Oscar Reynolds - Karumanta Jamuyku Reviews

River of Light CD Reviews

"[An] entrancing body of music blending Andean and African influences. With haunting panpipes, intricate rhythmic patterns and dramatic chords, the music of Karumanta merges ancient styles and instruments to create a startingly fresh sound."
- San Jose Mercury News

"The blending of traditions and cultures as the music crossed borders, migrated and evolved over the course of history, over empires falling and rising and countries gaining and losing dominance and power; this is the experience Oscar Reynolds brings to his music.”
- San Francisco Observer

"Multi-instrumentalist and composer Oscar Reynolds' music is a bridge between many worlds with a common culture. He blends the exciting musical world of Bolivia and Peru with the traditions of Spanish music. On his latest release River of Light he captures the ethnic essences of every part of the world producing a spirited instrumental anthology. His flutes, guitars and many other ethnic instruments combine to make an album of contemporary and World music with unifying Latin overtones. His compositions are exciting and full of high spirits."
- RJ Lannan, New Age Reporter

"Oscar Reynolds as composer and multi-instrumentalist has the uncanny knack for writing some of the most compelling Latin originals around."
- J.Sin, Smother.net

"An exotic, tasty blend of guitar and Andean flute. The music of Oscar Reynolds and his top musician friends is a magical and at times--mystical, delight. This is top quality World Music played by fine artists."
- A. Canales, The Critical Review

"...destacado vientista boliviano. En todas sus melódicas piezas, Reynolds da cuenta de la riqueza cultural de la música de su país." leer mas/read more
["Outstanding Bolivian flutist. In all his melodic pieces, Reynolds reveals the cultural wealth of his country's music."]
- Periódico Opiníon, Bolivia

"Oscar Reynolds...created a tempest fingering his way around the length of a guitar and breathing his soul into a pan flute."
- The Weekly Calistogan

"Oscar Reynolds is a renaissance man of South American music."
- Metro Silicon Valley

“Thus, in Oscar’s music you have diverse cultural traditions joining together based on time period, means, and circumstance. History, tradition, and geography are just as important as scales and beats, sharps and flats."
- San Francisco Observer

”Reynolds is fearlessly innovative, crossing cultural borders while remaining strongly rooted in tradition. His music reflects the continuous, dynamic, and ever-changing tradition in Bolivian music from the Spanish conquest of the Americas to the present. Joining Bolivian, Afro-Peruvian, and Spanish cultures through music, Reynolds brings Bolivia, Peru, and Spain together, not as the conquered and conquistador, nor as separate countries, but as one Hispanic culture rich in art and creativity.”
- Sentinel, Nov. 2005

“Any flute player would marvel at the tight control over each note Reynolds displays while packing a stream of emotions into his complex scale runs, but to see him do that and play the guitar is quite impressive.”
- San Francisco Observer

"Oscar Reynolds es un multifacético músico boliviano que viene difundiendo la cultura del país por el mundo."
["Oscar Reynolds is a multi-faceted Bolivian musician advocating the culture of his country throughout the world."]
- El Diario, Bolivia

"Full of supremely soulful music from the heart. His music is just so easy to fall in love with!"
- Improvijazzation

"A tasty audio sonolog that weaves a musical spell with a grace and dexterity that will keep you coming back for more."
- Chris Specter, Midwest Record Recap

"Oscar Reynolds turns in fine Latin melodies in the shape of flamenco and South American folk rock. The glimmer from his airy flute melodies shines brilliance across all of the tracks."
-J. Sin, Smother.net

“Reynolds is an expert flutist.”
- Marcella Cirignola, Amazing Sounds

”More than just a talented musician. The music Oscar Reynolds creates is a lot like a stretch of water that flows…closer listening reveals shimmering waves of sound that ripple with complexity and deep currents that flow steadily through the human heart.”
- Drake Narada, Black Diamond Living Magazine

"He wisely combines the Bolivian roots of his musical career with elements of new instrumental music. With his warm Andean panflutes, he transports us to dreamy worlds."
- Amazing Sounds

"Reynolds'...approach to traditional tunes and more contemporary themes in the music bring far more light and shade to the sound...
- Dave Atkin, World Music Central

"Karumanta is a compelling mix of acoustic sound and wind instrumentation, attracting a wide range of admiration in traditional and New Age circles."
- Metro Silicon Valley

“Bolivia’s Oscar Reynolds is a master of the Andean panflute. His music has genuine spark and snap, giving the layered intricacy of these instrumental pieces enough variation while remaining true to the essentials.”
- Tom Orr, Global music writer

"This blending of traditional and modern, more relaxed with more fast-paced influences not just his life, but his music."
- Victory Review, March 2006

"All the musicians…represent the purest traditional sound."
- Chiori Santiago, Artsbeat, East Bay Express

"In a field already overrun with excellent musicians, the Bolivian band Karumanta is the current favorite of fans of traditional Andean music."
- Larry Kelp, East Bay Express

"...prestigiosos músicos"
["...prestigious musicians"]
- El Diario, Bolivia

"There's an effortless quality to the music that reflects the professionalism of the group. It's difficult to name a favorite from the 11 tracks."
- Rambles.NET full review

"Reynolds brings a wide range of tone, feeling, and musicality from the panpipes." January 2005
- Chris Nickson, Global Village