THE TEAM
Meet our people
Do you want to know more about the people who make the MMP Artisan Music Laboratory Workshop, a center for the construction and sale of incredible musical instruments? Learn more about our team of experts made up of musicians and carpenters from the Afro-Pacific Colombian-Ecuadorian tradition. Our team is here to offer help and advice. Read on to learn about their experiences.
BENJAMIN VANEGAS
Workshop Creator and Administrator
Benjamin is an expert Luthier, with more than 20 years of experience. He has studies in high school and university physics and mathematics. This has allowed him to establish mathematical formulas for the construction of musical instruments and their sound efficiency. He has also been in constant communion with the traditional luthiers of the Colombian and Ecuadorian Pacific coast. His main mentor is Don Nacho (José Caicedo) who lives in the Telembí parish of the Eloy Alfaro canton in the province of Esmeraldas. Nacho is a wise builder of chonta marimbas, bass drums, cununos and guazás. Benjamin is also in communication with maestro Baudilio Cuama, a competent scholar who lives in Buenaventura Colombia, this man masters the construction of all the instruments that make up the musical format of the Ecuadorian Colombian Pacific coast.
Benjamin also has an important musical career, with several international tours, promulgating the music of his ancestors. In addition to having recorded 4 musical albums and collaborating in a dozen productions by other artists.
JONATHAN VANEGAS
Carpenter
Jonathan is our first collaborator, he is a great carpenter, he is deaf and mute and has high skills in working with wood and a lot of coordination with his co-workers, he is loyal and frank. He is an expert in sign language, he has several speeches made from preaching in religious centers.
CARLOS LOBOA
International Projects Coordinator
Carlos Loboa is surely the most experienced musician within this group and we are happy that he is part of our Workshop. He has a long history in the world of music, he has participated in the most relevant music projects on the Colombian-Ecuadorian Pacific coast on the scene (Grupo Bahía, Esteban Copete y su Kinteto Pacífico, Río Mira), now he leads Los Telembí ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxeMrgyTEE ) . He is also a professor at the Universidad del Pacífico and an expert in social projects.
Carlos was born in Cali Colombia and is based in Buenaventura, from there he coordinates new projects for our Workshop and is also and has been the link between the Workshop of maestro Baudilio Cuama and ours.
JAIME ANDRÉS PERDOMO
Musician - Marimba Tuner
Jaime Andrés is a young musician who studies music self-taught. He has studied Physics and Mathematics in high school and graduated in Engineering in International Trade. In 2015 he started at the MMP Artisanal Music Laboratory Workshop as a carpentry assistant, now he is one of our most prominent experts in tuning keys and resonators. He has a musical career, which he is developing and which is increasingly gaining ground.
JAIME DAVID PERDOMO
Workshop Maintenance Manager
Jaime David is currently studying university in Mechanical Engineering, he has been with us since 2019 and is in charge of maintaining the mechanical and electrical machinery of the Workshop. David is also a born musician, since childhood he showed his abilities for music, he has studied and continues to study the Bombo, an instrument that is the basis of Afro-Pacific Colombian-Ecuadorian percussion.
MICHAEL MARQUEZ
Administrative and inventory assistant
Our Administrative and Inventory Assistant works tirelessly to ensure that all of our customers receive the best service possible. You can count on Michael Marquez to help you find what you are looking for at the MMP Artisan Music Laboratory Workshop.