Rodrigo Muñoz of Papa Mambo

Levy Abad
Winnipeg Ethnic News 121517

Rodrigo Muñoz of Papa Mambo
Thinking of the best artist with ethnic roots right away brings Papa Mambos' lead artist Rodrigo Muñoz to mind. I met Rod while still working as a staff for the Culture Heritage and Tourism. We invited him to perform in one of the fundraisers that we organized and it was truly an amazing experience.

Papa Mambo is a Canadian Salsa & Latin Jazz ensemble led by Rodrigo Muñoz. The band was formed in 1989. It was organized by Chilean born classical guitarist Rod Muñoz. This band started out as a ʺspirited party band and soon became recognized as one of the most skillful, exciting and important musical group in Canada's Latin music scene.ʺ I myself have witnessed how Rod plays classical songs and salsa that made people relax, reflect and dance all night. Rod also arranged the latin beat lead of one of my songs titled ʺNever Forget.ʺ

The band has performed in the Winnipeg Jazz Festival since its existence. It also performed in the Montreal Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Fest, Halifax Jazz Fest and twice at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Papa Mambo has so far produced two CDs and several original singles.  Listening to Papa Mambo, you would discover that they also perform Afro Cuban music on a symphonic level.  The band can boast of ʺsold out shows with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.ʺ

I asked a comrade in the Solidarity movement of Winnipeg, Pablo Herrera, who is a pioneer of the Folklorama, together with Poncho Zavandeaux, about Rod. Pablo recalls that when Rod was somewhere between 14 and 15 , he was already a member of the first Chilean or Latin band called UNIDAD  together with  late Manolo Pacheco. Pablo, who was also the singer of the band said that Rod was really advance musically and so keen that he tells his senior band mates to tune their instruments. Pablo added that Rod plays several instruments and is really an excellent musician.

Well guys, what more can I say? Go check out Papa Mambo online, make sure you mark it their schedule of performances on your calendar and appreciate Papa Mambos' music and let us have fun and dance all night to Salsa, Latin Jazz and Afro Cuban beat.

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