At its heart, El Muki shows how music can be a bridge—connecting cultures, stories, and people across time and place.
Saponegro Records
Gabriel Alegría | Trumpet; Laura Andrea Leguía | Tenor Saxophone; Hugo Alcázar | Drums; Mario Cuba | Bass; Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón | Percussion; Jocho Velásquez | Guitar; JF Maza | Saxophone; Marco Lucioni | cello
For 20 years, the Lima/New York-based Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet has been building bridges—between continents, cultures, and musical traditions. Their latest release, El Muki, marks more than just an anniversary. It’s a reaffirmation of their role as translators—turning ancestral rhythms into something that speaks fluently in the language of jazz.
The album takes its name from El Muki, a mythic Andean figure who guards Peru’s miners—but the parallel runs deeper. The Sextet takes on a similar role, protecting music made by real people. From the sharp trumpet lines of Gabriel Alegría to the grounding force of traditional percussion, Afro-Peruvian tradition is everywhere: in the call-and-response guapeo vocals, the heartbeat of the cajón and quijada, and the winding festejo and landó grooves that underpin many of the tunes.
Like a pot coming to boil, the title track starts with a steady pulse and layers on heat—horns, percussion, guitar, trumpet—until it spills over in a full-band eruption. ‘Luciérnagas’ (Fireflies) is more hypnotic, its rhythm flickering like the lights in its name, while Ausencia’ wraps a quiet ache inside Marco Lucioni’s lush cello lines and haunting saxophone. That saxophone belongs to Laura Andrea Leguía, whose voice—both as a player and composer—is central to the album. Her return to writing after time away brings a renewed emotional depth. “Motherhood changed everything,” she says. “Coming back to composition felt like reclaiming a part of myself.” You can hear that rediscovery in her tunes—there’s reflection, but also a lot of joy.
‘Vista Panorámica’ (Bird’s Eye View) opens with a friendly call-and-response between the saxophones, the bass thumping underneath like a heartbeat. It’s a smooth, rolling tune with a sunny feel, until Jocho Velásquez’s guitar rips in with jagged edges—stretching phrases, twisting the rhythm. The percussion is crisp and exact, and when the horns return in unison, they bring it all back into sync. ‘La Zafra’ (The Harvest) plays loose with time—shifting tempos, tossing in vocal shouts, and moving between different rhythmic patterns. The sax lays back, the band surges forward, and Velásquez steps up again—gritty, expressive, and colored with subtle pedal effects.
The band is a vibrant, intuitive unit led by Gabriel Alegría on trumpet, with Hugo Alcázar on drums, Mario Cuba holding down the bass, Jocho Velásquez weaving guitar lines, Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón on percussion, and JF Maza and Laura Andrea Leguía on saxophones. They listen and move as one—a connection built over years of playing together.
El Muki is a celebration. From NPR features to immersive “Journey to Peru” experiences, the band stays rooted with a weekly residency at Lima’s Jazz Zone while reaching outward through livestreams and an upcoming U.S. tour. They travel worldwide, lead workshops and masterclasses, even host cooking demonstrations—inviting fans to experience Peru firsthand.
At its heart, El Muki shows how music can be a bridge—connecting cultures, stories, and people across time and place. In a world marked by political upheaval and division, this kind of connection feels more needed than ever.
