Santa Lucia

Description

La cumbia sabanera is one of the many foundational musical traditions born in the remote region of Montes de María, within the Caribbean enclave of Colombia. At the forefront of this "sabanero" style is the accordion - this magical instrument with enchanting melodies that, combined with the essential elements of the cumbia's rhythmic section, has repeatedly generated a global phenomenon. Each generation seems to spark a new enthusiasm for cumbia, resonating from the savanna to the Caribbean Sea and extending well beyond, onto the international stage. One of the true masters, at the very heart of this original movement, is the legendary and undisputed "King of Cumbia" ("El Rey de la Cumbia"), Andrés Landero. In short, Andrés Landero is an iconic figure of this prestigious instrument; he formed a true school of disciples and admirers who played and studied alongside him, from the 1950s until his passing in 2000. His performances, discography, and compositions are impeccable, and accordionists from around the world have adopted this same Hohner instrument - with its irresistible charm - to perpetuate Landero's art within the subculture of cumbia that he shaped. While the global cumbia movement has evolved over time, countries, and decades thanks to modern innovations, one tradition remains true to the roots of this sound carried by the accordion and to cumbia sabanera in its most authentic and organic form. Even as the international popularity of cumbia reaches new heights and talents emerge from all corners of the globe, no one is better positioned to carry on Andrés Landero's legacy than his own grandson. Born in the very cradle of cumbia sabanera, in San Jacinto (Colombia), Yeison Landero began learning the accordion from childhood under the tutelage of his illustrious grandfather. As an adult, Yeison has flourished as a virtuoso accordionist and cultural ambassador, deeply committed to preserving and transmitting this typically Colombian heritage. Not only has Yeison taken the initiative to organize the International Cumbia Fest in San Jacinto and founded the "Fundación Landero Vive" (Landero Lives Foundation), but he has also performed, with his powerful and talented band, on many prestigious stages in Latin America, the United States, and Europe. We would like to suggest that there may have been a missing piece in Yeison's impressive CV: a record release with Names You Can Trust. From their base in Brooklyn, these champions have been advocating for traditional Colombian recordings and their modern variations for nearly twenty years. The label remedied this gap when a fortuitous break in Yeison's American tour in 2025 turned into an ideal recording opportunity in upstate New York. As the warmth recalled that of a Caribbean savanna, this summer session on the East Coast, bringing together Yeison and his touring "conjunto," was able to summon all the spirits and all the "sabor" (flavor) at the heart of this tropical art. With his uncle Javier Guerra Alvis (son of Andrés Landero) providing the steady rhythm of the "guacharaca," and the rest of the group - talented and seasoned from touring - at the top of their game, the ensemble revisited "Santa Lucia," one of the most revered and profound tracks by Andrés Landero, while performing an original composition by Yeison himself, aptly titled "Cumbia Sin Fronteras." These two tracks perfectly summarize the current dynamic of the cumbia scene: from the homage to Colombian rural traditions with "Santa Lucia" to the international rise of modern cumbia with "Cumbia Sin Fronteras" (Cumbia without borders). Sonically, these tracks find a harmonious balance between raw authenticity, tradition, and absolute uniqueness. Their release in the 45 RPM (7-inch) format - the preferred format - ensures they will reach the hands of DJs and "sonideros" around the world, just as the records of patriarch Landero have done over the decades and generations. The heir of cumbia ("El heredero de la cumbia") is on the right path: Landero lives!