Eljuri

“Outstanding Ecuadorian-born, New York-based singer-songwriter Eljuri…
Fusing socially conscious lyrics with blistering guitar rock, she blended missionary fervor with impeccable musicianship.”  –Chicago Sun-Times

Cecilia Villar Eljuri, an extremely gifted guitar player, composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and raised in the cultural melting-pot of New York City. Through her performance, Cecilia Villar Eljuri shares her life experience and inspires us. Her compositions motivate us to stand-up and make a positive change in this world.

“Fuerte,” her sophomore solo album is the culmination of Eljuri’s journey to self expression. With a consistent and persistent musical attitude she initiates a conversation which leads to action. Eljuri’s music is a mirror on this generation’s global fusion which reflects her Spanish and Lebanese heritage, the rhythms of her homeland, Ecuador, and the punk and rock & roll from the melting pot of her youth in New York City. Eljuri filters the daily cacaphony of the streets into beautiful music with vital meaning. She floats, indeed soars to heights unreached by any other Latina guitarist. She counts Jimi Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Marley and Carlos Santana as her role models. LIVE audiences, critics and radio DJs agree that “Fuerte” is a powerful album. Eljuri’s melodies, message and mastery of guitar are electrifying.

Daughter of Ecuadorian Paco Villar, the revered pioneer of radio, television and theater and Olga Eljuri a composer of great renown in Ecuador, Cecilia’s career was nurtured from an early age. She was immersed in music and the arts. As a songrwriter and performing professionally when she was 17 with The Trouble Dolls, she filled historic New York rock clubs like CBGB's and The Bitter End. Drawing from her latin roots, her music, lyrics and arrangements began to resonate with that style when she formed the band, Grupo Fiesta (1998).

Sensitive and committed, of Latin blood and heart, composer, lyricist and band leader in search of an outlet for her own musical perspective, Eljuri released her solo debut “En Paz” (2008 Manovill Records / Discos Intolerancia). Contributions of guest musicians reinforce “En Paz” with intense and dynamic performances including the reggae riddims section of the legendary Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, and the highly respected rock maven Johnette Napolitano, lead singer of the alternative rock band Concrete Blonde. The album gained critical attention propelled by Eljuri’s universal truths and global rhythms.

Eljuri’s album “Fuerte” (2012) is produced by multiple Grammy winner Gustavo Borner, co-produced by Cecilia Villar Eljuri and released by the labels Manovill Records in the U.S. and Discos Intolerancia in Mexico. This powerful collection of songs is enriched by the performances of prominent invited guest musicians including, once again, the famous Jamaican reggae duo, drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare on Eljuri’s song “Empuja”. Eljuri also invited the highly respected independent rockers Mario Muñoz and Sergio Acosta Leon of Colombia’s Doctor Krápula to perform on the cd. Mexico’s celebrated electronica group Kinky remixes Eljuri’s pop single “Paloma” as a bonus track.

Eljuri has toured and performed at such world renowned festivals in the US, Mexico and Colombia, SA as: Flushing Meadows Cinco de Mayo Festival, LAMC, Festival Artistico Ecuatoriano, Houston iFest, Vive Latino, Festival Internacional OllinKan, Lilac Festival, ¡Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, Playas y Parques Sin Humo, ¡Festival Viva el Planeta! and the Baltimore LatinoFest. Eljuri has shared the stage with infamous artists such as: Doctor Krápula, Sly & Robbie, Los Amigos Invisibles, Juanes, Los Lonely Boys, Ely Guerra, Liber Terán, War, Crista Galli, Yomo Toro, Panteón Rococó, Yossi Fine, Concrete Blonde, Johnette Napolitano, Jose Feliciano, Millie Quezada, Cristian Castro, and Steel Pulse.

        
Eljuri proudly endorses the Gibson Guitar family of brands, MonoCase, and JH Audio custom in-ear monitors.