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The music of El Búho has been described as funky fusion mixed with world beat and R&B over Southern-fried rock roots. El Búho is the brainchild of trumpeter Gary Gazaway. A native of Northwest Arkansas, Gazaway was influenced by the region's rich musical heritage of blues, soul, Gospel, rockabilly, and jazz. Gazaway has traveled to New York, Miami, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, South America, Atlanta and Maui, exploring every genre of music and culture offered in each community. Some of the artists Gazaway has worked with include Israel Lopez 'Cacho', Lisette, Opa, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Manolo Badrena, Milton Nascimento and many other Latin artists. Later he began recording and performing with Col. Bruce Hampton and the Late Bronze Age and performed with the Aquarian Rescue Unit and Phish. He also toured with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joe Cocker. Gazaway compiled all of these styles and influences to create a unique sound, which later became the foundation of the El Buho.
Wham Bam Boodle, the first project by El Búho, features guest appearances by Victor Wooten, Oteil Burbridge, Col. Bruce Hampton and Mike Gordon. According to Fuse Magazine: ' El Búho should appeal to fans of the Flecktones, Miles Davis' electric bands of the 70's, ARU, Zappa, Phish and Captain Beefhart among others.' The Riverfront Times of St. Louis says: 'If you like fusion, either old-school or new-school, and can handle free-floating solos, noodling constructions and a bunch of crazy-legged dancers in your face, you'll dig this. If not, you won't.' Panorama Online called El Búho 'one of the most innovative ideas to grace the music world in recent years…. El Búho put on a concert that was nothing short of spectacular. The group played everything from Latin grooves and Mideastern melodies to classic blues and straight-ahead jazz.'
