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Ayatana (Ventilador Music CDA 035, 2003)
The Ventilador label has become Barcelona's essential label for new world music talent. Ayatana is an unusual group that falls into the growingly popular "mestizo" (hybrid) category. It's unusual because the veteran musicians combine flamenco, world percussion and jazz using instruments that most flamenco and mestizo artists rarely use. The most intriguing is the use of the marimba, an instrument rarely (if ever) used in Flamenco.
The foundation of Ayatana is percussion (palmas, cajón, shakers, frame drums, etc.), and marimba combined with the harmonies and melodies of the archilaúd, an instrument derived from the lute that has a much longer neck and resonance box. There are also Flamenco and Gypsy rumba vocals throughout the album by singer and dancer Vicky Romero.
World Music Central
http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/2003121220363638