Jorge Rodríguez, founder and artistic director of Los Mirlos, never ceases to be amazed by how far his band has come, whose music he describes as “psychedelic Amazonian cumbia.”

The definition could not be more exact. This group was born in a region of the jungle of Peru—in the city of Moyobamba—in the late sixties. It was a group of young people with no other intention than to mix in their songs the exuberance of what surrounded them, a dense jungle in which wild animals abounded, it was intensely hot and with a lifestyle very different from that lived in cities like Lima.

The boys learned to play instruments thanks to the fact that Rodríguez's father was a musician and played several instruments, such as the bandoneon and the guitar. He was a member of several groups that performed traditional music from the region.

Jorge and the members of his band, meanwhile, also listened to the AM band on the radio, which was the only signal that reached that remote region, and which incessantly programmed Colombian cumbia. By then Jorge and his band already knew the music of Enrique Delgado, a famous composer and musician who is considered the father of Peruvian cumbia. He was the first to include the electric guitar in this genre and mixed Creole rhythms with psychedelic overtones.

Ramírez has always acknowledged that Delgado paved the way for his group.

“When we arrived in the capital in 1971, the maestro was recording with [his group] Los Destellos cumbia costeña, cumbia peruana […]; we arrived with another alternative,” he said. “We brought our musical culture, our Amazonian roots, with our guitars too, but with joy, with another flavor, another touch, another message, singing to the jungle.”

Since that date, Los Mirlos – whose name refers to a bird from the Amazon known for the melody of its song – have not stopped. Ramírez and his combo, which now includes some of his children, have performed at festivals in countries such as Russia, Slovenia, Canada, Denmark, Mexico and Brazil.

They are currently touring the United States with The World Meets Los Mirlos, which recently passed through New Jersey and which in the coming days will reach stages in California, Oregon, Texas, New Orleans and South Carolina. In Los Angeles they will offer a free concert on Saturday, August 15 as part of the Live at The Music Center series, which takes place at the center's Jerry Moss Plaza.

But one of the jewels in the crown that Jorge Rodríguez cannot fail to mention is his participation last year in the Coachella festival, one of the most important in the country, which takes place every April in the Coachella Valley, in Indio, California. The group played both weekends that the party took place.

The official poster for that edition included music superstars such as Lady Gaga, Green Day, Missy Elliott and Post Malone. And the stage where the Peruvian group played was alternative rock and Latin and alternative music.

“Coachella was great,” Rodriguez said.

The name of the tour refers to the name of the band's newest album, “The World Meets Los Mirlos,” a twelve-track studio album that was recorded between New York, Miami, Mexico and Peru. It includes the voices of artists such as Juanes, Bomba Estéreo, Guaynaa, LA LOM, Los Bitchos, Monsieur Periné and others.

Los Mirlos are happy because in this project no artist sacrificed their style, quite the opposite, Rodríguez said.

“Each one shows their culture,” he said. “We were happy with this album.”

At the end of their tour of the United States, Los Mirlos will travel south to offer concerts in Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador and Brazil.

“We really don't stop, we are full of work right now,” said Rodríguez. “And still wanting to continue spreading our Amazonian cumbia around the world.”

In detail

What: Live at The Music Center with Los Mirlos

When: Saturday, August 15 at 8 pm

Where: Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles

How: free entry; musiccenter.org reports

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