuador. Fueled by warm coastal breezes, amazonian fire water and sweaty club grooves, it comes out hard, delivering a fresh take on the urban latin sound. Check out the singles "Cumbia Loca" featuring special guest MC Peronki, "Afrosavile" with dancehall star Guanako, and "QuitoElectro" with troubadour Benjamin Venagas.
Formed in 2007 by trumpet player + ethnomusicologist Malcolm Aiken, Tanga emerged from a collective of musicians who cut their teeth playing in the salsa dance scene while embracing jazz and hip hop music. Inspired by the party grooves and percussion styles of latin heavies like Tito Puente, Machito and Mario Bauza, they released their first full-length album Simmer & Serve (2009). Their follow up album Havanaelectro recorded in Havana, Cuba was nominated for the Western Canadian Music Awards: World Recording of the Year and the Canadian Folk Music Awards: World Group of the Year.
Their live show has been called a "powerful" (BC Musician), and " the most refreshingly contemporary expression of latin groove music so far" (WorldBeat International. A festival favorite, Tanga's recent performances include the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Harrison Folk Fest, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Harmony Arts, Victoria's Garden City Grooves Fest and the Squamish Wind Fest.
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