Surprises from the cajon

Rafael Santa Cruz, the new radio man, announces new performances and the launch of his percussion line.

The cajon is so Peruvian that sometimes we forget it. However, its wooden vital sound captivates. For example, Rafael Santa Cruz published this year the book and CD-ROM The Afro-Peruvian Cajon. The 700 copies were sold in 80 days. A total record in an environment not really attached to reading. That is why, the many-sided artist prepared the second edition for the end of this month. This is not the only news that Santa Cruz takes out from the mouth of his cajon. In July, he will be again under the direction of Michel Gómez to perform a mulatto patriarch in the soap opera called “Eva del Edén”. He is also preparing along with Victoria Santa Cruz a performance that will come out in August. In parallel, he goes on with his communicator task. Every Saturday he is in charge of the speaking style of the program Magazín Cultural, through CPN Radio, at 14h00 hours. “We try to demystify the term “culture”, and we include interviews that not only refer to theatre and ballet”, explains the musician, singer and actor. In 1984, at the Pittsburgh University (USA) he directed the radio program Aquí está tu Tierra (Here is your Country Home), where nostalgia was enlivened through Latin American songs and news. After 20 years, he catches the mikes on his own again. Along with the Cimarrones activists, he presented the documentary Quintosuyo (2004) “to remind the Black culture contribution during these 500 years, since the Spanish arrived” explains Rafael, raising his voice through the sound of the cajones played by his students, for he teaches since high school. Last week, the 40 year old musician took his cajon to the heights of Cusco accompanying the band “Los Nosequién y Los Nosecuántos”. “We made the arrangements for me to play at some of the National Tour concerts in July”, he comments. When he was 14 years old, he recorded the disc Socavón with Nicomedes Santa Cruz, untiring promoter of the “décima”. Later, he played with Miki González, Eva Ayllón and other local celebrities, in addition to the international tours made with the Santa Cruz’s Brothers & Afroperú.

“There are many expressions that are about to disappear”, he says worried. “It is folklore’s inherent characteristic: there are some aspects that are lost because we are neither masters nor students”. This, he says, happens with the “Socavón” (the décima sang in Peruvian style), the Limenian marinera and the zamacueca. “The singers’ “desafios” and “contrapunteos” (competitions) have disappeared. A few compose them and the only thing left are recorded songs or chants that someone learnt”. He remembers that among the last masters figures Abelardo Vásquez, who impelled the “cajita”, that high-pitched and small instrument which hopefully is being revalued. In order to alleviate this absence, Rafael makes his contribution. In July, he will launch to the market his Santa Cruz Percussion Line. He will construct or assemble these vital instruments, which pump so much energy that there is no envy to any heart in love with Peru’s sounds.