Chucumite is a Southern California based duet, comprised of John Robles and Robert Perales, that performs 'son jarocho', the folk music from Veracruz, Mexico. Robles has played the Arpa Jarocha, or Veracruz folk harp, since the age of 12. Perales plays jarana, a guitar like instrument with 8 strings which is a derivative of the Spanish baroque guitar of the 16th century. In 2009, acoustic bassist Sean Hutchinson began appearing frequently with Chucumite playing the leona, a large guitar type instrument with four strings which are plucked with a cowhorn pick. Hutchinson performs on the CD along with guests artists Xocoyotzin Moraza, a talented young performer on requinto jarocho, a smaller version of the Leona, and percussionist Jacob Hernandez who performs on marimbol which is a large wooden box with metal tongues which are played like the Kalimba, the African thumb piano.
Chucumite has performed throughout the West Coast and is expanding into the Southwest and beyond. Their music is upbeat and exuberant, and audiences often can't resist the urge to get up and dance!
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