By Kayra Williams

Mexican jazz band Sr Mandril is among performers for the 2008 St Lucia Jazz festival. The group performed for the first time in St Lucia on Thursday May 1st as part of a cultural exchange activity organized in collaboration with the government of Mexico and the St Lucia Tourist Board.

Sr Mandril came to fruition in 2002 in Mexico with RamsÈs RamÌrez and Germ·n Gonz·lez, merging rhythms and electronic elements with acoustic and electronic instruments such as guitars, bass and percussions, tribal and very melodic voices. Their sounds and musical influences range from acid jazz to ambient and from lounge and funk to bossa.

The group received rave reviews from international media for their debut album in 2005 and in February 2008, they released a second CD, this time an 11 track compilation entitled Terragroove. The album is characterized by its fine mix of genres such as funk, acid jazz, and rock with electronic and Latin elements. Their performance in St Lucia is hardly the first Jazz performance for Sr Mandril; the group performed at the Montreal international Jazz Festival in 2006 and 2008, the Small World Music Festival in Toronto, Canada; as well as several national jazz festivals in Mexico.

Mexican ambassador Gerardo Lozano had high expectations for the band’s performances at the St Lucia Jazz festival. "On this occasion its just one group and from this experience of our participation in St Lucia Jazz, the Mexican embassy would consider assisting in the years to come," said Lozano. "The Jazz festival is a national event, an event that tries to cover the entire island including Soufriere. We expect that people can enjoy this kind of music, this group has international experience, they have participated at other festivals and the music is very good."

If you missed the band’s first performance at the opening of Jazz in the south have no fear. Senior Mandril will perform at Fond D’or Jazz on May 3rd alongside acts like Boo Hinkson, Danny Engoba and Les Coeues Brises. Senior Mandril is also expected to perform at Jazz on the square on May 8th.