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News
| Economy
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| Nature |
Volume
16, Number 8 |
Also
in
this section:  A worthy introduction to Panama's musical traditions a review by Eric Jackson Passage to Panama: A
Musical
Journey
a video on DVD, available from Amazon.com a Fred Salaff Film (2008) produced by Fred Salaff and Juan Antonio Espinosa Aguilar directed by Fred Salaff narrated by Juan Antonio Espinosa Aguilar with Vitín Paz, Carlos Garnett, Rubén Blades, Samuel Archer, Shorty & Slim, the Beachers, Máximo Rodríguez, Juan Coronel, Solinka, Ceferino Nieto, German Vergara, Jaime Ellis, Reggie Boyce, Monchy Lucca, Fredy Anglin, Rafael Lay Jr., Juan Formell, Orlando Ruiz, Ricky Staple, Colaquito Cortez, Idania Dowman, Francisco Buckley Jr., Roberto Marañon, Reggie Johnson, Víctor Boa, Benito Guardia, traditional Kuna musicians, traditional Embera musicians, et al in Spanish with English subtitles This, more or less, is who we are. One might reasonably list the things that this video, which really ought to be available in Panama and likely will be soon, lacks. This country's dominant youth music is the hip hop genre of regueton (not to be confused with reggae, although there are a few musicians who do both) and Panama has a vibrant rock scene that includes some notable rockers who make their livings mostly abroad. Without casting aspersions about El General, Kafu Banton, Cienfue or Cage 9, this survey of the roots and influences of Panamanian music is not about them or what they do. In the genres that are covered, there are notable omissions. This is not a concert documentary like the Woodstock flick, so has few entire performances of a whole number. But let us not pick nits. No cultural work can be all things. Any atttempt at such a thing is bound to fail. This video, however, very definitely succeeds. This reviewer would expect that the best of the omitted musicians would overlook any slight and understand that Passage to Panama puts them and what they do into a context. Someone might argue this or that fine point of ethnography, quibble about the weight given to the Cuban influence on Panamanian music, or point to other Latin American and Caribbean influences that are not as strongly emphasized in this work. In the end, however, the Panamanian music scene as a whole will be enhanced in the eyes of those unacquainted with it, because this video pretty well summarizes and illustrates what has gone into Panama's musical traditions. Panama is The Crossroads of the World, athwart the old Spanish trade route that went from Spain to the Greater Antilles through Panama to the Pacific side of South America. It's a place where the French and the Americans built major works, bringing in people from many places but black people from the Caribbean countries in particular. It's a place where indigenous cultures survived, and where these and imported influences merged. It's a place that exported its musicians, who picked up influences and brought them back home. This well made video is not just a guide to understanding it all, it's an hour and a half of entertainment that's well worth the price of admission. Also
in
this section: News |
Economy |
Culture |
Opinion |
Lifestyle |
Nature
Panama
Vacations |
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©
2010 by Eric Jackson email: editor@thepanamanews.com or e_l_jackson_malo@yahoo.com Mailing
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