Freestyle Candela is Guitarist Leif Totusek and his composition based on Soukous guitar, Cuban Rumba and inspirations from Hendrix to Haiti. Leif has played extensively with Soukous Guitar master "Moses Fan Fan" and has been special guest with "Tabu Ley Rochereau (jazz Alley Seattle, Wa.) the godfathers of the soukous form.

National Public Radio ****
Best performance at the 1996
Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival
“. . . A shining example of cross-culture fusion
… Sure to get you on your feet . . . Part African, part Cuban. . .
A highly personal vehicle conveying his musical ideas. . .�
Norman Weinstein (Monitor Radio)

Afro-Pop Worldwide
Golden guitar Grooves… Spiritual…hypnotic…fun… Totusek with his guitar is star. . .� Banning Eyre

2002 BUMBERSHOOT “. . .my advice to everyone is to check out Leif Totusek’s
Freestyle Candela. . . great guitarist and the African Soukou thing he does is amazing . . . We are more than lucky to have him in Seattle.�
David Meinhert, Seattle Weekly

Burning Rumba. . . . Dance’s on guitar. . .Irresistable blend of Soukous and jazz� Danny Houseman, The Seattle Stranger

Playing his own take on Rumba, African funk Seattle guitarist Leif Totusek leads one of the most promising groups, Freestyle Candela. . .�
Fernando Gonzales, Boston Globe

Brilliant young American guitarist. . .� The Jazz Café’ London, England

Outstanding World Music act.� Boston Music Awards

. . . Intriguing American band who combind the rhythms of Africa, Cuba and
Brazil. City Limets’, London England

. . . word is . . . they’re fantastic.� Boston Phoenix
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