Bombazo Fandango

In 2009 Melody Gonzalez, participant of Son Jarocho workshops at el Centro Cultural de Mexico and Hector Luis Rivera, then living in Chicago and performing with Buya, organized the first Bombazo Fandango in essence uniting two distinct yet related communities: Bomberos y Fandangueros. Bomba is one of the traditional musical genres from Puerto Rico, characterized by barrel drums (barriles), a shak

er (maraca), sticks (cuas), call and response of song and the dynamic conversation between dancer and lead drummer (primo/subidor). Bombazo= bomba gathering/conviviencia

Son Jarocho is the traditional music from Veracruz, Mexico characterized by stringed instruments called jaranas, the verses of tarditional songs and a the wooden stage (tarima) where the dancer creates music. Fandango= Son Jarocho gathering/conviviencia

The Bombazo Fandango unites practitioners of these two genres from throughout the diasporas. Upwards of 40 bomba and son jarocho practictioners have come together for the past three Bombazo Fandango's through dialogue, workshops,performances and community Bombazo Fandango.