Sounds of L.A. is an annual concert series that explores our city's varied musical geography, celebrating the work of masters as well as up-and-coming musicians from around the globe. Each month features two concerts by charismatic musicians who combine global influences in unexpected and original ways.

The series is free; a separate reservation is required for each concert. All performances take place in the Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center. Parking $15; $10 after 5:00 p.m.

Sounds of L.A. presents the West Coast debut of Oaxaca-based Pasatono Orquesta. In addition to handcrafting the indigenous instruments on which they perform, the ensemble is known for its extensive research into the culture of Mexico's Mixtec people and their once-ubiquitous rural folk orchestras. Under the direction of Rubén Luengas, the resulting sound is rooted in the music of "the people of the clouds" and informed by American jazz of the 1920s and 1930s when the region first gained access to wireless radio.

Listen to Betto Arcos's recent profile of Pasatono Orquesta on PRI's The World:

Pasatono Orquesta: Ethnomusicologists and Performers
By Betto Arcos, April 9, 2012


© 2012 PRI's The World

Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer
April 14 and 15, 2012
For over ten years, the superb singers comprising Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer—the little coalminers from hell—have been raising roofs and wooing audiences throughout Quebec and beyond. Avid researchers, the tight harmonies and exuberant footwork of this a cappella ensemble breathe new life into the regions traditional Celtic music. These enduring favorites of critics and fans alike made their West Coast debut as Sounds of L.A. marked the end of its 2012 season.

Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts and the Rondalla Club of Los Angeles with Special Guest Vocalist Charmaine Clamor
March 17 and 18, 2012
From traditional gong-and-drum ensembles to string rondalla to contemporary jazz, Los Angeles's acclaimed Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts is recognized for its commitment to presenting, promoting, and preserving Philippine culture. This program paid homage to the stunning creative diversity flowing from the Philippine islands to America's shores.

Halau Keali'i O Nalani
March 5 and 6, 2011
Under the direction of kumu hula (hula master) Keali'i Ceballos, west Los Angeles-based Hula Halau o Keali'i o Nalani is celebrated for its vibrant warmth and lyricism. Marking its 20th anniversary, the halau closed Sounds of L.A. 2011 with a special program exploring the interconnectedness of music and dance from ancient hula kahiko to modern hula 'auana.

Sounds and Rhythms of Afghanistan
February 12 and 13, 2011
Sounds and Rhythms of Afghanistan is an extraordinary ensemble that features master musicians on rubab, doyra, tabla, and vocals. Together, these kindred spirits effortlessly wove diverse traditions of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and North India to evoke the startling wonders of this culturally rich region.

Aurelio Martinez
January 15 and 16, 2011
With its dense percussive array and emphasis on vocal artistry, the music of the Garifuna people is unlike any other in Central America. Acclaimed Honduras-born singer Aurelio Martinez opens Sounds of LA 2011 with a stunning blend of African and Latin acoustic roots music.

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
March 20 and 21, 2010
Bassekou Kouyate is an incomparable master of the Malian ngoni, a lutelike instrument from West Africa, and has performed with everyone from the late Ali Farka Touré to Taj Mahal. With a repertoire that illuminates the soul of Bambara culture, Kouyate's stellar ensemble made its Southern California debut at the Getty.

Mythili Prakash
February 13 and 14, 2010
As one of the leading young exponents of Bharata Natyam, the classical dance of South India, Mythili Prakash brings an intrepid dynamism to the form. In a special program celebrating the interconnectedness of music and dance, Prakash performed with an outstanding group of musicians from India and the United States.

Mamak Khadem
January 16 and 17, 2010
Vocalist Mamak Khadem draws inspiration from the ecstatic roots of Persian melodies and poems. Working across traditional and contemporary idioms found in the Middle East and beyond, Khadem's richly atmospheric music is an unswerving testament to the power of artistic exploration.

Chango Spasiuk
April 4 and 5, 2009
The son of Ukrainian immigrants, Chango Spasiuk is the unquestioned master of chamamé from northeastern Argentina. Spasiuk unleashed wild howls of creative fervor coupled with an almost terrifying mastery of the accordion.

Chiwoniso
March 14 and 15, 2009
Born in Seattle, raised in Zimbabwe, this defiantly optimistic singer made her Getty debut in a concert featuring her trademark electrifying mbira-driven sound.

Rahim AlHaj and Souhail Kaspar
February 7 and 8, 2009
For this rare L.A. concert, the Grammy-nominated oud virtuoso and composer Rahim AlHaj joined forces with Lebanese percussionist Souhail Kaspar to present music from his latest release, Home Again.

Andy Statman
January 17 and 18, 2009
For more than 30 years, clarinet and mandolin master Andy Statman has broken new ground by skillfully integrating klezmer, bluegrass, and jazz.