Oswin Chin Behilia


Oswin Chin Behilia belongs to that select group of singer/songwriters whose music combines memorable tunes with lyrics that reflect social and personal concerns.

"This is exquisite music that will appeal to anyone who enjoys Cuban trova or campesino music"

Mention his name to a fellow native of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles and his face lights up with fond recognition. Both young and old consider his song "Plegaria", for instance, as the folk alternative to the national anthem, while "Sunú" is universally regarded as one of the classic love songs in Papiamentu, the creole language spoken on the islands of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela.


Born on 15 December 1938, this man of many talents has led an eventful life both in and out of the world of music and was he knighted by the Queen of the Netherlands for contributions in several fields to his native island as musician, broadcaster, politician, impresario and mentor to young talent.

"The satin voiced singer guarantees a lyrical foray into Caribbean groves off the beaten track. "


Oswin Chin Behilia's first band Los Tiarucos was founded in 1963. Los Tiarucos performed in the sixties and seventies at hotel and festival engagements at home and in St. Martin, Miami, New York, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Brazil, the musical influences of which can be discerned in his compositions.


Oswin Chin Behilia's songs have been covered by a host of his native island's finest musicians, some of whom include the rising young star Izaline Calister who has interpreted "Sunú", "No Bai" and "Plegaria" in jazz settings with her compatriot, the pianist Randall Corsen.

Oswin Chin Behilia attracted attention from European promoters at the 2002 and 2003 WOMEX fairs in Essen and Sevilla where he was featured both times on Charlie Gillett's BBC Radio show and his album "Bendishon Disfrasa"  (Blessing in Disguise) was selected by Songlines for their Top 50 Summer Albums of 2005 and was also chosen World Music Record of the Month by Radio France International in August 2004.

Oswin performed as guest vocalist with Randal Corsen’s big band Tumbabó at the 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. Oswin toured in Great Britain under the auspices of the African Caribbean Music Circuit in October 2005.


Oswin currently has two albums on the international world music market, "Bendishon Difrasá" (Blessing in Disguise), and "Live" – a concert CD from performances in the Netherlands in 2003 and 2004 on the Dutch label Otrabanda Records. (www.otrabandarecords.com).


Featuring a band which includes acoustic guitar, flute, electric bass and delicate percussion, this is exquisite music that will appeal to anyone who enjoys Cuban trova or campesino music. The satin voiced singer guarantees a lyrical foray into Caribbean groves off the beaten track.

Press quotes:

"

Behilia has the gift of composing simple, directly appealing melodies...whether solo or accompanied by an excellent band his relaxed delivery has a salutary effect, you've got rhythms here that bounce, skip or drive along - Chin's Caribbean-Brazilian grooves float past like a feather on the breeze." (
De Volkskrant

)

"Anyone taken with romantic singers from Brazil or Cuba won't have a problem with the fact that he doesn't sing in Portuguese or Spanish but in a kind of a cross between them - in Papiamento.
" (NRC Handelsblad)

"

Oswin Chin Behilia enchanted us with a couple of pretty ballads just on his guitar."
(Charlie Gillett at WOMEX 2002)

"

Lovely, lilting music from the Dutch Antilles...it's easy to understand the love and respect he enjoys as a musical troubadour of his homeland. Featuring a small band that includes acoustic guitar, flute, electric bass and delicate percussion, this is an exquisite disc that will appeal to anyone who enjoys Cuban trova or campesino music."
(Songlines)



"The title track "Bendishon Disfrasa" is a real nice groove tune with experience tinged vocals from Oswin. A very interesting release altogether, if you need a fix of roots from a different quarter, then certainly check out Oswin."  (
The Beat)

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Management Details

 Otrabanda Records

www.otrabandarecords.com

Postal address:


Donker Curtiusstraat 16-1
1051 JN Amsterdam
tel/fax: +31 (20) 776-3980


For further information:
info@otrabandarecords.com