World Beat

Huayucaltia is a breath of fresh air in a world full of stale music.

Where some traditionalists seem afraid to take risks and push the limits of their music, the five-member ensemble blends the indigenous Latin instruments of their respective homelands with elements of Andean music, modern jazz and classical music. The result is a sound that can be both seductive and solemn.

Huayucaltia (why-you-cal-tee-ah), whose name is Aztec for brotherhood and unity, have released three albums on ROM Records since 1988 and bring their unique style of music to the Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge on Friday at 8 p.m. Their 1989 album, “Horizontes,” garnered them an Indie award for first place in the Latin music category from NAIRD (National Assn. of Independent Record Distributors).

Producer and guitarist Ciro Hurtado said members of Huayucaltia pride themselves on staying true to their roots, but still aren’t scared to throw in contemporary instruments like a synthesizer. “We have combined more influences from all over the world than most bands,” Hurtado said.

Indeed, it would be unwise not to use the rich musical resources at the group’s disposal. Percussionist Herman Pinilla is from Colombia, drummer Julio Ledezma from northern Argentina, guitarist Antonio Ezkauriata from Mexico and Hurtado from Peru.

And Hurtado’s wife, Cindy Harding, a Bay Area native and the only U.S.-born member of the group, is a flutist who also plays a variety of other instruments. Her sporadic, yet vivid vocals add a delicate and soulful flair to the band’s collage of upbeat and melancholy material.

Each Huayucaltia song represents a collective quest to channel distinct creative energies into one final product. “We all bring original compositions to the studio,” Hurtado said.

Pinilla and Hurtado started out singing mostly politically conscious songs as Grupo Unidad in 1985, but later changed their name and became a mainly instrumental band concentrating on using Latin American rhythms as a foundation to explore other areas of music.

Hurtado’s personal playlist ranges from Tex-Mex to Alanis Morissette. Growing up in a family of musicians near the jungle region of Peru exposed him to a wide array of sounds.

Though the members of his band are all formally trained musicians, they make special efforts to return to their native countries to buy instruments or tap into the new sounds emerging there.

Hurtado writes and composes many of the songs, but he said his wife’s well-trained ear is a crucial part of the process. “It helps a lot,” Hurtado said about working with his wife. “She says ‘you should change that’ or sometimes finds things that I don’t hear.”

BE THERE

Huayucaltia plays Friday at the Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street. Tickets are $20 with senior and student discounts. (818) 677-2488.