EDITED BY: M. M. ALAM
KARACHI: Acting Consul General of USA here Chad Peterson has said: “I really enjoy these cultural exchanges. Music is a great way to bring together people of all cultures, ages and interests”. He was speaking on the occasion of a concert by American Band Grupo Fantasma held at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture.
The performance proved to be a rare treat for karachiite music aficionados. Grupo Fantasma is visiting Pakistan courtesy of the U.S. Embassy.
Commenting on the Grupo Fantasma’s pulsating Latin Funk, Public Affairs Officer Li Ping Lo exclaimed: “What a Show! The audience here at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture loved the band’s distinctive fusion music. It is really wonderful to see this level of enthusiasm.”
The U.S. State Department has supported a number of similar initiatives in Pakistan, he said. In the past year, the U.S. Consulate General has brought the Ari Roland jazz quartet, U.S. saxophonist Lee Redfield, Grace McClean and Them Apples (country-themed rock) and the Kentucky Winders (bluegrass).
Front and center of these efforts is the U.S. State Department’s $1 million grant to the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) and University of Texas Austin’s (UTA) Butler School of Music. The project helps develop composition, instrumental and vocals as well as student and faculty exchanges between the two institutions.
About Grupo Fantasma: Grupo Fantasma is a nine-piece, Grammy Award winning Latin funk orchestra from Austin, Texas. In 2011, it won a Grammy for its self–produced release “El Existential.” Grupo Fantasma has appeared in AMC’s Breaking Bad, the John Sayles’ film Casa de los Babys, Showtime’s hit series Weeds, ABC’s Ugly Betty, NBC’s Law & Order and many others. It has served as a backup band for Prince (ALMA Awards on ABC, Golden Globes, CBS Super Bowl Bash), Fania All Stars pianist Larry Harlow, Sheila–E, GZA of Wu–Tang Clan and indie rock standouts Spoon.
Grupo Fantasma has the following nine members: Jose Galeano (timbales, vocals), Kino Esparza (vocals, hand percussion), Beto Martinez (guitar), Greg Gonzalez (bass), John Speice (drums), Matthew “Sweet Lou” Holmes (congas), Gilbert Elorreaga (trumpet), Josh Levy (baritone saxophone) and Mark “Speedy” Gonzales (trombone).
