Caldera

Caldera stood out among late-1970s jazz-fusion ensembles for their bold experimentation, blending jazz, funk, and rock with an expansive range of Latin traditions. The group drew inspiration from 1970s fusion pioneers such as Return to Forever and Weather Report, yet their sound also reflected broader sources that extended from Earth, Wind & Fire’s soul-funk through Afro-Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba, and Andean/Peruvian styles. Keyboardist Eduardo del Barrio and guitarist Jorge Strunz guided the ensemble, which assembled players from across Latin America alongside U.S. contributors. While bassist Dean Cortez and saxophonist Steve Tavaglione hailed from the United States, the lineup included Strunz from Costa Rica, del Barrio from Argentina, drummer Carlos Vega from Cuba, and percussionist Mike “Baiano” Azevedo from Brazil. The band secured a contract with Capitol in 1976 and issued its self-titled debut that year, followed by Sky Islands in 1977, Time and Chance in 1978, and Dreamer in 1979. Although Caldera might have enjoyed greater longevity, its four Capitol albums—only the debut receiving a CD reissue after 2000—failed to achieve commercial traction, prompting the group’s dissolution in 1979. Most members nevertheless sustained active careers afterward; Strunz, for instance, established the guitar partnership Strunz & Farah alongside Iranian/Persian guitarist Ardeshir Farah, and del Barrio collaborated throughout the 1980s and 1990s with artists ranging from Earth, Wind & Fire to Stan Getz and Dianne Reeves.