La Percumotora is the pioneer group in Colombia using Improvisation with Signs system. This method uses a musical language invented by the Argentinian Santiago Vázquez in order to create compositions in real time.
Founded by Rodrigo Matta, La Percumotora has no prepared musical repertoire. Each piece played is the result of conducting improvised ideas that spontaneously sprout from each musician. The only thing that is rehearsed is the arduous training in improvisation resources and communication skills using this sign language.
During the concerts, musicians, instruments, conductor and audience are merged boundless and play being-free together.
Like life itself, La Percumotora’s music is manifested in the delicate and paradoxical balance of improvising plans. That is why…
La Percumotora… Never sounds the same!
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Since 2012, La Percumotora has conquered audiences in important events such as Cali Blues and Folk Festival, La Fiesta de la Música, Festival Cali suena en Vivo, La Feria Internacional del Libro y la Cultura in Medellín and Cali, and Celebra la Música -a homage to José Barros. It performed also as part of the activities schedule of Fundación Gilberto Alzate Avendaño in Bogotá and Bulevard del Rio in Cali. Some concerts have been performed together with the creator of Improvisation with Signs Language himself –Santiago Vazquez– from whom the group has also gratefully received direct training.
In addition to the passion in its concerts, La Percumotora also shares its knowledge through workshops for musicians and workshops for institutions who are interested in implementing this system and its diverse applications, that range from musical training to team building, development, tolerance, respect and coexistence.
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A bit of history…
La Percumotora’s conductor, Rodrigo Matta, was studying jazz in Buenos Aires – Argentina in 2008. There, he was very impressed with the bands La Grande and La Bomba de Tiempo (both founded by Santiago Vázquez) and the system they used to create compositions in real time. This led him to start his education in Centro de Estudios del Ritmo de Buenos Aires –CERBA, today known as Centro de Estudios del Ritmo y Percusión con Señas de Buenos Aires –CERPS (In English: Centre for Studies of Rhythm and Percussion with Signs of Buenos Aires).
Since 2010, during his visits to his native town, Cali –Colombia, Rodrigo began to give workshops for different institutions such as Instituto Popular de Cultura and Conservatorio de Bellas Artes. In the workshops he would teach about what he was learning in Argentina with the hope to expand this system and create a group in the future. The workshops arose a lot of interest among audiences, institutions and musicians. That is how in 2011, already back for good in Cali, Rodrigo convoked those who will become the first set of members of a music group without precedent in Colombia.
At first it was called Laboratorio Rítmico (“The Rhythmic Laboratory“) and then it would adopt the name of La Percumotora. This name reflects the power and efficiency of a machine in which each component is essential. A rhythmic machine that needs wit to put in motion pieces that respond adaptively and collectively to constantly changing circumstances. In June 2012 it makes its first appearance in Teatrino de la Tertulia as part of the event Fiesta de la Música. After that, it went on with several shows and workshops in Cali, Medellín and Bogotá.
Since then, the group holds regular shows and workshops in different cities. It moves with its own rhythm to entertain a variety of scenes, and most importantly while enjoying the play of creating together. The audiences always show a warm, hearty and cheerful reception, specially because they are a fundamental part of the show and are actively involved in the improvisation construction.
La Percumotora… Never sounds the same.