¡Maracujah!

Take a bite out of ¡Maracujah! and discover the sweet taste of a pure musical delivery and frenzied stage performance-you'll understand why the group takes its name from a Brazilian passion fruit. The band's unique blend is a mix of samba-reggae from Brazil, Afro-Cuban traditions and funk-pop styles. By blending these "grooves of the Americas," ¡Maracujah has created a high-energy dance vibe that has made them overnight sensations.

¡Maracujah! released its first independent CD last fall and has supported the disc with three western Canadian tours, plus one spanning the country from Halifax to Victoria. Their goal with the disc was to capture the energy and raw execution of the band's live performances. Anyone who has seen the band live knows that few bands put out this level of energy, not only in the music, but also in their incessant stage show.

Christian Mena, widely known for his five-octave vocal range, fronts ¡Maracujah!. The other members of the band are Chris Andrew, one of western Canada's most sought after pianists; Rubim de Toledo, whose bass lines are strongly Cuban and reggae; Peter Franck, whose Juju-influenced guitar brings out the party animal; Mario Allende, fluent in both Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian percussion traditions; and Lyle Molzan, the drumming powerhouse of ¡Maracujah!