The US Consulate General Karachi had a rare treat for music lovers on Wednesday night: Grupo Fantasma's pulsating Latin Funk. "What a show!" said Public Affairs Officer Li Ping Lo.
The audience including women and children here at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture loved the band's distinctive fusion music the other night. It was really wonderful to see the level of enthusiasm for music among them.
"Grupo Fantasma is on the visit of Pakistan courtesy of the US Embassy. I really enjoy these cultural exchanges," said Acting Consul General Chad Peterson. "Music is a great way to bring together people of all cultures, ages and interests." he said.
The US State Department has supported a number of similar initiatives in Pakistan, he said. In the past year, the US Consulate General has brought the An Roland jazz quartet, US saxophonist Lee Redfield, Grace McClean and Them Apples (country-themed rock) and the Kentucky Winders (bluegrass).
Front and center of these efforts is the US State Department's $1 million grant to the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) and University of Texas Austin's (UTA) Butler School of Music. The project helps develop composition, instrumental and vocals as well as student and Faculty exchanges between the two institutions.
Grupo Fantasma is a nine-piece, Grammy Award winning Latin funk orchestra from Austin, Texas. In 2011, it won a Grammy for its self-produced release "El Existential." Grupo Fantasma has appeared in AMC's Breaking Bad, the John Sayles' film Casa de los Babys, Showlime's hit series Weeds, ABC's Ugly Betty, NBC's Law & Order and many others.
It has served as a backup band for Prince (ALMA Awards on ABC, Golden Globes, CBS Super Bowl Bash), Fania All Stars pianist Larry Harlow, Sheila-E, GZA of Wu-Tang Clan and indie rock standouts Spoon.
Jose Galeano (timbales, vocals), Kino Esparza (vocals, hand percussion), Beto Martinez (guitar), Greg Gonzalez (bass), John Speice (drums), Matthew "Sweet Lou" Holmes (congas), Gilbert Elorreaga (trumpet), Josh Levy (baritone saxophone) and Mark "Speedy" Gonzales (trombone) are the Grupo Fantasma members.