Cuchata
Falling somewhere between the traditional and the experimental, Cuchata's music is the very definition of Latin Alternative music, and arguably the only band of it's
kind in Seattle. Their entirely original compositions join afro-latin traditions with elements of rock, hip-hop, drum and bass, avante-garde jazz, dub reggae, afrobeat, and more. Certainly not a latin-jazz band, by no means salsa, rock en espanol, or cumbia, Cuchata borrows from all these genres and blends them with a rare fluency.
History
Cuchata was born out of guitarist/singer/songwriter Marcelo E. Quinonez's 1999 pilgrimage to his ancestral Nicaragua. There he discovered and fell under the spell of the country's rich musical heritage. Upon returning to the USA, he combined his new-found knowledge with his love of other Afro-Latin traditions to fashion a musical expression of his own. Joined by bassist Cody Rahn and percussionist Bryan Cook, Quinonez formed Cuchata in 2000. Their first release was a fascinating amalgam of influences from Nicaragua, Peru, Cuba and Columbia, with Caribbean-side Central American vocal flavors and Pampas rhythms from Paraguay and Argentina.
Since that time, Cuchata has grown musically, as has their intense desire to constantly update and hybridize their sound. Cuchata consistently strives to craft music that defies genres on one hand, yet fits neatly into many on the other. Their forthcoming release shows the diversity of their style, and their ability to integrate ancient and modern influences into a cohesive blend of original compositions. >>sample the new stuff<<
Guitarist and Vocalist Marcelo E. Quiñónez-------------
Marcelo grew up in and around Los Angeles, California. As a child, he was constantly surrounded by music from various fiestas and family gatherings held by his large Nicaraguan family. From 1995 to 1996, Marcelo studied with Flamenco guitarist Chris Carnes and was invited to Sweets Mill International Folk Music Festival to accompany Chris and a variety of other Flamenco and Latin American Ensembles. In 1999, Marcelo traveled to Nicaragua to study the culture, music and his ancestral roots. That trip gave birth to the idea of Cuchata and many of the songs they play today.
Marcelo is also an active film music composer and producer and is currently working on a feature film.
Percussionist/Keyboardist Bryan Cook------------------
Bryan originally hails from Maine, where he received his degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Maine. In addition to his role in Cuchata, Cook's other projects as a musician and composer include free-jazz duo IdiotsAvant and soundtrack work. He teaches privately, and has performed previously with such artists as Michael Shrieve, Lee Oskar, Arlo Guthrie, and the Degenerate Art Ensemble. Cook's career has taken him throughout North America, Europe and Cuba.
Bassist Cody Rahn----------------------------------------
Cody's natural sense of style on both drum-set and bass has led to gigs in many genres including jazz, latin, funk/fusion, and rock. He has honed his electric and upright bass chops under Chuck Deardorf and studied drums and percussion under Mark Ivester, Jovino Santos-Neto, David Jarvis, and former San Francisco Symphony timpanist Anthony Cirone. Rahn recently completed a Jazz performance degree at Cornish College of the Arts, and performs in a variety of groups in Seattle.
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