MEXIKA

We are MEXIKA, we perform exciting “traditional and new music with the ancient, exotic and cosmic sounds of the instruments of our ancestral México!”

MEXIKA brings a virtual museum to performances, performing on a vast array of such cool instruments as Gourd Water Drums, Bamboo and Stone Marimba, Clay and Bamboo Flutes and Ocarinas, Sea Shell Trumpets, Eagle Whistles and more! Each member of MEXIKA always takes time to explain our music and demonstrate instruments. We teach culture to our audiences but ask them reflect on their own roots. Our heritage is Mexican, we are mostly native Americans, our ancestors were among the first settlers of the Americas, possibly over 60,000 years ago!

About the Artist: MARTIN ESPINO
38 years professional musician, classically trained B.Mus with Honors (performance & ancient European music). Since 1975, I have been playing the instruments of my ancestors not because I saw someone else doing this; because there was NO ONE to copy…but because I had inspired myself. The main thought I had was: “I’d love to help bring these instruments back to life” and so, for more than 29 years of my life (in the beginning it wasn’t cool to play these instruments and no one was playing these instruments), I have conducted honest scholarly research into my ancestral Mexicano heritage, which includes not only my Hispanic but my Indigenous heritage. I am Tepehuano (Durango), Yaqui (Sonora) and Spanish = Mexicano. Since the 80’s: I pioneered performance/teaching methods into what I call “Interactive Performance”, gaining heavy experience working with all ages, ethnicities and abilities which I incorporate into the performances/workshops that both MEXIKA and I present! During this time I was also one of the very people to present/perform instruments of the Andes with Bolivian folklorist, Mario Torrico. Since the early 90’s I helped revive/preserve such little known Mexican instruments as the “Water Drum” (Yaqui/Huichol etc.); the “Tawitol” (Hunter’s Bow instrument of the Tepehuano/Cora etc.). Both the Water Drum and the Tawitol are instruments of my heritage. I also invented such instruments as the “Jaguar Voice” and the “Arco de Lluvia”. Since the 90’s: I have toured throughout the U.S., mostly California, and Mexico (Baja California, Colima, Guerrero, Tabasco and Chiapas). Since the 90’s: I have been making instruments, becoming an expert with gourd and bamboo. I have made more then 40,000 instruments in workshops and those that I play and sell. I am honest with my art, myself and to others.
Please: Beware the artists who do not tell who they learned from (usually they learned from me or Xavier Quijas).

About the Artist: CHRISTOPHER GARCIA
Chris, 43, Mexicano, is a percussionist and classically trained musician (Cal Arts). He has made his career as a master of the North Indian drum called Tabla. He also plays a very mean marimba and drum set in various styles as well being familiar with a vast variety of "world" hand percussion. He currently performs/tours with groups/people like: Alex Degrassi, Michael Manring, Nels Cline, Quarteto Nuevo, Continuum, Frank Zappa_s Grande Mothers of Invention, Michael Pierre Vlatkovich, Ancient Grooves and many others.

About the Artist: ERICK BARRAZA
Erick, 28, Mexicano (Mexika heritage), comes from a musical family (his mother sang with the group, El Chicano) and began playing the Huehuetl (Mexika/Aztec ceremonial drum) at age 17. Toured throughout the West Coast (Mexico and California). He once opened a show for “Jaguares” at the Greek Theatre with Aztec Dancers. He is constantly expanding his creative horizons and abilities as one the finest, open minded and most versatile “indigenous Mexican percussion” instrumentalists around!!

Left to Right: Chris Garcia, Martin Espino, Erick Barraza

Our First Year of Performances 2004:
“Estrellas de Nuestra Cultura Awards” – Music Center of L.A. County; Long Beach Community Television; El Dia de Los Muertos at Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center, Santa Rosa, CA, El Dia de Los Muertos at Whittier Public Library and MAYAZTECA, Azuza, CA; L.A. Gourd Festival at the L.A. Arboretum; International Bamboo Festival at Pacific Asia Museum & Huntington Gardens; Fiestas Patrias at Mural Amphitheater, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA and Rainier Cultural Center, Seattle, WA; Fiestas Patrias at Pleasanton Library and Pleasanton City Schools, CA; Olvera Street Fiestas Patrias; Santa Fe Springs Fiestas Patrias; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, L.A., CA; Summer Concerts at Rancho Los Cerritos Cultural Arts Center, Long Beach, CA; Southwest Museum, Pasadena, CA

For booking information contact

Email: martinprehispanic@yahoo.com
or call: (562) 713.2774