Radio Mundial

A collective venture based in New York City, Radio Mundial was founded in the late 90s by vocalist and guitarist Jean Shepherd, who is of Puerto Rican and Peruvian descent, and DJ and producer Alexi Delano, whose origins are Chilean and Swedish. They made two successful singles on RX Records after which the duo was joined by the co-leader’s brother, Richard Shepherd (guitar), Celer Linares (bass), Geraldo Flores (conga drums), player John Uman (timbale), and Andy Sanesi (drums). The enlarged band offered an exhilarating and often raw blend of musical genres. Other band members have included conga drummer Gianni Mano and bass player Gustavo Amarante. Each of the individual members of the group had experience in playing Latin jazz, rock, reggae and ska and brought all of these and more to Radio Mundial. Through its exciting live performances the band quickly built an international reputation that was enhanced by their unusual ability to create a similar atmosphere in the recording studio (they made their debut in 2003 with La Raíz). Rhythmically infectious and vibrantly danceable, the resulting musical mixture was also coloured with folk elements of the high Andes and Puerto Rican dance music.