The group proposes to take you on a hypothetical trip through Andalusia and making a fundamental halt in Cuba, in Brazil until Buenos Aires to the rediscover of the traditional latin-american culture.
The music, which is composed and arranged by Silvio Zalambani, is inspired by many characteristic styles of these countries (fandango, zapateo, rumba, son, bolero, danzòn, mambo, cha-cha, marcha-rancho, chôro, ijexà, bossanova, milonga, tango), of which it underlines their european and above all common african origin.
The "Grupo Candombe" started in 2000 as a research project about the traditional latin-american music, after being inspired by a presentation of Ernesto Cardenal's book "Quetzalcòatl", ex Minister of Nicaragua (thanks to "Circolo degli artisti" of Faenza).
The group has performed in different theatres, clubs and festivals.
In 2002 the project was proposed in Brazil, thanks to the invitation of USP University of San Paolo.
In 2003 Silvio Zalambani and his Grupo Candombe performed at the XXIII Festival del Caribe - Fiesta del Fuego in Santiago de Cuba and in Guantànamo and they were the first italian group of this kind.
The group was invited by Dr José Millet, president of this traditional music and culture festivals, considered to be the most important festival of all caribbean countries.
In 2005 with thanks to the cultural sponsorship of Emilia Romagna, he represented Italy with both his projects ("Tango Tres" and "Grupo Candombe") at the "VI World Tango Festival" that took place at "Lope de Vega" Theatre in Seville (Spain).
Thanks to the success he was interviewed by Mr Gabriel Soria, the vice-president of the Tango National Academy of Buenos Aires for the argentinean "Solo Tango" TV.
Also in 2005 the group played with brasilian musician Mario Féres (pianist in Jacques Morelenbaum quartet), in UNAERP and USP Universities at Ribeirao Preto, San Paolo, Brazil.
In 2006 Grupo Candombe joined XI edition of "Metastasio Jazz" at Prato's Metastasio theatre.
The group recorded two CDs, both edited by Mobydick in "Carta da Musica" series. The first CD "Grupo Candombe" was released in 2001 (and reprinted in 2004) and presented at the Alighieri Theatre of Ravenna and then the live concert was broadcasted by RAI Radio3-Suite directed from Rome; the second CD "Grupo Candombe 2" was released in 2005 and was presented on RAI Radio1, during the program "Brasil".
The CDs were presented on RSI-Rete2 (an italian Radio in Switzerland), Radio Swiss Jazz and Radio RaBe of Bern (Switzerland), RCV 99 FM of Lille-France, KOOP Radio of Austin-Texas (USA), and were given good critics in magazines such as All about Jazz, Jazz It, Jazz Italia, Musica di Repubblica, Latinoamerica en vilo (Miami-Florida, USA) .

www.silviozalambani.com

A review of “Después de Santiago de Cuba...passando para o Brasil” cd is available on the italian most important on-line jazz site. Here goes the address:

http://www.jazzitalia.net/recensioni/grupocandombe2.asp