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Jacob Edgar recently left his full-time gig as head of A&R at Putumayo World Music and started his own record label, Cumbancha. The main motivation for Cumbancha sprung from Edgar's desire to work more closely with some of the most extraordinary artists he has gotten to know over the years. "We used to say at Putumayo that doing compilations was like dating, and signing artists was like getting married," says Edgar. "After years of flirting with some of my favorite artists, it's nice to finally make some commitments and settle down!"
The headquarters for Cumbancha is an 1830's farmhouse in the small town of Charlotte, Vermont. Also home to one of New England's most prestigious recording studios, Charles Eller Studios, the complex in Vermont will allow for a unique artist retreat where musicians from around the world can come together to record in a picturesque and tranquil setting free from outside distractions. While many of the records released on Cumbancha will be recorded on location in the countries where the music is from, others will be recorded in this special setting. Most of the post-production work will be completed in Vermont, in the shadows of the verdant Green Mountains. "I spend so much time traveling around the world," says Edgar, "it's nice to work in a place where I can focus and be surrounded by the region's tremendous natural beauty."
"One of the things I always enjoyed most about the work I did at Putumayo," says Edgar, "was knowing that thousands of people were exposed to music from cultures they might not otherwise get to learn about, and in a small but not inconsequential way helped pave the way towards greater appreciation and respect for diversity." Cumbancha gives Edgar a chance to take that experience one step further.
"Cumbancha" is a Cuban word of West African derivation that refers to an impromptu party or musical jam session. Many classic Latin songs refer to the "cumbanchero," a person who knows how to party and have a good time. For those who are familiar with the word, "cumbancha" implies an opportunity to get together with family and friends to dance, sing and celebrate life. "I like the creole nature of the word," says Edgar, "that it is a blend of African and Spanish. Much of the greatest music in the world reflects this interaction between cultures and the ways in which people can gain inspiration for new expressions from people of different backgrounds."
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