GUACHINANGOS
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Guachinangos bring their seven-piece folk-fusion band to Barbès, joining son jarocho, cumbia, champeta and other rhythms in a set built from both traditional and electric instrumentation. Juan Carlos Marin leads on requinto jarocho and voice, alongside Gabriella Grimaldi on violin and voice, Alberto Fontes on electric guitar and jarana, Victor Babilonia on drums, Elvira Bustamante on maracas, voice and dance, Leo Catricala on bass, and Inka Ortiz on tambor alegre. The result is a rhythm-forward performance the group describes as part dance party and part community gathering.
Formed in Philadelphia and now based in New York, Guachinangos expand Mexican son jarocho through Colombian cumbia and champeta, plus other Latin American rhythms. Their own description rejects simple “re-creation” in favor of “painting on an expanded canvas,” with jarana, requinto, violin, vocals, percussion, zapateado and electric instruments all part of the palette. Leaders Marín and Grimaldi have worked with Veracruz musician Patricio Hidalgo, who set archived verses to music for “Conga del Gavilan,” while former Radio Jarocho member Gabriel Guzman contributed compositions to the band’s debut. Bandcamp Daily called that record a “fusion of son jarocho, champeta, and cumbia”; at the Brooklyn Folk Festival, listeners “swayed and clapped along” as couples danced.
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.