Ethnically and Culturally Inspired Music
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by Irka Mateo
by Irka Mateo
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Irka Mateo Biography
2013-Present—Irka began producing and recording her next album of accordion music, with a more global concept, in collaboration with Danny Blume and Yasser Tejeda. On August 8, Irka Mateo launched the single "Vamo a Goza," from her new album.
2012—Irka won a grant from the Grammy Foundation to digitize her archive of Dominican folk music. Upon completion, she donated it to her country, where it is now located in the General Archive of the Nation.
2009—She launched her solo album "Anacaona," a tribute to her country’s indigenous and African roots and to the Brazilian music where she began. "Anacaona" included the song "Man of Earth," showcasing for the first time her new musical stage of invoking accordion music. She performed widely in NY, including at the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian, the Louis Armstrong Museum, Joe's Pub, and other venues.
2007—Danny Blume, the Grammy-winning American producer, discovered Irka and brought her to New York.
1997-2007—Irka dedicated herself to touring the Dominican countryside, documenting and learning different genres of Dominican folk music. In the course of this, she formed the group "Irka con Bohuti," which interpreted Dominican folklore and found expression in her own musical compositions. The group was well received, and it was through this that Irka first introduced the accordion into Dominican alternative music. "Irka con Bohuti" participated in international music festivals such as The Festival of Fire in Santiago de Cuba, The Spring Festival in Mexico City, Mexico, the Caribbean Festival in St. Kitts, and others.
1985-1996—Irka Mateo was lyricist and singer in the group Irka & Tadeu Band with Brazilian guitarist, composer, and arranger Tadeu Demarco. Together they created an innovative repertoire of Jazz/Caribbean/Brazilian music and were key in the alternative music of the Dominican Republic, influencing an entire generation of musicians. During their residence in Montreal, Canada, they recorded the CD "Three Americas" under the Silence Records label. The Irka & Tadeu Band participated three times in the Montreal International Jazz Festival, as well as the Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Baie Comeau International Jazz, the Blues Festival in Hull, Canada, the Heineken Jazz Festival in the Dominican Republic, among others.
2013-Present—Irka began producing and recording her next album of accordion music, with a more global concept, in collaboration with Danny Blume and Yasser Tejeda. On August 8, Irka Mateo launched the single "Vamo a Goza," from her new album.
2012—Irka won a grant from the Grammy Foundation to digitize her archive of Dominican folk music. Upon completion, she donated it to her country, where it is now located in the General Archive of the Nation.
2009—She launched her solo album "Anacaona," a tribute to her country’s indigenous and African roots and to the Brazilian music where she began. "Anacaona" included the song "Man of Earth," showcasing for the first time her new musical stage of invoking accordion music. She performed widely in NY, including at the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian, the Louis Armstrong Museum, Joe's Pub, and other venues.
2007—Danny Blume, the Grammy-winning American producer, discovered Irka and brought her to New York.
1997-2007—Irka dedicated herself to touring the Dominican countryside, documenting and learning different genres of Dominican folk music. In the course of this, she formed the group "Irka con Bohuti," which interpreted Dominican folklore and found expression in her own musical compositions. The group was well received, and it was through this that Irka first introduced the accordion into Dominican alternative music. "Irka con Bohuti" participated in international music festivals such as The Festival of Fire in Santiago de Cuba, The Spring Festival in Mexico City, Mexico, the Caribbean Festival in St. Kitts, and others.
1985-1996—Irka Mateo was lyricist and singer in the group Irka & Tadeu Band with Brazilian guitarist, composer, and arranger Tadeu Demarco. Together they created an innovative repertoire of Jazz/Caribbean/Brazilian music and were key in the alternative music of the Dominican Republic, influencing an entire generation of musicians. During their residence in Montreal, Canada, they recorded the CD "Three Americas" under the Silence Records label. The Irka & Tadeu Band participated three times in the Montreal International Jazz Festival, as well as the Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Baie Comeau International Jazz, the Blues Festival in Hull, Canada, the Heineken Jazz Festival in the Dominican Republic, among others.
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