Wednesday Folk Traditions Presents: Viva quetzal

June 14, 2017

The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum is delighted to announce the return of Viva Quetzal, six talented musicians of varying backgrounds combining folk music from throughout the Americas. Viva Quetzal, World/Afro-Andean/Latin/Jazz Fusion group, perform an astonishing array of exotic and familiar instruments and folkloric themes that create a link between the rainforests of Central and South America, the carnivals of Brazil, the high plateaus of the Andes, and the urban barrios of Latin America and the United States. This and all other performances are held Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the Sunken Garden at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum, 130 River Drive, Route 47, Hadley, MA 01035. General admission is $12 and $2 for children 16 and under. Picnickers are welcome on the museum grounds beginning at 5:00 pm. The Museum and its grounds are a smoke free site.


Viva Quetzal’s unique blending of musical styles and use of over thirty instruments not only delivers a range of melodious rhythms but also represents a coming together of different perspectives. Viva Quetzal’s members-- who hail from Latin America and New England-- feel that merging musical traditions may help reconcile political,, cultural, and linguistic divides throughout the Americas.

Viva Quetzal’s sextet includes Joe Belmont, who has performed with the group since 1992. Belmont’s classical and electric guitar chops are given an added dimension by the Colombian tiple. Roberto Clavijo can be heard performing on quenas, zampoñas, charango, Venezuelan cuatro, and vocals. Born in Chile, Clavijo is a former member of renowned folkloric group Guamary, and has toured much of Central and South America. Jon Weeks plays flute, saxophone, wind, synth and more and has performed with many jazz, rock, and Latin bands on the East Coast. Abraham “Abe” Sanchez provides Viva Quetzal with vocals and keyboard. He brings a wealth of musical experience from his native Venezuela, where he was director of a music school and accompanied national and international touring musicians. In addition to performing throughout New England. Viva Quetzal has recorded three albums, most recently Hijos del Sol.

To visit Viva Quetzal's Webpage Click Here

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