After Bacilos breakup, Villamizar opts for new sound

By Leila Cobo

MIAMI (Billboard) - Bacilos gained notoriety as a group that blended pop and tropical influences into one distinctive, catchy and often danceable mix.

Abroad, Bacilos was a driver of the movement later labeled "tropi/pop," a mix of tropical and pop whose proponents include such well-known acts as Cabas and Fonseca, and local Colombian acts like Sanalejo.

The concept struck a chord, and Bacilos' 2002 album "Caraluna" and 2005's "Sin Verguenza" won Latin Grammy Awards in the best pop album, duo or group category.

But after three studio releases, the trio -- Jorge Villamizar, Andre Lopes and Jose Javier Freire -- split up in 2007.

Now, lead singer/songwriter Villamizar is launching his solo career by taking a different sonic and commercial direction.

Villamizar describes the overall sound of his self-titled debut album, which arrived May 20 on Warner Music Latina (which was also Bacilos' label), as that of a "groovy troubadour."

With his solo debut, Villamizar wanted to veer away from the Latin identity he established as a Colombian living in the United States and opt for a more mainstream sound.

"Bacilos was a group that always mutated, but its essence was two types of acoustic music," he says. "One was 'Mi Primer Millon' and the whole party band thing. The other was my facet as a singer-songwriter. On this album, I clearly took that (latter) route."

A promotional and concert tour featuring Villamizar and Warner acts Tommy Torres and Jesse & Joy begins the first week of July. The tour comprises 10 stops at nightclubs with capacities of 500-1,000 in Texas and Southern California.

Reuters/Billboard