Album Notes

Canción Mandala is the new recording of Sebastian Cruz' band "Coba" released by "Chonta Records," a record label representing and promoting new Colombian music. Canción Mandala features a number of special musical guests, three wonderful singers, and a nice and varied textural palette.

An important and active member of the emerging new Colombian music scene, Coba is a New York-based ensemble featuring compositions and arrangements by guitarist Sebastián Cruz. Since 2001 Coba has been a platform to explore new approaches to traditional Afro-Colombian music through original songwriting and un-traditional instrumentation, offering a very personal and fresh take on a community's ancient and profound legacy.

Since moving to New York in 1997, Sebastián has become an active member of the Colombian music scene in New York performing regularly with traditional and contemporary Colombian music ensembles including “La Cumbiamba Eneyé,” “Pablo Mayor’s Folklore Urbano” -appearing on their CDs- with “Clásicos del despecho en la voz de Lucía Pulido,” and with “Coba.” He is also musical director and arranger for Lucía Pulido’s Colombian music project “Palenque.” These diverse projects, from traditional to jazzy to experimental, have greatly influenced Sebastian’s exploration in ways of reinterpreting and establishing a personal relationship with Colombian, South American and American traditions.

Coba has been heard live at BAM Cafe, Culture Fest in Battery Park, The Knitting Factory, Galapago’s Artspace, Satalla and Queens Museum of Art among others.