Susana Baca Visits Berklee
Susana Baca sings at the Berklee Signature Series concert in her honor.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Gerson Eguiguren sings lead vocals at Susana Baca Meets Berklee.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Vasileios Kostas plays the lute at Susana Baca Meets Berklee.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Susana Baca with singers at the Berklee Performance Center.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Nora Gonzalez sings lead vocals at Susana Baca Meets Berklee.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Ernesto Hermoza sings lead vocals in the concert in Susana Baca's honor.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Susana Baca with singers at her Berklee Performance Center show.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Marina Maiztegui sings lead vocals at Susana Baca Meets Berklee.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Matthew Nicholl, chair of Contemporary Writing and Production, plays piano at Susana Baca Meets Berklee.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Marianella Rojas sings lead vocals at Susana Baca's show at Berklee.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Susana Baca sings lead vocals at the concert in her honor at Berklee.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Legendary Peruvian singer-songwriter and Grammy-winner Susana Baca performed at the Berklee Performance Center, backed by a 30-piece student band, on November 13. Student singers opened for Baca with renditions of her Latin and Afro-Peruvian originals. Most of the songs were arranged by students from all over the world, from Peru to Italy to Mexico to Japan, and included instrumentalists playing traditional Latin percussion. The show, part of Berklee's Signature Series, was produced by bass professor Oscar Stagnaro and Contemporary Writing and Production chair Matthew Nicholl.
Considered a key figure in the revival of Afro-Peruvian music, Baca often collaborates with native poets and lyricists. Her music reflects her traditionalism while incorporating contemporary influences. Her album Lamento Negro won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Folk Album and was nominated for Best World Music Album. Baca also won a Grammy Award for her collaboration with Calle 13 on the song "Latinoamerica."
Watch a video of students performing at Baca's concert: