New Tradition

NEW TRADITION
NEW TRADITION explores a variety of Afrocolombian musical genres while incorporating original musical ideas influenced by Latin Urban music.
CONCEPT AND DIRECTION BY RUBEN "Ben*e" ESGUERRA
Ruben Esguerra, M.A.
York University
Department of Music
East Accolade Building
4700 Keele St.
Toronto, ON
M3J 1P3

M.A. York University, Graduate Programme in Musicology/Ethnomusicology, 2006.

Major research paper: “The Colombian tambor alegre: individual style within a traditional framework.”

B.F.A. York University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Music, 2002.

Ruben Esguerra Continues to work as a professional percussionist in the Toronto area and is one of the top called conga players in the Canadian Latin community. He has been co-directing Cuban music ensembles at York University since 2002. Research interests include: afrocolombian music, organology, cultural reclamation.

New Tradition Percussion School

For Information on Private/Group Lessons Please send an E-mail to [email protected] or call 416.843.7473.

What essentially began as private lessons, turned into a highly energized and very professional percussion ensemble made up of students who were empowered by the drums of Colombia in Toronto.

"We got together every Saturday.... naturally their interests gravitated towards Afrocolombian music from the Atlantic Coast since all the initial students were of Colombian heritage. In a matter of two months the kids were already covering a wide range of rhythmic genres from that region. The lessons turned into rehearsals and we began to do shows in community spaces supporting events in solidarity with human rights issues.. etc." Ben*e Esguerra

As the Percussion School continues to grow, the ensemble continues to rapidly progress and is constantly collaborating with new instrumentalists in each performance.

New Tradition Perfomance Unit:

For Information on Booking NEW TRADITION Please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 416.843.7473.

NEW TRADITION Performance Unit surfaced from NEW TRADITION Percussion School conceived in the heart of the Colombian community in Toronto 2004 with the initial name: COLOMBIAN KIDZ. Through the ansestral drums, this group has performed in international human rights and solidarity events in several community spaces and festivals around the city. In their performances, they express the empowering energy of traditional Afrocolombian music while at the same time expressing their costantly changing reality as young latinos living in Canada.
Instrumentalists:

Omar Sanchez (tambor alegre, hihat), Daniel Perez (llamador) ,Jorge Cantor (tambora, Snare drum 10yrs), Millie Carranza (vocals), Siezswift (turntables), Juan Carlos M.(gaita hembra), Juan Carlos Valencia (gaita macho).
Ruben "Ben•e" Esguerra (Director - Maraca and vocals)
Why would the average human be interested?

This is the only percussion ensemble playing Traditional Afrocolombian music in Toronto... of this kind perhaps in Canada

A young group... interpreting the music of their musical ancestors.... traditional genres which have been performed for hundreds of years - performed Today... A testament of this music's vitality.

For those who support Arts education... For those who support highly energized and danceable percussion music... For those who support the future of Canadian Latin music.