ELJURI’s Solo Debut: En Paz en español
	“These days I don't see much peace around us,” Cecilia explains, “I see danger, inequities, fighting over borders, divisions among people and the loss of love. In spite of all that, I believe there is hope that we can overcome this and coexist in a tranquil society… En Paz.” –Cecilia Villar Eljuri “... a sound that electrifies Latin styles... This is rock/dance music at its best.” –BILLBOARD Magazine “Its infectious Afro-Cuban groove, pushed by backbeat drums and Villar’s piano-like montuno played with guitar arpeggios, doesn’t waste time drawing attention. By the time Villar unleashes her guitar solo, you know you’re listening to a certified talent.” –GLOBAL RHYTHM Magazine
En Paz, Cecilia’s debut solo album, is an evocative album with fresh latin sounds and uplifting lyrics, dedicated to universal truths and global rhythms. The opening Latin Reggae track, El Aire, is a special collaboration with the supreme Jamaican Reggae icons, Sly & Robbie, drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare. With a cool and laid back vibe, the track seems “to float” along roots riddims and Latin-montuno guitar licks. Also appearing on En Paz is rock maven Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde) who lends her voice to the flamenco infused Jaula. En Paz is an unforgettable record teeming with intimate sounds and Spanish lyrics, that make you feel good . . . but also make you think.

Eljuri: from Ecuador to New York

Cecilia Villar Eljuri was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and raised in the cultural melting-pot of New York City, USA. At an early age, Eljuri was exposed to a variety of performance arts thanks to her father, the legendary radio, theatre and television pioneer Paco Villar and her mother, composer Olga Eljuri de Villar.

As a young girl, Cecilia would sit under the piano, listening to her mother’s exquisite compositions and so was inspired to begin to write her own melodies. At the age of 14 she discovered the guitar and by the time Cecilia was 17, she was no longer sneaking into NYC clubs; she was performing in her band the Trouble Dolls who consistently sold-out NYC’s iconic rock clubs CBGBs and the Bitter End.

By 1998, Cecilia’s passion for all music led her to fuse more Latin elements into her rock style. She formed Grupo Fiesta and received critical acclaim from the press in the United States and heavy radio air-play in the US and Canada.

After years of leading bands, Cecilia decided to go solo in 2006 to further explore her Latin roots and Ecuadorian heritage. She traveled to South and Central America, built a home recording studio and started writing and arranging songs for what would ultimately become her new release, En Paz.

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Teaming up with Paula Romano as co-producer, Cecilia created an album more serious in nature than any of her previous releases. Knowing the arrangements had to reflect the same intensity of the lyrical topics and melodies, Yossi Fine (David Bowie, Lou Reed, Antibalas) was brought on as producer and principal bass player. “His background in worldbeat with a heavy drum and bass focus combined with my Latin-rock background pushed the boundaries of the traditional to create a fresh new fusion that stretched all three of us,” reflects Cecilia. 

“[Cecilia writes] catchy four minute standards… with hooks that would make Sheryl Crow blush” and as “a deep-rooted instrumentalist – her guitar playing reminiscent of a young Carlos Santana.”
–GLOBAL RHYTHM Magazine

“Her vocals take center stage, but not by volume and bombast so much as by tone. Really a fine album for the sheer fusion of Spanish and other sound elements, all without becoming self-conscious or showy. This is music made not to show off, but it just happens to succeed in showing off anyway.”
–Adam Greenberg, ALL MUSIC GUIDE

For further press or booking information in the US:
Paola Romano
Manovill Records
tel. 347.668.9652
info@eljurimusic.com

Mexico
Ileana Gordillo
Verbigracia
tel: 011 5255.5336.9502
ileana@verbigracia.com.mx