Critics to CD "Don Q."

Folk Magazin 242, 2002
Years ago the first album of this extra-ordinary trio landed on my desk and has left a lasting impression until today. I was even more thrilled finding their new album in my mailbox! Still, these three are unbeatable presenting a light, sometimes weightless mixture of Latino, Brazil and Flamenco. Two guitars and an "omnium gatherum" of percussion keep the listener fascinated for almost an hour.

Akustik Gitarre 5/2002
…there might be some parallel lines to this brilliant work, but few: "Passion, Grace & Fire" by McLaughlin, DiMeola and de Lucia. …The same goes for this album of Matamá: Whoever's got it may keep it in honour - it bears pieces of art from which listenera will gather joy in a hundred years' time …

www.GitarreHamburg.de August 2002
…a first-class album. Caution! Acute danger of addiction…

Lübecker Nachrichten 21. Juni 2002
... Flamenco goes Brazil, three words winding through thirteen pieces of the album Don Q. Songs with a strange kind of magic…. High (f)lights like in the first song Lagun, in Veio Afonso or even more so in Desde que o samba, a heart-breaking light Bossa Nova…

doBrasil 02/2002
Fallen out of time
You put on this CD and automatically think: "Something like this still exists?" Perfectly played music between thrilling virtuosity, dreamy sung melodies and all this without any loops, sampler and bumping bass. Far beyond Axé, Pagode and other Brazilian dance moves three great musicians produced an extra-ordinary CD. And where does this kind of music that resists all mainstream modernism come from? From Rio? Sao Paulo or Belo Horizonte? No - from Hamburg!
…Matamá is a sensitive relation of Brazilian tunes and the strict rhythms of Flamenco…
virtuous instrumental music par excellence, as if it was made by Baden Powell or Sabastiao Tapajos…

 Critics to concerts:

.Flensburg Nachrichten 30. Okt. 2001
…two guitarists with their instruments unfold virtuous melodies enriched with the powerful play of the percussionist on his cajón . The guitarists André Krikula and Juan Rodriguez play together so harmoniously in parallel musical lines, changing from brilliant solos to typical breaks… These musicians combine both ethnic styles with an easiness while presenting their ability of composing with their surprising arrangements

Stader Tageblatt 24. April 2001
...Matamá - magical music
... even the heart - or where ever the musical soul might be located - has been touched by the magical effect of the music by this trio. All three moved on a high level… the two guitarists André Krikula and Juan Rodriguez convinced the audience with great virtuosity… and Conny Sommer filled it all with his great rhythmic variety of exotic percussion instruments. He was the almost unbelievable virtuous engine of the compact rhythmic presence of Matamá…

Flensburg Avis 14.Nov. 2000
.. an absolute highlight was thanks to the initiators of the Schleswig Jazzherbst-festival the appearance of the Hamburg- located band "Matamá" at the Landestheater (state theatre).
All musicians harmonized perfectly and took every possibility of musical dialogue between the instruments. Southern rhythms heating up the blood, setting free the imagination of sun, beach and "pinha colada" while letting us forget about the cold and grey "outside"...

Sollinger Allgemeine 14.Okt. 1999
... Dainties of difficult sounds like Flamenco, African, Arabic sounds, Bossa Nova and Brazilian Tropicalismo melted into a fantastic mixture - presented so un-vain with contagious and convincing pleasure of playing. Five stars for Matamá...

 Critics to CD "Historias"

Amica, Feb. 1999
Genius - enchanting guitars, inspiring voices, moving rhythm - the CD Historias by Matamá is simply great...

Kultimativ, 1/99
...Brazil goes Flamenco... flowing sound aesthetics, pulsation and the hearts fulfilled with rhythm and expression...

Anda, nr.17
... only three people that know how to make world music, thus, re-unite all continents - a sound experience...

Akustik Gitarre, 2/99
...both guitarists and their percussionist do well understand to weave the tunes and once again vary them in new ways. An extremely sympathetic and atmospherically beautiful CD...