For the first time in Madrid, the Banda Achilifunk & Ensemble Taller de Musics will play live in Madrid with the presentation of their album Gitano Real (Lovemonk, 2011).  The show will take place on February 9 at 22:00 at Sala Galileo Galilei, as part of Girando Por Salas del Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música.

They’re a quartet of top-line rumberos (Sam Mosketón, Muchacho, Jack Tarradellas and Rambo), and masters of funk (Lalo López and Paco Mantecao of the Fundación Tony Manero) and jazz who have come together to play classic funk and Catalán rumba tracks. This current line-up brings a new character, seasoned with a metal section from the Original Jazz Orquestra Taller de Músics.  Its a project that, under the musical direction of Paco Mantecao, achieves a special sound that we call “big band rumba funk”.

Gitano Real is the culmination of the Achilifunk trilogy which began in 2007 with the acclaimed album/book compilation thought up by Txarly Brown, the most knowledgeable payo in all things rumba and a driving force in the rumba resurgence that is currently taking Barcelona by storm.

Banda Achilifunk & Ensembre Taller de Musics Live – TICKETS HERE
Galileo Galilei - c/Galileo, 100 (28015, Madrid)

Afterparty: Txarly Brown & Lalo López DJ
Marula Café – c/Bailén, 27 (28005, Madrid)

Regarding the album:
“This has not been off the decks since I first got it and have been hammering it to death on the show. One of the ESSENTIAL albums of 2011. Perfect in every sense and totally irresistable”
Craig Charles (BBC 6Music)

Two cover versions included on the essential album GITANO REAL.
I Believe in Miracles is an overwhelming take on the Jackson Sisters classic in a rumba funk fashion. Party stomper!! And on the other side, a longer trip departing from McFadden and Whitehead’s seminal Ain’t Non Stoping Us Now and touching the revered latin disco version of Charanga 76, only to end up as a fabulous clap-driven rumba stormer.

Two very necessary sun-soaked tunes for any self-respecting dj on neat black vinyl.
And yes, it’s a limited edition!

Buy I Believe In Miracles/No Nos Pararán 7″ at the Lovemonk Shop

In 2007 “Achilifunk”, a compilation + booklet selected and written by Txarly Brown, was released to much critical acclaim both in Spain and the rest of the world. “Achilifunk” was a surprise which opened the eyes of many, especially in Spain, where, for reasons of age, ridiculous hipsterism or whatever other excuse, people didn’t associate the word rumba with Barcelona, funk, disco, salsa as well as many other things, which are all as diverse and interesting as they are enriching. The reviews were incredible and the compilation was even chosen as one of the best records of 2007 by British magazine The Wire, which was the nudge some of the most hipster-oriented Spanish media needed to embrace “Achilifunk”.

Two years later, a new musical joint, baptised “Más Achilifunk”, shook the scene once more. This time, Txarly paired the best rumba combos from Barcelona with international remixers for a new funky stew with rumba and electronica as the main ingredients, far from purism and furiously festive. The result was as exciting as it was surprising, so much so that the prestigious and très avant-garde Sónar festival invited Txarly to present the compilation in its 2009 edition. After that, Brown had to once again come up with something original for the third and last part of the series. And what better way to do that than to start with a clean slate?

“Gitano Real” is that closing chapter of the Achilifunk trilogy. A musical evolution, an attempt to create a new rumba scene with what the predecessors have already accomplished. On this CD, the best musicians from this new scene have come together to form a unique band. On one side we have the gypsy faction, the “Achilis”: Sam (Papawa), Muchacho (La Troba Kung-Fú), Rambo (Sabor de Gràcia) and Jack (Rumbamazigha), all of whom have excellent pedigree. On the other side, you’ll find the great Hammond groove of Paco Manzanares (Mantecao y su Combo) and the super juicy guitar funk of Lalo Lopez (Fundación Tony Manero, Chocadelia, etc). And this combo, called Banda Achilifunk, is joined by the Original Jazz Orquestra Taller de Mùsics, a.k.a. OJO; Twelve academics with an outstanding reputation, captained by Vicens Martín. Together, they have all recreated, Achilifunk-style, a repertoire of rumba hits (”Cocos”, “Gitano Real”, etc.), funk classics (”Vulture” by Labi Siffre, “Bad” by Michael Jackson, “Miracles” by the Jackson Sisters, “Ain’t No Stopping” by MacFadden & Whitehead), and they even had time to record their own originals: “Feeling”, “La Loteria”, “La Hija del Panadero” and the surprising eighties-style gypsy rap of “Bombéalo!”. Disco, rap, funk, and soul blend with rumba and gypsy music on this incredible record.

Txarly Brown co-ordinated and designed this project in his usual inimitable style, with deluxe packaging for the CD, consisting of a specially designed sleeve including a newspaper and digifile. It couldn’t be any other way: life is better when in it’s in style!

Buy Gitano Real at the Lovemonk Shop.