Vampisoul present a reissue of Perujazz's self-titled album, originally released in 1987. "Manongo Mujica (drums, percussion), Jean Pierre Magnet (tenor saxophone), Julio 'Chocolate' Algendones (percussion) and Enrique Luna (electric bass) founded Perujazz in 1984. All four already had embarked on diverse musical ventures when they formed the band. Mujica had played as a jazz drummer and also with the psychedelic rock group Los Mad's and then as an experimental music percussionist. Jean Pierre had been a multi-instrumentalist in Traffic Sound and saxophonist in several jazz ensembles. 'Chocolate' had been part of the Afro-Peruvian ensemble Perú Negro and was one of Chabuca Granda's percussionists of choice. His meeting with Manongo Mujica in 1981 was the beginning of series of collaborations, blending African influences and avant-garde jazz percussion. Meanwhile, in Chile, Enrique Luna had been a member of several fusion ensembles and, together with Manongo, set up the improvisation band Solos at the end of the '70s. Carrying this musical baggage with them, Perujazz was formed in 1984 when Jean Pierre got them together to play jazz standards in a venue that had just opened called Satchmo. They were part of the new musical scene in Lima, strongly influenced by the cultural climate of the '70s, by Chabuca Granda and his innovations in criollismo, as well as by neo-folk and nueva canción, all under the nationalist politics of the government of General Juan Velasco Alvarado. Perujazz managed to hold its ground and soon led the way in the avant-garde jazz scene. Inspired by jazz fusion from the '70s, they mixed cajón drums and Afro-Peruvian, Andean and jungle sounds with jazz, rock and funk in a powerful blend full of groove and psychedelia. Toni Cosenza took them to a Rome's Studi Titania and they recorded five songs for a promotional LP but then lost track of the record after that. That LP ended up being a co-production between the RAI and the Instituto Italo Americano. Titled Verde Machu Picchu, by the Quartetto Perù Jazz, it was released in 1987 in a vinyl edition that wasn't widely distributed. Perujazz would journey far and wide, becoming one of the most original Peruvian ensembles and also one of the most international in scope." -- Luis Alvarado. Presented with new artwork. Includes liner notes written by Luis Alvarado. 180 gram vinyl.