top of page
C H U Ñ O
Experimental World Music
About
Chuño is an experimental music duo originated by two Argentinian, New York City-based musicians, percussionist Franco Pinna and singer Sofia Tosello.
Chuño blends the rhythms and melodies of South and Central America, using the “Arpa Legüera”, an instrument that evokes the sounds of a Charango, African Kora, and Asian Koto. Arpa Legüera was invented and crafted by Franco P. in 2013.
Franco’s setting includes drum set, percussion from around the world alongside the Arpa. On the other hand Sofia Tosello brings the warmth, the storytelling and the passionate interpretation of the lyrics.
"Chuño is one of the most creative , original and beautiful musical projects in NYC..."
- John Clayton.
Sofia Tosello
Originally from Córdoba, Argentina and now living in New York City, Sofia Tosello brings the voice, the interpretation of the lyrics and the stories behind these songs to this musical project. Tosello has evolved a brand new musical synthesis finding a big approach to Tango and mixes in the rich variety of Latin American “ cancion” traditions, including Chacarera, Bolero Filin, Peruvian Vals, Son Cubano, Bossa Nova and Zamba. One also hears shades of the downtown “world” jazz scene of New York in Tosello’s performance. Christopher Loundon writing in Jazz Times, notes that “the purity of Tosello’s voice is matched by the vibrancy of her emotional palette and inventiveness of her cross-cultural technique. The next wave in Latin American Jazz may well begin with Tosello”. Sofia has performed and recorded with well-known artists such as Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, Fernando Otero, Polly Ferman and Glamour Tango, Cocomama, Alex Cuba, Thalia, Mariela Franganillo Tango Company, Aquiles Baez, Marta Gomez, Guy Mendilow Ensemble, Julio Santillan, among others. Tosello has toured and taught around the world in USA, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Franco Pinna
He started his musical career as a drummer and percussionist in 1988 in Tucumán, Argentina where he performed and recorded with some of the most prominent musicians of the country.
In 1998 , Franco moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music , where he obtained the “Outstanding Musicianship” scholarship and graduated Magna Cum Laude .
Since he moved to New York in 2004 , he has worked as a sideman , playing a wide variety of rhythms and has recorded more than 70 albums accompanying many artists around the globe. He has also taught South American rhythms in various seminars .
He has worked with:
Pablo Ziegler, Lucho Hoyos, Marta Gomez, Fernando Huergo, Sofia Rei, Lucia Pulido, Julio Santillan,Diego Obregon, Raul Carnota, Sofia Tosello, Hiroya Tsukamoto, Juancho Herrera, Raul Midon, Idan Raichel, Yulia Musayelyan, Claudia Acuña, Pablo Mayor, Pedro Giraudo, Mika Pohjola, Gustavo Casenave, Manuel Santos, Katie Viqueira, Pablo Ablanedo, Matthias Bublath, Oscar Stagnaro, Andrew Kim, Emilio Teubal, Haeng Soul, Oscar Penas, Lara Bello, Marta Topferova, Claudio Ragazzi, Carlos Michelini, Alejandro Florez, Florencia Gonzalez,Gregorio Uribe,Manu Sija, Sebastian Cruz, Quique Sinesi, Fer Isella, Pablo Rubén Maldonado,Franco Luciani, Rafi Malkiel, Javier Ruibal, Toño Arnedo, Julio Botti , Claudio Ragazzi, among many others.
"Arpa Legüera"
"Arpa Legüera" is a percussion/string instrument that evokes the sounds of a Charango, African Kora, and Asian Koto.
Arpa Legüera was invented and crafted by Franco Pinna in 2013.
Its name arose from the construction of the first prototype made of a piece of wood , guitar strings and a Bombo Legüero as a resonator.
bottom of page