From Matik Matik/Bogota (supported by Epistrophy Arts)

 

The Colombian bass player, Santiago Botero gave the name of El Ombligo (Spanish for navel) to this musical endeavor that playfully explores the subtle relationships within Cumbia and Vallenato music, old school jazz and free improvisation. The conducting thread in this exercise is a thorough research into possibilities that emerge by experimenting with the legacy of Andrés Landero, the all time king of “Cumbia San Jacintera”.

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El Ombligo both deconstructs the rhythmic universe of Landero, traversing the music of Ornette Coleman, John Zorn’s Masada Quartet, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Jaime Llano Gonzalez (Colombia’s all time virtuoso organist) to a significant portion of Bogota’s vibrant jazz and new tropical music scene. These elements were immortalized in El Ombligo’s latest recording “Canción Psicotrópica y Jaleo Vol. 2”.
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Pedro Ojeda: drums
Santaigo Botero: bass
Kike Mendoza: guitar
 
Special guests:
Ivan Medellín: keys
Juan Ignacio Arbaiza: tenor sax
 
Video: 
Julian Camilo Garcia