Album Notes

"CURANDERO" means the healer and the music was conceived before it was "ok" for North American audiences to hear these sounds. The first six songs reflect the music of the Maya and Mexica (Aztec) Cultures. Martin researched and tried, with these six pieces to recreate what might have been done with these instruments! Much the way musicians in the 70's were trying to "recreate" the music of the Medieval times. The next four pieces are based on the music of Amazonian Cultures, not the Andes, and the last 2 pieces are based on my imagining of an "Intercultural Music". I wanted to end this recording with "what would music have sounded like if the Europeans had never arrived in the New World and the African nations had instead come first?" That is what the last two songs sound like. Originally composed and performed back in 1984 by Martin Espino on instruments he made. Everyone who hears it always says it is relaxing and powerful. Since its' release in 1984 as a cassette, no ever has said they didn't like the music. Everyone who has CURANDERO, tells me it's still one of their favorite CDs! I'm even talking about people who bought it years ago too!
Remember: All of my music is based on serious scholarly research.
Martin is of Mexican/Indigenous heritage (Tepehuano and Yaqui). This recording is important because it is one the first ever to bring to North American audiences the sounds of the other part of Native America!
Martin also concieved of "InterActive Performance" back in the 1980's and now he does not only concerts but tours extensively to all kinds of schools/college where he motivates the audiences to interact with him by playing his percussion instruments. He currently performs, teaches, lectures, conducts instrument making classes and tours as a solo artist and with his duo MEXIKA "Sounds of Ancient Mexico" with Chris Garcia
Visit: www.myspace.com/mexika
Visit: www.martinespino.com

ESPANOL:
Bienvenidos Carnales! Antes de nada, la musica de mi grabacion, CURANDERO no tiene nada que ver con la brujeria ok? Toda la musica en esta grabacion esta basada en el concepto de curar, que es muy bueno, no? El CD tiene 12 canciones. Las primeras seis estan basadas en la musica de Los Maya o Mexica; las siguientes 4 canciones estan basadas en la musica de las culturas cerca del Rio Amazon y las 2 ultimas cancioncitas estan basadas en un concepto mio de una musica "Intercultural", es de decir, una mezcla de Mexico, Culturas Amazonica, Andino con Africa. MI musica "interculturlal propone esta idea: Que pasaria si Los Europeos nunca llegaron a las Americas y la gente de Africa colonizaron primero!. Estoy muy orgulloso de este CD, porque desde 1984 cuando estaba en la forma de cassette hasta hoy, ha vendido muchas copias! Nunca escuche ni una persona diciendo a mi en persona o por email que no le gusto la musica! Toda la gente quien ha escuchado mi musica salieron muy felices! Si quieren mas informacion, por favor, visitame en: www.martinespino.com ---- o ---- www.myspace.com/mexika

A sus ordenes, atentamente, Martin Espino