Sukay

Sukay came into being toward the end of the 1970s with a concentration on Bolivian music from the Andes Mountains. The ensemble was established by Swiss-born Edmond Badoux and his wife at the time, American-born Quentin Howard, both musicologists who had examined Andean music throughout South America prior to making their home in San Francisco. Over the years the lineup experienced repeated membership shifts, and a subsequent configuration operated under the direction of Bolivian composer Eddy Navia after he entered the group in 1988. Navia’s oversight gave the ensemble a noticeably updated sonic profile. In Andean folk music these musicians serve as narrators marked by a romantic aura, whether safeguarding established customs or pursuing innovative paths.