Eloy Zúñiga Guinea diffuses the distinctions between classical guitar, raw Mexican folk, introspective songwriting, and jazz. On Friday, November 13 he will be giving his first solo guitar concert outside of Mexico featuring his own songs, those of contemporary Mexican singer songwriters, and innovative arrangements of traditional music. Eloy captivates audiences with impeccable technique and a privileged voice, honed alongside old masters of vernacular song in the tropical exuberance of the Huasteca region where he is from. He tours internationally with folk/jazz quintet La Manta and will be in Toronto this November celebrating the Day of the Dead with his son huasteco trio La Manta.

While studying classical guitar within the confines of the University in Xalapa, Veracruz Eloy realized that he came from a region with its own musical traditions that deserved more respect and consideration. As a child he was fascinated by the old son huasteco musicians in his small town, but as he grew older folk music became harder to find unless you ventured into the hinterland. In an effort to regain this heritage Eloy began to wander the countryside in search of old players and

A lack of musicians he could practice with led to his impressive development of the jarana huasteca (a traditional five string instrument resembling a tenor ukelele) as a solo instrument. He often abandons the customary strumming, limited to supporting the violin, in favour of complex arpeggios, and adventurous melodic forays. While distinctly Mexican, he also connects with the broader “nueva canción” movement of Latin America, having grown up listening to his mother perform the music of Violeta Parra, Atahualpa Yupanqui and Silvio Rodríguez.

Presented in association with Casa Maíz