Grupo Fantasma Sonidos Gold

PRINCE FAVES RELEASE NEW ALBUM

11-piece, Austin, Texas, dynamo Grupo Fantasma release their new studio record, Sonidos Gold, June 17 on Aire Sol/High Wire Music. Known for their tireless tour schedule and much talked about gigs backing Spoon and Prince, Grupo Fantasma’s third studio album is a cohesive collection of genre-defying songs accented by their Latin style with a modern twist.

“It’s the definitive Grupo Fantasma album, the one we’ve wanted to make since the beginning,” declares Adrian Quesada, one of the band’s guitarists, co-founders and head producer. “The sound is organic, live, while sonically it’s big and roomy with psychedelic and cinematic undertones.” Guest performances on the album include legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker and Fania All-Stars’ pianist and arranger Larry Harlow alongside trombonist Greg Boyer (Prince, Parliament Funkadelic).

Their horn section just provided backup for Prince during his Coachella appearance last weekend. The band’s relationship with Prince began with a two-month residency at his Las Vegas nightclub, 3121, and evolved into a series of backing roles at events such as the CBS Superbowl Bash in South Beach and the ALMA Awards. According to Jose Galeano, Grupo Fantasma’s elder statesman, “Prince’s seal of approval sends a message that the band’s music and performances are of the highest quality, and that we can conquer anything we put our minds to. It was quite an accomplishment. Even if the masses don’t know it yet, he believes that we kick some serious ass!”

Pop Culture Press calls Grupo Fantasma “One of the all-time great Texas bands…Their catchy sounds straddle so many musical genres that putting them in a particular niche seems pointless.” The Philadelphia Weekly calls them “one of the sickest live bands ever.” Austin City Limits recently did a segment with the band and they will perform at this year’s Bonnaroo and Montreal Jazz Fest.