Moodafaruka

Although headquartered in Houston, TX, Moodafaruka fuses flamenco, Middle Eastern, and Spanish influences under the leadership of guitarist Rom Ryan. After relocating to Houston in 1988, Ryan issued two solo projects and later partnered with percussionist Terrence Karn to establish the ensemble. By tweaking the spelling of “farruca,” a traditional flamenco dance form, and prefacing it with “mood,” he coined the group’s name, which he described as signifying “mood of the dance.” Moodafaruka’s debut, La Luna Lounge, appeared via Orchard on March 27, 2000. Bassist/vocalist Arlandus Chimney and violinist Maryann Willis were subsequently recruited, and in that lineup the band tracked its follow-up, Zazu, issued February 19, 2002. Guitarist Katja Grimm had come aboard by the release of the third album, Blame It on the Moon, which Ariel Music Group put out in 2005. Megawave later curated the compilation Essential Moodafaruka, scheduled for March 18, 2008, and included two fresh recordings featuring Ryan, Grimm, and percussionist Aaron Hermes.