Yeison Landero is the grandson of Andrés Landero, the man who arguably invented what we know today as cumbia when he translated the indigenous melodies of San Jacinto’s gaitas (flutes) to the accordion, hitched them to propulsive African-derived rhythms, added electric bass and brought lyrics that championed the lives of rural Native and Black campesinos in Columbia. This mix of musical and cultural elements captivated Latin America starting in the 1960s and it’s as big now as it’s ever been, largely due to torchbearer Yeison Landero.
He began studying with his grandfather when he was 7 years old, and today Yeison and his band are keeping the classic cumbia sound alive, updating it for 21st century listeners and dancers, and bringing it to the world through their performances and recordings. Secret Planet and JAMinc were pleased to bring them to Richmond for the first time. The energetic evening went down at Carytown’s Révéler Experiences on January 17th, 2025.
