Martin Vejarano — artist
Born to a dancer and a filmmaker in Bogotá, Colombia, Martin Vejarano was surrounded by the arts and culture from early childhood. At the age of seven Martin began a successful 15-year long acting career in films, documentaries, and TV series. However, as a teenager, he realized that his true love was music, and began serious study of jazz drums and theory. Before beginning a jazz performance degree at the University INCCA in Bogotá, Martin decided to simultaneously pursue his own research in traditional Colombian music. Over the next few years he made several trips to remote areas of Colombia to research indigenous tradition, study the strong percussive influences of the African music, and to learn how to make traditional instruments by hand from master gaita flute and drum makers. In 1999 Martin moved to New York City, and in 2000 quickly assembled a group of Colombian expatriates and American jazz musicians that began performing as La Cumbiamba eNeYé .