Che Apalache
| Company type | String ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Fate | Ceased activities in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina, United States |
Key people | Joe Troop, Martin Bobrik, Franco Martino, Pau Barjau, Béla Fleck (producer) |
| Products | Music albums: Rearrange My Heart (2019), Latin Grass (2017) |
| Website | www |
Che Apalache was a string ensemble with Argentinian-American roots, headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their distinctive sound garnered admiration from artists such as banjo player Béla Fleck, who took on the role of producer for their Grammy-nominated record Rearrange My Heart.
Biography
Established in Buenos Aires in 2013,[1] Che Apalache originated through the efforts of Joe Troop, who relocated to Argentina in 2010 to teach bluegrass music after residing in Spain and Japan.[2] Troop, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, found inspiration as a child attending a Doc Watson concert.[3] Upon his arrival in Argentina, he contributed to developing the bluegrass community and formed the group with some of his most skilled students. While their initial repertoire centered exclusively on Appalachian music—a style regarded as unconventional in Buenos Aires—they eventually incorporated Latin American influences from Argentina and Mexico. The final band lineup included Martin Bobrik and Franco Martino from Buenos Aires, alongside Pau Barjau from Mexico.
In 2017, backed by the Virginia Folklife Program and PineCone (Piedmont Council of Traditional Music), the band embarked on a U.S. tour. Between February and May, they recorded an album in Argentina prior to their inaugural U.S. tour.[4] That same summer, they secured victory at the renowned Clifftop competition in the neo-traditional band division.[5]
Their name fuses "Che," an informal Spanish term akin to 'friend' or 'mate,' with "Apalache," the Spanish designation for Appalachia.[6]
Influences
Che Apalache was recognized for merging a variety of musical traditions including Uruguayan murga, candombe, flamenco, mountain gospel, Spanish Sephardic Jewish melodies, and traditional bluegrass reminiscent of the Stanley Brothers. Their performances featured songs in English, Spanish, and Japanese, characterized by complex percussive elements and advanced acoustic techniques. This innovative blend attracted Bela Fleck’s attention, who produced their sophomore album Rearrange My Heart in his personal studio. Fleck described the group as "unique and fascinating," highlighting their profound emotional expression. The album was released on August 9, 2019, through Free Dirt Records.
Rolling Stone Country praised the ensemble’s cultural synthesis that challenges conventional folk music boundaries. NPRs "All Things Considered" referred to them as "a big hit," while NPRs Alt.Latino celebrated their "brilliant fusion of bluegrass and Latin sounds," labeling Rearrange My Heart as essential listening.
The group ceased activities in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discography
- Rearrange My Heart (2019), Free Dirt Records
- Latin Grass (2017), independently released
External links
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