Opening Night of  Duende: A Luna Rumba  Production

Last night’s sold-out opening, proved to be a fantastic beginning for Luna Rumba’s new project, Duende.  Yes, the original Luna Rumba band is no more, but out of that band is born Duende.   Geo Uhrich, the founder of Luna Rumba, recently created the new band, Duende, which premiered on January 7th at The Octopus Garden in La Cruz on the North Shore.

The goal of Duende is to connect with all kinds of people and give the audience new ways to think about the music that we all love. To imagine, create and arrange, this effort has proven to be a beautiful gift to Duende and they want to share it with all people who love music!

Duende is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill band.  Duende is infused with extraordinary musical  talent, creativity, art, dance and  hybrid instruments which leads to the quintessential,  avant garde musical experience.

The music is eclectic and covers both classical and popular.  During last night’s opening, there were some vocals, but the true star of the evening was the extraordinary blending of the 5 string cello (with a range from cello to bass), the 5 string violin (covering violin to viola), acoustic guitar and percussion (including various drums and other familiar percussion instruments).

The true stand out talent of the night was Luis Rascon on cello, flute, drums and more!  To say that he is a musical wizard is probably an understatement.  He demonstrated throughout the evening,  a complete mastery of the music and played perfectly in sync  with Lilly Alcantara on percussion and Geo Uhrich on guitar and violin. Each member of Duende is an accomplished musician.  Geo is a fabulous violinist and guitarist.  Lilly in all her beauty, grace and expertise is riveting as a dancer and does a superb job with percussion and vocals.

The evening started with an introductory recording about the spirit of Duende.  It highlighted the mysterious face, born of struggle and suffering.  True creativity needs the spirit of Duende which can flow through music, art and words!

The music started with an inspirational sample of Beethoven’s 5th as an example of how 4 notes can be so recognizable in music. Where do great melodies originate?  Duende asks the question and answers it throughout their creative performance. Their goal is to find different melodies and rhythms and present them in new and creative ways.

To enhance and create a full sound with just 3 musicians, Duende uses state of the art synchronized double looping.  There are no back tracks, just music from these exceptional musicians.  We hear the melody in the background and it’s fascinating to see how well the looping works to create a complete sound.

Other songs of the evening included the Beatles’, “Eleanor Rigby,” along several of Geo’s original songs and a gorgeous version of “Fragile,” (Sting).

A song and a few words of tribute and remembrance were paid to Willie Royal (from the world famous duo Willie and Lobo.)  No one played the violin exactly like Willie and he was remembered with a performance of his song, “El Faro” (The Lighthouse).

A violin solo by Geo featured the theme song from the movie, In the Mood for Love.

The River Dance song, “Fire Dance,” merged Celtic with Flamenco and was done flawlessly with some challenging musical timing. Lilly’s dance was also breathtaking on this number.

After  intermission, Luis played the Duduk, a double-reed, woodwind flute made of apricot wood. It’s known to be the world’s oldest known musical instrument and originates from Armenia.

Pink Floyd’s “Against the Wall” was another real treat.  Luis played the flute hauntingly on “Dust in the Wind.” And there was a fantastic mashup that included Michael Jackson’s, “Billie Jean.”  A composition by Lorena Triste and an original Geo Uhrich  song in Spanish about Puerto Vallarta closed out the evening.

Duende is off to a great  start.  When you consider this group has spent only 2 months creating this new musical experience they shared on  opening night,  it is truly miraculous how good it really was!   I look forward to seeing the group grow and develop into a world-class act, which I know they are capable of.

I’d also like to mention the incredible efforts of Geo’s partner, Fernanda Fenton,  who continues to work tirelessly promoting and assisting Duende. Don’t miss seeing Duende throughout the season at Octopus Garden in La Cruz and the new venue, Incanto, in Vallarta that Tracy Parks is now opening.  You can find show dates and information on facebook about Duende.

Last night’s sold-out opening, proved to be a fantastic beginning for Luna Rumba’s new project, Duende.  Yes, the original . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • tropical-cyclone-mexico-pacific-june-2025New Tropical Cyclone Likely to Form Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast This Week Meteorologists warn of a 90% chance a new tropical cyclone will form midweek off Mexico’s Pacific coast, as Dalila weakens and rains persist across southern Mexico. As Tropical Storm Dalila moves farther out to sea and becomes post-tropical, meteorologists are turning their attention to a new disturbance brewing off Mexico’s Pacific coast, which is highly…
  • tropical-storm-erick-hurricane-watch-southern-mexicoTropical Storm Erick Strengthening as Hurricane Watch Issued for Southern Mexico Tropical Storm Erick is forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall in southern Mexico. A Hurricane Watch is now in effect from Bahias de Huatulco to Punta Maldonado. Tropical Storm Erick continues to gather strength off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast and is forecast to become a hurricane by Wednesday, according to the latest advisory…
  • potential-tropical-cyclone-five-southern-mexico-hurricane-forecastPotential Tropical Cyclone Five Could Become Hurricane Before Making Landfall in Southern Mexico Potential Tropical Cyclone Five may strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall in southern Mexico, bringing dangerous winds, heavy rains, and life-threatening flooding. Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is gaining strength and organization off the Pacific coast of Guatemala and is forecast to become a hurricane as it approaches southern Mexico by Wednesday or Thursday, according…
  • no-kings-day-protest-mexico-city-2025Mexico City joins global ‘No Kings Day’ protests Demonstrators in Mexico City took part in No Kings Day to denounce Trump’s use of military force and demand respect for migrant communities in the United States. Dozens of protesters marched through the streets of Mexico City on Saturday as part of “No Kings Day,” a global demonstration denouncing authoritarianism in the United States and…
  • A Strong Peso-Dollar Exchange Rate Could Shift Mexican Real Estate Pricing TrendMexico’s Real Estate Market Booms as Foreign Buyers Rush to Invest Mexico’s real estate market is surging as foreign buyers seek affordable homes and high ROI in hotspots like Puerto Vallarta. Find out what’s fueling the boom. A surge in international interest is rapidly transforming Mexico’s property market, turning popular tourist towns into high-demand real estate hubs. With a mix of affordability, lifestyle appeal, and growing…
  • heavy-rains-flooding-queretaro-june-2025Heavy rains cause flooding and road closures in Querétaro Intense rainfall in Querétaro led to river overflows, flooded streets, and road closures over the weekend. Authorities are monitoring river levels and urging residents to stay alert. Intense rainfall over the weekend caused flooding and mobility disruptions across several areas of Querétaro, as rivers overflowed and drainage systems failed under pressure. While no serious injuries…
  • mexico-50-peso-silver-coin-2025Mexico’s New 50-Peso Silver Coin Will Celebrate Pre-Hispanic Cultures Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies announced 20 new silver coins, including a 50-peso piece honoring pre-Hispanic cultures, set to enter circulation in November 2025. In a move to celebrate and preserve Mexico’s rich cultural heritage, the Chamber of Deputies announced the upcoming circulation of 20 new silver coins, including a striking 50-peso piece that will be…
  • skydiver-rescued-puerto-vallarta-palm-treeSkydiver rescued after getting stuck in Puerto Vallarta palm tree A skydiver from Monterrey was rescued after becoming trapped in a palm tree in Puerto Vallarta. Authorities confirm he suffered only minor injuries. Authorities in Puerto Vallarta responded to an unusual emergency on Monday afternoon after a skydiver became trapped in a palm tree in a condominium complex near the beach. The incident prompted a…
  • puerto vallarta cruisesPuerto Vallarta is gearing up for major upgrades at its maritime terminal Puerto Vallarta’s port prepares to expand its docks to accommodate larger cruise ships, with new infrastructure and tourism projects planned to boost economic growth. Puerto Vallarta is gearing up for major upgrades at its maritime terminal, with the expansion of three docks aimed at keeping pace with the cruise industry’s growing shift toward larger vessels.…
  • tropical-storm-erick-oaxaca-hurricane-warningTropical Storm Erick Threatens Oaxaca as Mexico Activates Civil Protection Plan Mexico activates a civil protection plan as Tropical Storm Erick strengthens. The storm may become a Category 2 hurricane, putting 22 municipalities in Oaxaca at risk. The Government of Mexico has activated its civil protection plan as Tropical Storm Erick moves closer to the country's southern Pacific coast, with Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Guerrero under direct…
Scroll to Top