Our thanks to Peter Jordens for bringing this item to our attention.

A report by Aarón Chinchilla for El Periódico.

Through the “Cien años de Calypso” EP, more than 30 artists from several countries will come together to to pay homage to the composer, musician and calypsonian Walter Ferguson. 

The initiative, taken by musician Manuel Monestel, seeks to preserve “Gavitt”’s musical and cultural legacy and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Limón-born composer, born on May 7, 1919.

Those participating in the project include the winner of most 2018 Latin Grammys, of the Oscar for best original song and a of a Goya award, Jorge Drexler. Among other participants we find the historic Chilean group Inti-Illimani, Haiti’s Boulpick, the Honduran Garifuna group Lenchito Sax, Spain’s Javier Ruibal, Perú’s Patricia Saravia, and Trinidad and Tobagio’s Devon Seale.

Other invited artists include Leandro Maia and DNA Urbano from Brazil, Marcel Padey from Benins and the COsta Rican groups Kawe Caypso. Infibeat, Editus, and Cantoamérica.

The idea comes from four years ago. I’ve been a friend of Don Walter for more then 30 years and we are looking to preserve his work. It is the shared effort of many artists and with this cd we aim at spreading his legacy and show how a national artist like Walter Ferguson, can be internationally recognized.

The gathering will take place next next May 9th at 8pm and tickets will be sold on the same day of the event at the Teatro Eugene O’Neill, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

Part of the material will be sold at the event and plans are in place for loading it onto platforms like Youtube and Spotify, while most of the cds will be taken to Cahuita, Limón, where “Gavitt” lives. For reservations you can all 2207-7561.

This EP will include songs known by all like Carnaval Day, Cabin in the Water, Going To Bocas, among others, while also including unpublished material by Master Ferguson.