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Folk Festival features renowned Puerto Rican musician Colón Zayas
By Arooj Ashraf, La Prensa Correspondent
Passion is difficult to contain; Edwin Colón Zayas’s oozes through his fingers, as they prickle and glide the silver strings of his cuatro, producing the most enchanting melodies.
The internationally renowned Puerto Rican is the master of the cuatro, a small guitar with five-double coursed strings, a staple of música jibara performers.
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Edwin Colon Zayas
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As he performed on Kent Stage for the 43rd Kent State Folk Festival on Nov. 5, 2009, his music mesmerized the 400 attendees, leaving them squirming in their seats with the rhythm and wishing for a dance floor.
Colón Zayas said he was delighted to share his passion for the cuatro and his traditional roots with Kent. Accompanied by his brother Bill Colón Zayas, and friend Noél Velázquez, he was flown from Puerto Rico specifically to perform at the annual Folk Festival.
“All previous performers had to be touring in the area around the time of the festival,” said David Badagnani, Kent State University professor of ethnomusicology. He was introduced to Colón Zayas’s music by KSU’s PhD student Noraliz Ruiz Caraballo and immediately became entranced with the sounds.
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Badagnani approached festival organizers at radio 89.7 WKSU, and convinced them to invite Colón Zayas as the featured guest. He also invited local artists Orlando Santiago and Rondalla Puerto Rico, an ensemble of musicians and vocalists from Dayton, to perform onstage with Colón Zayas. “The way their sounds merge is interesting, almost like it’s a sixth sense,” said Badagnani.
Ruiz Caraballo, was exposed to folk music at an early age and at 15 years joined the Dr. Francisco López Cruz Foundation as a cuatro instructor. Tiple in hand, she joined her idol Colón Zayas onstage for a performance of “María, Rosa y Enid’ by Andrés Fontañez.
Colón Zayas blew the crowd away with an energetic medley of ‘Magdalena,’ a Brazilian samba played as guaracha on a double necked instrument known as siames.
It combines the cuatro with the high-pitched notes of the tiple for a dynamic fusion of sound that transforms the listener to the mountains of Puerto Rico. José ‘Pepito’ Reyes custom made the siames for Colón Zayas in 2006.
He dedicated section of the performance to the Puerto Rico’s legendary composer Don Tomás “Maso” Rivera saying the legacy lives in the notes.
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Noraliz Ruiz Caraballo playing the tiple
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Robert Burford, Director of Public Relations at WKSU, said the festival began as a student initiative in the ‘60s and its popularity made it a tradition. When the radio station took over in 2000 it expanded performances by professional and internationally acclaimed ethnic artists.
Burford said folk music is recapturing the attention of younger listeners and the festival offers exposure to an overlooked genre and the opportunity to appreciate the traditional music from around the world.
“Events that last 43 years don’t happen on their own,” said Jim Blum, producer of WKSU as he thanked sponsors and local business for their support. The festival’s Around’ Town now has 48 venues that offer workshops and free music.
Colón Zaya’s performance was free for all students, and only $10 for the general public. During intermission, Lelolai Bakery & Café of Cleveland provided traditional baked goods like coconut macaroons, and guava pastelillos to complete the sensory experience of Puerto Rico.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gVm1tNtnhY
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Edwin Colon Zayas
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Jim Blum |
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Edwin Colon Zayas with David Badagnani
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Noraliz Ruiz Caraballo with, Edwin Colon Zayas, Billy Colon Zayas and Noel Velazquez
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Robert Burford and David Badagnani
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Culturas Publication, Inc. d.b.a. La Prensa Newspaper
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© Copyrighted by Culturas Publication, Inc. 2009
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