Episode 01 · Colombia, Mexico

Maestros de Cumbia

Follow the accordion from Colombia’s Caribbean coast to Monterrey, with Lisandro Meza’s New York live set at the center.

At New York’s Copacabana, accordionist Lisandro Meza brings Colombian cumbia to the dance floor. The program pairs that live set with Andrés Landero and Mexico’s Celso Piña, painting a full portrait of cumbia, a music born out of the encounter between African and Indigenous traditions on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Read the original program notes ↗

The confirmed recording is available.

Listen on SoundCloud ↗

Celso Piña with his accordion, arms raised, at the Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City, June 2017 — Celso Piña, Mexico City, 2017. Tania Victoria / Secretaría de Cultura CDMX. Photo credits ↗

The accordionists

COLOMBIA · SUCRE

Lisandro Meza

As a boy on his father’s farm, Meza practiced in secret on a farmhand’s accordion, putting it back in its case before the owner came in from the fields. He joined Los Corraleros de Majagual in 1961. His live set puts the accordion at the center of the dance floor.

COLOMBIA · BOLÍVAR

Andrés Landero

In San Jacinto, Landero moved melodies from the gaita onto the accordion. He kept the tambora and llamador drums underneath. His touring carried that sound through Venezuela, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

MEXICO · MONTERREY

Celso Piña

Piña taught himself accordion and built his career in Monterrey playing Colombian cumbia. His recordings extend this program’s gathering of maestros across the border.

Featured artists: Lisandro Meza · Andrés Landero · Celso Piña

Places: Caribbean coast, Colombia · Mexico · New York City