As soon as you mention Papa Mambo, people react with excitement. Created by Chilean-born classical guitarist Rodrigo Muñoz in 1989, Winnipeg’s Papa Mambo started out as a spirited party band and soon became recognized as one of the most skillful, exciting and important innovators in Canada’s Latin music scene. The group features some of Winnipeg’s most sought-after musicians. This ensemble (with up to 10 members!) has played the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival almost every year in its 31-year existence as well as the Montreal Jazz Fest, the Vancouver Jazz Fest, the Halifax Jazz Fest and The Winnipeg Folk Festival mainstage amongst others, and has three CDs to its credit plus several original singles. Papa Mambo has also also embraced Afro Cuban music on a symphonic level, having performed sold-out shows both with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Under the leadership of the charismatic Muñoz, the band delivers the goods each time they play.
