OLGA CERPA & MESTISAY
“Olga is accompanied by five excellent musicians, in a mix of atlantic sounds full of elegance and island flavor, with the Canary timple and the Portuguese guitar in an elegant marriage”
— Gaceta Latina de New York
CANARY ISLAND | SPAIN
OLGA CERPA & MESTISAY
THE FEMALE VOICE FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS
Atlantic sounds full of elegance and island flavor of the Canary timple and the Portuguese guitar carried by the mastery and vocal passion of Olga Cerpa.
OLGA CERPA Y MESTISAY, is one of the most unique creative adventures in popular music on the Canary Islands. and epitomise the concept of Atlantic Connections. For almost four decades they have been researching and interpreting the music and poetry of the Canary Islands and following the threads of Ibero- Latin-Lusophone-African influences which are part of the interwoven history and cultures of the Macaronesian archipelago.
The vocal soloist OLGA CERPA is considered the most relevant female voice in island-based music in the last three decades. Nominated for two Latin Grammys, she has shared stage with artists such as Omara Portuondo, Joan Manuel Serrat, Julio Pereira and Milladoiro among others.
MESTISAY is one of the most popular bands of the Canary Islands. Mestisay hoard multiple influences, coming from Canarian musical roots, although also incorporates sounds from countries and communities with extensive relationship with the Canary Islands: Portuguese Music, in a common atlantic way, Bolero, through the Mexicans and Cuban films from 40s, African music geographically so close to Canarian archipelago.
All this work forms a musical synthesis that insists in the preciousness and richness of the Canarian culture - wich could be considered as "Atlantic music”. The group has recorded 15 albums throughout its history and has developed several projects including highly successful theatrical productions.
Together they toured more than 20 countries across three continents.
Videos.
“Jallos” Live.
“Lástima” Live (2021) - Palosanto Project
A life full of music: Spanish documentary about Olga Cerpa. (2021)
Show Formats & Projects
PALOSANTO
PALOSANTO - a recording project and a show whose concept is the dialogue between the guitar and the human voice.
Guitar songs from around the world, carried by the passionate voice of Olga Cerpa, accompanied by the renowned guitarists Hirahi Afonso, Pancho Delgado and Manuel Gonzalez - which are the pulsating musical heart of Mestisay. Musically the show will be going across continents - from the Canary Islands to Venezuela, Cuba, Capo Verde, Argentina and many more. The result is an organic musical trip to a captivating acoustic environment full of nuances.
Band:
Olga Cerpa - Voice
Manuel González - Bass guitar
Pancho Delgado - Guitar
Hirahi Afonso - Guitar and timple
Braulio Pérez - Backing vocals
Sound - Juan Carlos Hernández and Jesús Mendoza
Lighting - Fran Pérez
JALLOS
JALLOS - A musical journey through spaces full of light, good energy, root sounds and Atlantic colors.
It’s signature sounds is a diverse repertoire with it’s origins in America and Africa, between which the Canary Islands have always been the bridge. This formation incorporates Olga Cerpas mastery and vocal passion, two acoustic guitars (spanish and portuguese), bass guitar and a percussion section that would fit in an Afro-Cuban context. In addition to the clarinetist – who doubles on soprano sax and flute – the lead instruments include mandola and the Canary Islands timple.
Band:
Olga Cerpa - Lead voice
Manolo González - Spanish guitar
Pancho Delgado - Portuguese guitar
Hirahi Afonso - Timple
Totó Noriega - Percussion
Marco Valero - Bass guitar
Jairo Cabrera - Saxo, trumpet, flute, clarinete
Achievements.
Highlights.
Award “Internacional Cubadisco” (2019)
Womex Selection (2018)
Latin Grammy Nomination for best “Álbum Tropical Tradicional” with Album Vereda tropical (2018)
Multiple awards and recognitions from the Canary Islands: “Hija Predilecta de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (2018), Premio SER Canarias (2018), Premio Taburiente (2017), Premio Mujer Canaria (2014).
Latin Grammy Nominierung for best “Álbum Folklórico” (2014) with Collaborations Album “Mujeres con Cajones” with Albita and Eva Ayllón.
Discography.
2021 - Palosanto
2020 - Conciones para un Poeta
2020 - Una Noche de Boleros (Live)
2018 - Vereda tropical
2017 - Jallos
2016 - Estación Lisboa
2012 - Atlántico Radio
2008 - Pequeño fado y otras canciones de amor
… and many more. Full discography here …
Voices.
"She is a Canary performer revealed to us as a great singer, managing songs from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean with mastery and vocal passion", J. Rincón / Miami Herald
"Her voice is poignant, within it many years of knowledge, her own and that of other people before her. She looks like a light source, a life spring", F. Da Silva / Diario de Lisboa
Traditional folk from Canary Islands flavoured with Portugues Fado, Cuban Bolero and the Warmth of Africa.
Line Up & Travel Party.
5-7 Musicians
1 Crew
Specials.
2 different shows:
Project PALOSANTO: 5 musicians
Project JALLO: 7 musicians
Territory & Availability.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland (GAS)
2022 - All year.
2023 - All year.