Contact
papalotemusica@gmail.com
EPK
Papalote have created a sound rooted in the rich tradition of ‘son montuno’, a Cuban musical style celebrated for an intoxicating mix of intricate rhythms, folkloric poetry and breathtaking improvisation. Featuring the traditional Cuban rhythm section of ‘tres’ guitar, bongos, bass and vocals, Papalote adds piano, conga, flute, clarinet, and saxophone, creating a soulful interplay of rhythms and lyricism. They merge the traditional with the unconventional in a way that captivates and exhilarates.
Evolving around a group of devoted musicians digging into the ‘son montuno’, Papalote’s repertoire draws inspiration from legends like Arsenio Rodriguez and explores less common Cuban musical styles, like the ‘changüi’ and ‘nengón’.
The energetic quintet play innovative distillations of bigger band versions paying tribute to the Master ‘soneros’. Their adaptive approach infuses elements of Latin, Jazz and Salsa into the classic ‘son’ repertoire creating an exhilarating new style for modern Latin dance audiences.
Jonno Lightstone
Jonno Lightstone is a multi-instrumentalist, equally at home on saxophone, clarinet and flute. He graduated from the Humber College Jazz program in 1990 and holds a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology from York University. Eclectic in his taste, Jonno has performed in numerous bands playing a wide range of musical styles, including classical, jazz, reggae, ska, flamenco and klezmer. His connection to salsa and Latin jazz runs deep, having studied and played with Memo Acevedo.
Neil Gardiner
Neil Gardiner is a Toronto-based singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer. A music professional playing Afro-Cuban music for over 3 decades (as co-founder of Klave y Kongo, with Macayo and others), Neil also performs Persian neo-traditional music (beatmap, Soli, Reza Darakshani, Saba Zameni) and is equally at home in diverse musical traditions including African, swing, rock, dub and other styles. In Papalote, Neil’s fluid piano playing and fluent vocalizing ignite the band’s celebration of the Cuban ‘son’ tradition.
Larry Lewis
Larry Lewis began his career as a classical guitarist and has a ‘Premier Prix’ in Classical Guitar from The Paris Conservatory. A professional guitarist/teacher/composer Larry has studied and performed Cuban music for over 2 decades. For the past 5 years he has played the Cuban ‘tres’ guitar, an instrument that is a key element in musical styles including ‘son’, ‘changüi’ and ‘nengón’. Larry has played Cuban son music with many groups starting in 2003 with his first Cuban group, Ropas Viejas, also appearing with Los Caballeros del Son and Son Aché, and with Tres Kilos and Papalote. In Santiago de Cuba Larry studied and performed with Master ‘treseros’ Yoanys Mustelier, Idamel Martinez and Hermino Vera, and appeared with Cañanbu and Changüi de Santiago at both La Casa de la Trova and La Casa de las Tradiciones.
Paco Luviano
Paco Luviano hails from a family of musicians from Acapulco, México. Paco has played with dozens of international artists such as Liona Boyd, Jane Bunnett, Hilario Durán, Frankie Valli, and Paquito D’Rivera, and in diverse musical jazz, pop, latin jazz, and global projects. Paco produced Green River Sessions by artist, Hannah Burgé, and his composition, “Espera Esperanto” appears on the 2018 Universal Canada release, RCM produced, KUNÉ: Canada’s Global Orchestra, of which he is a founding member.
Mario Allende
Mario Allende has dedicated his life to exploring and sharing the music, history and culture that surrounds him. Lauded as a studied yet emotional musician, Mario is restlessly creative and a spirited performer. A gifted educator, he manages to reach any audience, having delivered workshops to children and adults, professionals and enthusiasts across four continents. No matter the group, he manages to bring his knowledge and expertise in a manner that both engages and inspires.
“Papalote, a quintet hailing from Toronto, has carved a distinctive niche within the vibrant tapestry of world music through their innovative approach to Cuban music (Son Montuno). This group merges the traditional with the unconventional in a way that captivates, educates and exhilarates the audience. Their unique sound—a rich amalgamation of Son, Bolero, Cha-cha-cha, and Nengon—is not just a testament to their technical prowess but also to their deep reverence for Cuban folkloric traditions. What truly sets Papalote apart is their audacious inclusion of instruments like the clarinet’s warm, woody tones beneath the complex rhythms and poetic lyricism typical of Son Montuno. This unexpected twist not only enriches their musical landscape but also underscores the quintet’s commitment to exploring and expanding the boundaries of traditional Cuban music. Papalote’s dedication to their craft and their innovative use of unconventional instruments within a traditional framework showcase their importance on the Toronto music stage, proving that the heart of Cuban Son can resonate with universal appeal.”
Marco Fonseca — Educator
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