Our STORY

JUST PLAY was founded in 2013, a music and documentary project developed from travels and improvised sessions with musicians from New York, New Orleans, La Havana, San Juan and Peru. JUST PLAY was created by bassist and composer Matt Geraghty as a project to break down the walls between musical cultures and increase the visibility of artists across the African Diaspora in the Americas. 

In 2014-2015, Geraghty brought the project from NYC to New Orleans, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Havana along with producer and saxophonist Zé Luis and filmmaker Laura Newman. This phase of the project culminated in “TRADE WINDS CUBA”, an album and documentary featuring more than 100 emblematic artists from Havana.

In 2018, JUST PLAY continued to create global collaborative musical projects in Peru called “THE WARRIOR WOMEN OF AFRO-PERUVIAN MUSIC,” a documentary uniting the voices and talents of women artists on the Afro-Peruvian scene, filmed by Daniel Thissen and produced by Matt Geraghty and Araceli Poma. This coincided with an album under the same name produced by Javier Lazo, Matt Geraghty and Zé Luis.

In 2020, the documentary project “THE WARRIOR WOMEN OF AFRO-PERUVIAN MUSIC” was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category of Best Long Form Music Video resulting in nominations for the 9 singers and percussionists from Peru including Charo Goyoneche, Sofía Buitrón, Rosa Guzmán, Maricarmen Padilla, Kata Robles, Araceli Poma, Gisella Giurfa, Milagros Guerrero and Victoria Villalobos. Also nominated for their role in producing, directing and filming were Matt Geraghty, Araceli Poma and Daniel Thissen.

“THE WARRIOR WOMEN OF AFRO-PERUVIAN MUSIC” was a landmark recording as one of the first all women Afro-Peruvian projects uniting female voices as a challenge to racism, sexism and marginalization in Peruvian society. It also served as a inspiration and spring board for what would soon come next.

“When I look at how artists are reinventing themselves this past year (2020) in light of so many challenges, there’s probably no more inspiring example to me than the women artists from Puerto Rico. We wanted to produce a documentary that would spotlight their drive, creativity and determination. Our new work “GUERRERAS PUERTORRIQUEÑAS” focuses on traditional roots music while providing a space for emerging talent on the scene. This continues our mission to create a platform for voices and greater visibility for artists in the Americas.” says producer Matt Geraghty.

Filmed this year in Puerto Rico, “GUERRERAS PUERTORRIQUEÑAS” features women artists capturing their music, stories and spirit of resilience in the face of natural disasters, political upheaval and a pandemic.

Watch “GUERRERAS PUERTORRIQUEÑAS” on Vimeo on Demand>>

JUST PLAY will soon continue their travels and undertake projects with musicians in Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Senegal, Mali, Benin y Cabo Verde, seeking to bring visibility to artists around the world.