New Colombian songwriting inspired by ancient grooves, featuring electric improvisation

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“Everything sounds spontaneous for Sebastian Cruz. From an overwhelming stillness to an uncontrollable “descarga.” Cruz shows influences from Peregoyo, el Burro Mocho, to Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot” Luis Daniel Vega, Rolling Stone

“Undoubtedly, Sebastian Cruz’s was among the most interesting projects (at the festival). His style reflects the influence of rock, jazz, and traditional Colombian music that have always marked his approach and defined his musical identity. His proposal was the most assertive, with a presentation full of urban landscapes and virtuosity.” Andrea Baquero, Arcadia

Colombian singer-songwriter and guitarist Sebastián Cruz has been at the forefront of the new Colombian music movement since arriving in New York in 1997. Known for his rhythmic ingenuity, melodic inventiveness, and evocative lyricism, he has contributed to seminal projects ranging from deeply traditional to boldly experimental, including Lucía Pulido’s ensemble, La Cumbiamba eNeYé, Los Aliens, Coba, and The Cheap Landscape Trio.

As a teenager in 1990s Bogotá, Cruz was at the heart of Colombia’s burgeoning rock scene and the revival of Colombia’s rich musical heritage. Performing at all the key venues and the first three editions of Rock al Parque, Latin America’s largest free rock festival, Cruz launched his stage career with El Zut and Los del Centro—two bands showcasing original Colombian-flavored rock.

His current project, the Sebastián Cruz Quartet, is the culmination of a lifelong search for an organic convergence of his eclectic passions: Colombian traditions, electric textures, creative improvisation, and songwriting. After two albums of original music featuring a diverse lineup of guest vocalists, this new phase marks the beginning of a more personal and expressive era that introduces Cruz as a vocalist. Their debut three-song single, El Prisma, was released in Spring 2023.

Sebastián Cruz Quartet:

Sebastián Cruz – voice, guitar, compositions
Alejandro Flórez – guitar, live electronics
Stomu Takeishi – bass
Michael W. Davis – drums

CONTACT
sebastian@sebastiancruznotes.com
347.209.9160