Yarina Music: Biographies

YARINA (which means "remembrance" in the native Quichua language of the Incas) has since 1984, been dedicated not only to musical excellence, but also to the preservation and sharing of the beauty, courage and survival of the ancestral traditions and culture of the indigenous peoples of the Andes. Their wholehearted and passionate dedication to musicianship, excellence and cultural expression has earned them the honor of being named "Ambassadors for Indigenous Ecuadorial Performers" by the Department of Culture, Quito, Ecuador.

Originally founded in Ecuador by four brothers, YARINA's extensive travel throughout Europe and the Americas has resulted in a unique creativity and versatility of styles that is at once spellbinding and highly original. The pure and hauntingly beautiful sensual music of the Andes captivates all ages and audiences, while their imaginative repertoire incorporating jazz, blues, Latin and western classical masterpieces serves to surprise and delight the most jaded of listeners. To date, their exquisite and masterfully produced CDs have continued to bring the best of YARINA's music offerings into the homes and hearts of their growing numbers of supporters and fans.

Jose Manuel Cachimuel

Visionary father of the young men of YARINA,

Jose was inspired to raise his children from a very early age to study, embrace and wholeheartedly perform the traditional music of the native cultures of the Andes. A former dedicated and active member of various Indigenous organizations working to reclaim the culture and political, rights of the native peoples of Ecuador, Jos now divides his time between the United States and Ecuador, overseeing the successful musical , artistic and native crafts family businesses of YARINA.

Rimay Alberto Cachimuel

Eldest son of the Cachimuel family, Rimay left his native Ecuador at the age of 20 to travel through Europe, Holland and Korea, playing and studying traditional music with a variety of Andean musical groups. One of the original founders of YARINA, his versatile, inquisitive and playful musical style is a reflection of both his own personality and professional expertise. Rimay, also an artist and painter, divides his time between his family in Ecuador and YARINA's musical endeavors here in the United States.

Manuel Cachimuel

Sensitive and focused, Manuel was the first of the YARINA group to formally study music in Ecuador under the direction of a variety of instructors and educational programs. His sharp and precise understanding of musical structure, styles and technique is artfully expressed on guitar, electric bass, percussion, winds and Andean harp. Presently, Manuel divides his time between his family in Ecuador and performing and recording music with YARINA in the United States.

Roberto Cachimuel

Musician, composer, entrepreneur, and spokesperson for YARINA, Roberto left Ecuador at the age 16 to travel with his brothers and perform music in Europe before settling in Boston, MA in 1991. Demonstrating an innate and ingenious ability for music composition from the earliest ages of childhood, he solidified his musical expertise through studies at the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA, focusing on violin, guitar, and composition. Intense, emotional, expressive and imaginative in performance, his hypnotic musical expression is a most captivating feature of the group's interfacing with the audience.

Making his home in Boston with his wife and child, Roberto travels annually to Ecuador for concerts and performances. Future plans for further study in sound design and music production will continue to enhance YARINA's steady and ongoing success