Ecuador Manta

This Andean band originates from a small village called Atahualpa in Ecuador, South America. Ecuador Manta, based in St. Paul Minnesota, started in 1992. The group has a unique style compared to other traditional Andean bands. They have created their music style over the years by using the traditional rhythms from Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia and combining them with more contemporary Latin and Caribbean rhythms.

Ecuador Manta creates music by using the traditional instruments of the Andes which include, the zampona, a wind flute made from bamboo, the quena which is similar to The Recorder but made from wood, the charango, a small 10 string guitar made from armadillo shell and the bombo, a goat skinned drum.

The musicians preserve the beauty of the traditional music and combine other rhythms using the guitar, bass guitar, violin and latin percussion.