Andrés Mauricio Cabas Rosales (born 7 October 1976), or more commonly known as Cabas, is a Colombia

Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

n musician. His music is characterized by having a Caribbean-like sound.

Biography

Cabas was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. His father Eduardo, a musician and composer himself, taught Cabas music from the age of five. At six, Cabas formally studied piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 and became skilled at this and various other instruments, including percussion

Percussion instrument

A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...

. Through his teenage years, he acquired a taste for classical music, rock and roll

Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

, electronic music

Electronic music

Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...

 and also for his native cumbia

Cumbia

Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...

 and fandango

Fandango

Fandango is a lively couple's dance, usually in triple metre, traditionally accompanied by guitars and castanets or hand-clapping . Fandango can both be sung and danced. Sung fandango is usually bipartite: it has an instrumental introduction followed by "variaciones"...

 music. He was also inspired by his former music teacher in Colegio San Carlos, Helbert Ballestas, who helped him develop the idea of fusing Colombian and rock music.

As a young adult, Cabas traveled, first to Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

 and later New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

; it was in New York's nightclubs that he met prominent figures of jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 and salsa

Salsa music

Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...

, inspiring him to write and compose music. Perhaps paradoxically, New York was also an unhappy phase in Cabas' life, where he felt alienated and depressed. The period resulted in his self-titled album, Cabas, in 2000 which became a huge success in Colombia. His single "Mi Bombón" ("My Blossom") topped the country's charts for three consecutive months, earning him a Gold Disc and a double platinum disc. To consolidate this success, Cabas toured Colombia, Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...

 and Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

 in 2001.
In 2002, Cabas began to promote his music in other parts of Latin America

Latin America

Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages  – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...

 and the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, receiving a good reception from critics and an article in the Billboard magazine. He performed his first concert in the United States in late 2002. Cabas performed with artists such as Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz

Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...

 in Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, and Shakira

Shakira

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...

 and Miguel Bosé

Miguel Bosé

Miguel Dominguín Bosé is a Latin Grammy-winning Spanish/Italian musician and actor.-Early life:Bosé was born in San Fernando Hospital in Panama City, Panama, the son of the famous Italian actress Lucia Bosé and the legendary bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguín. He is also a cousin of Carmen...

 in Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

.

In 2003, his second album Contacto (Contact) could be said to define his style. Contact mixed percussion and drums

Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

 with bass

Bass guitar

The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

 and rock beats, and the first single, "La Caderona" ("The Big-hipped woman") had similar success to "Mi Bombón". Cabas' first music video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

, from the song "Leche" ("Milk"), premiered on MTV Latin America

MTV Networks Latin America

MTV Networks Latin America is a subsidiary of Viacom-owned MTV Networks International. MTVNLA's operational headquarters is located in Miami, FL, USA soon to be relocated to Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. As currently being based in the United States, all MTVNLA channels are regulated by the...

. Other singles such as "Bolita de Trapo" ("Little Rug Ball") also topped the charts in Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. After this success, Cabas decided to launch a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 tour.

His participation in a tribute concert to the musician Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana

Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...

 increased his exposure. Cabas earned a Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist

Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist

The Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists, nationally and internationally...

, a celebration in which he became notorious for simply walking to the awards instead of taking a limousine. At the MTV Latin Awards

MTV Video Music Awards Latin America

Premios MTV Latinoamérica was the Latin American version of the Video Music Awards. They were established in 2002 to celebrate the top music videos of the year in Latin America and the world. They are presented annually and broadcast live on MTV Networks Latin America...

 he has been nominated for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Interpretation, and for the People's Prize and Best Rock Video for the Lo Nuestro Awards

Lo Nuestro Awards

Lo Nuestro is an awards show honoring the best of Latin music, presented by television network Univision. The awards began in 1989. Notable recipients include Selena, Gloria Estefan, Juan Gabriel, Olga Tañón, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Juanes, Laura Pausini, Luis Miguel, Maná, Juan Luis Guerra, ...

.

In 2005, Cabas recorded his third album, Puro Cabas (Pure Cabas), in El Cielo Recording Studios, Monterrey

Monterrey

Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...

, Mexico, with the support of famous Colombian composer Kike Santander

Kike Santander

Dr. Flavio Enrique Santander Lora, commonly known as Kike Santander, is a Colombian composer, record producer, arranger and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the principal Latino composers of the day, having worked with artists such as David Bisbal, Christian Castro, Thalía, Chayanne,...

, musician Sargento García, and producers Toy Hernandez and Sacha Triujeque. Puro Cabas proved to be another huge success. Cabas' first single, "La Cadena de Oro" ("The Gold Locket"), was a major hit in Latin America, along with its music video that stayed in MTV's top ten for some time. This hit was followed immediately by his second single, "Increíble" ("Incredible"), and performances in various Latin American music festivals.

Children's music

In 2006, Cabas composed a series of 37 children's songs commissioned by the Swiss-based ZERI Foundation. This was perhaps the greatest challenge ever for Cabas' creative mind. However, by September he completed the task and successfully recorded under the guidance of his father Eduardo songs in different music styles that bring a positive message to children. The title song "Yo Quiero Vivir en Un Mundo Mejor" (I Want To Live in a Better World) is a sing along that immediately catches the imagination of the children. These songs accompany 36 fables which have been written by Gunter Pauli, the Belgian economist turned scientist who is dedicated to exposing kids to over 1,000 academic subjects without any jargon so that they can design solutions bringing water, food, housing, health, energy, jobs and education to all with what they have. The DVD with all 37 songs and the 36 fables presented in English and Spanish was released in a limited edition in April 2007. The commercial version will be available in 2008.

Theater Work

In 2009, Cabas joined forces with Repertorio Español theater in New York and renowned Theater, Film & TV Director, Jorge Alí Triana for an adaptation of Mario Vargas Llosa's "Pantaleón y las visitadoras". Cabas composed the music for this original adaptation by father-and-daughter team Jorge Alí and Verónica Triana. The production premiered on October 2009. The original cast recording may be obtained by visiting www.repertorio.org/pantaleon.

Cabas (November 2000)

• "Susurro" ("Whisper")
• "Himno a la Mamita" ("Anthem to the Pretty Lady")
• "Mala Hierba" ("Bad Grass")
• "Mi Bombón" ("My Bombon")
• "Juancho"
• "Tu Boca" ("Your Mouth")
• "Ana María"
• "Jincho" ("Drunk")
• "Fandango Viejo" ("Old Fandango")
• "...Se llama Cumbia" ("...It's called Cumbia")
• "La Cantaleta" ("The Babble Sing")
• "Fiesta de Tambores" ("Festival of the Drums")
• "Colombia Tierra Querida" ("My Dear Colombia ")
• "A Veces Soy Feliz" ("Sometimes I'm Happy")

Contacto (September 2003)

• "La Caderona" ("The Big-Hipped Woman")
• "Golpe Negro" ("Black Hit")
• "Declaración del Bizco" ("Declaration of the Lazy-eyed")
• "Bolita de Trapo" ("Little Rug Ball")
• "Contacto" ("Contact")
• "Patasarriba" ("Upside down")
• "Adentro" ("Inside")
• "Arrastraíto" ("Dragged")
• "Confía" ("Trust")
• "La Conquista" ("The Conquest")
• "Puerto Jabalí" ("Wild Boar Port")
• "Monocuco
• "El Peregrino" ("The Pilgrim")
• "Cosa Sabrosa" ("Tasty Thing")
• "Machuca" ("Squish")
• "Primer Amor" ("First Love")

Puro Cabas (September 2005)

• "Intro"
• "Guacamaya" ("Macaw")
• "La Cadena de Oro" ("The Golden Chain")
• "Poseído" ("Possessed")
• "Vámonos de Aquí" ("Let's Get Away from Here")
• "Increíble" ("Incredible")
• "La Quejosa" ("The Whiner")
• "Llega la Noche" ("The Night Arrives")
• "Salvaje" ("Wild")
• "Caribe Soy" ("I am Caribbean")
• "Likua" ("Blend")
• "Chiles Rellenos"
• "Quién Dijo que No" ("Who Said No")

De la sombra a la luz (September 2006)

• "Guacamaya"
• "La Cadena de Oro" ("The Golden Chain")
• "Poseído" ("Possessed")
• "Vámonos de Aquí" ("Let's Go Away from Here")
• "Increíble" ("Incredible")
• "La Quejosa" ("The Whiner")
• "Llega la Noche" ("The Night Arrives")
• "Salvaje" ("Wild")
• "Caribe Soy" ("I am Caribbean")
• "Likua" ("Blend")
• "Chiles Rellenos" ("Stuffed Chiles")
• "Quién Dijo que No" ("Who Said No")

Amores Difíciles (February 2008)

• "No Dejo de Pensar en Ti" ("I Never Stop Thinking About You")
• "Bonita" ("Beautiful")
• "Como Nuestro Amor No Hay Dos" ("There is No Love Like Ours")
• "He Pecado" ("I've Sinned")
• "Hoy Que Te Vas" ("Now That You're Leaving")
• "Maleta Sin Fondo" ("Bottomless Suitcase")
• "Amores Difíciles" ("Difficult Love")
• "Donde" ("Where")
• "La Niña Alicia" ("The Little Girl Alicia")
• "Apaga la Luz" ("Turn off the Light")
• "Futuros Recuerdos" ("Future Memories")

Pantaleón y las visitadoras (January 2010)

• "El teniente ejemplar" ("The Exemplary Lieutenant")
• "La pinga loca" ("Crazy Penis")
• "Los pantalones de Pantaleón" ("Pantaleón's Pants")
• "Supermarket"
• "Soldaditos de plomo" ("Toy Soldiers")
• "La tienda del amor (instrumental)" ("Love's store" (instrumental))
• "Oda a Pantaleón" ("Ode to Pantaleón")
• "La amenaza del Sinchi" ("Sinchi's Threat")
• "El himno del batallón" ("The Batallion's Anthem")
• "Adiós, hasta luego" ("Goodbye, until later")
• "Las pesadillas de Pantaleón" ("Pantaleón's Nightmares")
• "Te has vuelto ciego por la Brasileña" ("You've Gone Blind for the Brazilian")
• "La muerte de la Brasileña" (instrumental) ("The Brazilian's Death" (instrumental))
• "Despedida de Pantaleón" ("Pantaleón's Farewell")
• "El teniente ejemplar" reprise ("The Exemplary Lieutenant" reprise)

External links

• Cabas' home page
• Cabas' website
• Cabas Myspace page
• Cabas' blog in Japanese language