Warango, a Night of AfroPeruvian Music

Warango, a Night of AfroPeruvian Music

Warango is an Afro-Peruvian music group based in Oakland, California. Its concept is rooted in the fusion of Afro-Peruvian traditions with the harmonies and melodies of classical and jazz music. These two worlds coexist within Warango's sound, creating a unique and innovative musical expression.

The group was formed in 2019 through the initiative of Pierr Padilla, who had recently relocated to Oakland, California, from Lima, Peru. Pierr brought with him extensive experience in directing performing arts shows and leading professional artistic groups. Once settled, driven by a desire to continue cultivating Afro-Peruvian music and dance, he proposed the idea of an artistic project to a group of musician friends. This idea eventually evolved into Warango.

The Huarango is a tree native to the southern coast of Peru. Known for its remarkable resilience, it has roots that can extend up to 70 meters deep, allowing it to thrive for over a thousand years by independently drawing water from the subsoil. Its hardiness enables it to survive in arid landscapes and harsh climates, even fostering new ecosystems for other species.

The group is led by Pierr Padilla (Peru), a musician and dancer, and includes Javier Trujillo (Peru) on guitar, Kyla Danysh (USA) on violin, Pedro Rosales (Peru) on percussion, Alex Farrell (USA) on bass, and Carmen Roman (Peru) on dance.

Musician and Educator

Pierr Padilla Vásquez comes from the artistic lineage of the Vásquez family, who have passed down Afro-Peruvian cultural traditions from generation to generation since the late 19th century. He began his artistic career as a dancer, performing with prominent ensembles such as the Conjunto Nacional de Folklore del Perú and Teatro del Milenio, among others. He has collaborated in productions by renowned Peruvian artists, including the legendary Victoria Santa Cruz and singer Eva Ayllón. Among his accolades as a dancer are the titles of "Champion of National Champions of Peru in Marinera Limeña" in 2010, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Later, Pierr embarked on his musical career, collaborating with both Peruvian and international artists in concerts and recordings. Drawing from his experience, he founded Colectivo Palenke (2007–2016), an acclaimed Afro-Peruvian musical group that blended Afro-Peruvian music, dance, and zapateo (tap dance) into a dynamic stage language. He later founded and led the musical groups Mandinga Project and Cambalache: La Fiesta Afroperuana.

One of Pierr's notable musical contributions is his role as a zapateador in the song "El Surco" from the album A Chabuca. Performed by Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler, this version of the song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2017. Pierr has performed onstage with Drexler on multiple occasions.

Host or Publisher Palenke Arts