Chico Mann's Pajarito Signals New Album

Trickster for Kids LP: Electro-Afrobeat, Funk

Multi-instrumentalist Chico Mann blends afro-beat, funk, and 80s electro to create a fresh musical hybrid. His latest release "Pajarito" is a one-off single produced for the Hit It& Quit It Radio Revue released in late 2011 on Fingertips Records.

Electro-Afrobeat

This continues Mann's tradition of fusing electronic and global sounds that result in a style he has dubbed "Electro-Afrobeat.""Pajarito" picks up where Analog Drift, his 2010 full length release on Wax Poetics Records, left off. His newest single features lush synths, choppy afro-beat guitar and the same crisp electro drums that dominated dance floors in the 1980s the world over.

Chico Mann sites the Latin rhythms of Willie Colón, Nigerian funk icon Fela Kuti, 80s electro princess Lisa Lisa, and pioneering hip-hop DJ Afrika Bambaataa as the major influences that have helped him sculpt his unique sound. On top of his genre-bending soundscapes, Mann sings primarily in Spanish, which adds a distinct Latin flavour to the mix.

New LP: Trickster For Kids

Currently, Chico Mann is working on his next full-length album tentatively titled Trickster For Kids. To help pay for production costs, he solicited donations on www.kickstarter.com, a website designed to help artists fund their entrepreneurial endeavours with micro-donations or financing from angel investors.

Mann has this to say about the music on his new album: "[it] builds upon the foundation I've already set in earlier works. The evolution of the Chico Mann aesthetic will be clearly audible to anyone familiar with my catalog. My vision for the album is quite clear to me now... it could be described as futuristic from the vantage point of 25 years ago."

Meringue to Hip-Hop to Manifest Tone

Born in New York City to parents of Cuban descent, Chico Mann (born Marcos Garcia) was immersed in the musical world of his parents. His mother was a pianist and DJ and his father produced meringue records. Combine his parents' music with the burgeoning hip-hop culture of 1980s New York, and one can clearly see the lineage that forms Chico Mann's music.

In the early part of the 21st century he began to experiment with synthesizers and drum machines, and live instrumentation. In 2007, Mann released his debut album, Manifest Tone, Volume 1 and followed it up in 2009 with two more releases named Manifest Tone, Volumes 2 & 3.

The albums featured a more traditional afro-beat sound with live instruments played over programmed drums. Mann's live sets also featured many musicians on stage, replicating afro-beat troupes of yesteryear.

Analog Drift

In 2009, Chico Mann streamlined both his sound and his live act. As a result, he hit his stride with his follow-up release, Analog Drift. The LP is bursting with powerful Roland drums reminiscent of Afrika Bambaattaa's "Planet Rock," layered percussion, colourful synths, and bouncy guitars. It's truly a unique listening experience.

Highlights include "Ilusíon De Ti," "Ya Yo Se," and a cover of Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime." Chico Mann has carved out his own musical niche, proving that hard work, talent, and vision can produce stunning results.