Sunday, May 13, 2018

Friday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.: The Samuel Torres Super Band Brings "Alegría" to Aaron Davis Hall


The Samuel Torres Super Band is headed to Aaron Davis Hall for a special concert entitled “Alegría, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” on Friday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. Led by acclaimed Colombian percussionist-arranger-composer Samuel Torres, the all-star group is composed of Will Vinson (alto saxophone), Joel Frahm (tenor and soprano saxophone), Ivan Renta (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet and flute), Michael Rodriguez (trumpet), Alex Norris (trumpet), Marshall Gilkes (trombone), Luis Perdomo (piano), Rubén Rodríguez (bass) and Pablo Bencid (drums). 

Presented by City College Center for the Arts, the concert will premiere new works composed by Torres for his upcoming album Alegría (or Happiness in English) which merges classic American jazz with the sound of contemporary Latin urban  sounds and styles such as cumbia, boogaloo and Afro-Cuban jazz. The album and concert are a part of a grant by Chamber Music America 2017 New Jazz Works Commissioning program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Torres, who won the grant in 2012 and 2017, has the distinction of being the first hand percussionist to receive the honor.

The Samuel Torres Super Band will bring the dynamic and infectious sound of Latin jazz to Aaron Davis Hall on Friday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. with the “Alegría, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” concert. Presented by City College Center for the Arts, the performance is the world premiere of new, original compositions by Samuel Torres from his forthcoming album, Alegría.  

A celebrated percussionist, composer and arranger, Torres, a native of Colombia, has worked with music giants including Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Chick Corea, Candido Camero, Angélique Kidjo, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Shakira, and Alejandro Sanz, among others. Torres’ most recent album, Forced Displacement (2015), was influenced by the violence and unrest affecting his homeland. Now with Alegría — “happiness” in English — Torres again pays homage to the people of Colombia and other Latin American nations, this time with a nod to their resilient spirit and ability to find joy in even the darkest times. Inspired by the vibrant urban and Latin dance music scenes of Bogotá and beyond, Torres created Alegría with an aim to merge classic jazz traditions with a more contemporary Latin urban sound as well as popular music styles such as boogaloo, cumbia and Afro-Cuban jazz. As the name promises, Alegría will provide listeners with songs that inspire them to dance and find joy in the music.  

Funding for Alegría and the “Alegría, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” concert was made possible by support from Chamber Music America 2017 New Jazz Works Commissioning program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. A two-time recipient of the prestigious award (in 2012 and 2017), Torres has the distinction of being the first hand percussionist to receive the grant, which also includes the Boston premiere of the work in concert at Scullers Jazz Club on May 24 and the upcoming Alegría album slated to be recorded later this spring.

“I’ve always been interested in the amazing music that has come out of New York City, especially the city’s history of welcoming Latin artists and giving them a base to push through new innovations in Latin music like salsa and Latin jazz,” said Torres. “This is one of the reasons I am so happy to bring these new songs to the people of Harlem.”

“It’s going to be a fun night. We are always excited when Aaron Davis Hall can host artists who reflect the cultures of our communities in Harlem,” added City College Center for the Arts Managing Director Gregory Shanck. “With an artist of Samuel’s caliber, our audience is sure to get an evening of music they won’t forget.”


The “Alegría, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” concert will feature the Samuel Torres Super Band performing new songs such as “Raquel’s Bolero,” “Salsa, Jazz y Choke” and “Barretto-Power.” The Samuel Torres Super Band is a dream team composed of Torres (congas and percussion), Will Vinson (alto saxophone), Joel Frahm (tenor and soprano saxophone), Ivan Renta (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet and flute), Michael Rodriguez (trumpet), Alex Norris (trumpet), Marshall Gilkes (trombone), Luis Perdomo (piano), Rubén Rodríguez (bass) and Pablo Bencid (drums).

Tickets for “Alegría, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” are on sale now for $30 general admission and $20 for students and seniors with ID. Tickets can be purchased online at www.citycollegecenterforthearts.org or in person at the Aaron Davis Hall box office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. For more details, visit the CCCA site or call the Aaron Davis Hall box office at (212) 650-6900. City College Center for the Arts can be followed on Twitter at @ccnyarts.

Aaron Davis Hall is located on the campus of the City College of New York, at West 135th Street and Convent Avenue (129 Convent Avenue).

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Samuel Torres is a lauded percussionist, composer and arranger as well as one of today’s most versatile Latin jazz artists. A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Torres was exposed to music at an early age thanks in part to an extended family of musicians which included his uncle Edy Martínez, a pianist-arranger who earned fame in the New York salsa scene of the 1970s. A classically trained percussionist with a degree in music composition, Torres established himself as a musical force in his homeland at a young age. His career took flight when acclaimed Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval asked him to join his group shortly after Torres moved to the U.S. Since then, the percussionist has earned renown in his own right through his work as a performer, arranger and producer in the worlds of Latin jazz, salsa, Latin pop and jazz, working with artists including Lila Downs, Paquito D’Rivera and Rubén Blades in addition to releasing albums of his own work, such as Skin Tones (2006), Yaoundé (2010) and Forced Displacement (2015). He resides in New York City. More information on the artist and his music can be found at www.samueltorres.com.

ABOUT THE CITY COLLEGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The City College Center for the Arts hosts an ambitious, year-round calendar of student and professional performances. The mission of the City College Center for the Arts is to provide a creative arts center and focal point for the City College of New York, building a sense of community within the College, elevating the profile of Aaron Davis Hall in the greater New York area, and connecting the College to the surrounding community through the arts.

Maurizio Petrelli - Scatole di Vetro (ALFA MUSIC 2018)


È in distribuzione “Scatole di vetro”, secondo lavoro discografico con creazioni originali del crooner e autore salentino Maurizio Petrelli, prodotto dall’etichetta romana AlfaMusic, fondata nel 1990 da Fabrizio Salvatore e Alessandro Guardia. L’album – continuazione ideale di un percorso musicale che ha avuto come prima tappa il precedente “Amori e Altre Storie. Divagazioni di un alchimista” (AlfaMusic 2015) – è arrangiato da Franco Piana e Vincenzo Presta, che arricchiscono con maestria i testi di Petrelli.

"I temi che l’autore propone disegnano un universo espressivo variegato, ora incline all’intimismo, ora attento all’ambito sociale della contemporaneità. Il registro stilistico è adeguato al racconto di avventure, impressioni e ricordi che emergono come tracce di un acuto scavo interiore. Mai toccato da tentazioni di autocensura o edulcorazione, anzi profondamente sincero. Incline, semmai, a ricorrere all’ironia per alleggerire il dramma o rifuggire dal melenso", si legge nelle note di copertina di Carmine Zocco. Una parte del disco è dedicata a Nicola Arigliano, con un omaggio ai suoi motivi più famosi e una rilettura di “Colpevole” (AlfaMusic, Nun, Raitrade), Premio della Critica al Festival di Sanremo 2005.

"Il percorso musicale si conclude con un’emozionante incontro con il suo pubblico grazie a “Eccomi qui”, un brano per pianoforte e voce che è anche il titolo del nuovo show di Petrelli. Il tocco nitido e il fraseggio lirico di Ettore Carucci costituiscono il tappeto sonoro ideale per l’invito al viaggio in un universo emotivo policromo (variamente colorato), impreziosito da musicisti jazz molto bravi e particolarmente versati nello swing e nella costruzione di atmosfere da “crooner”, in cui si esalta la vena interpretativa di Petrelli", conclude Zocco.  Il cantante è affiancato da Stefano Sabatini (pianoforte), Francesco Puglisi (contrabbasso e basso elettrico), Dario Congedo (batteria), Daniele Leucci (percussioni), Paolo Zou (chitarre), Fernando Toma (campionamenti, archi), Anita Pusceddu e Alessandro Guardia (cori), Mirko Rinaldi (tromba e flicorno), Franco Piana (tromba e flicorno), Ambrogio Frigerio (trombone), Ferruccio Corsi (sax alto, flauto), Vincenzo Presta (sax soprano, sax tenore) e il quartetto d'archi Bim Orchestra composto da Marcello Sirignano (I violino), Mario Gentili (II violino), Stefania Di Biase (viola) e Laura Pierazzuoli (violoncello).


Maurizio Petrelli inizia la sua carriera artistica come batterista negli anni ’60. Successivamente inizia a suonare il piano e a cantare. Con la Spaghetti Gang, progetto swing che fonda insieme ai fratelli Nando e Giorgio Mancarella e al sassofonista Gigi Galante, realizza una tournée con la cantante Viola Valentino e svolge intensa attività live in giro sulle navi da crociera nel mondo. Al rientro da queste esperienze internazionali nasce l’idea di formare un’orchestra e Petrelli allarga l’organico alla sezione fiati curando personalmente gli arrangiamenti. La band realizza numerosi live di successo che culminano con la pubblicazione di un primo disco di cover.

Negli anni 90 si dedica al Rhythm & Blues fondando i “Soul Brothers” con i quali nel 1999 incide il primo album “SuperCovers”. Nel 2002 nasce una collaborazione con il trombettista Guido Pistocchi con il quale realizza un repertorio di “evergreen”. La passione per i grandi ensemble evolve nella big band “Grande Salento Orchestra”, composta da 17 elementi, giovani musicisti provenienti dal conservatorio e apprezzati professionisti salentini, che debutta nel 2008 al Teatro Paisiello di Lecce sotto la direzione di Marco della Gatta. Nel 2010 nasce il progetto “Pugliamerica a/r”, originale percorso musicale in chiave swing che parte dai brani classici di Frank Sinatra  e approda alle composizioni più suggestive di Domenico Modugno che diventa anche un disco prodotto dalla Dodicilune.

Nel 2015 il suo secondo cd in big band dal titolo “Amori e altre storie” (AlfaMusic) realizzato grazie agli arrangiamenti di Franco Piana, contenente brani originali di Petrelli e un brano del trombettista Guido Pistocchi, presente nel disco anche come musicista. Dal lavoro emerge una notevole varietà di registri espressivi, dal monologo dichiaratamente intimista al dialogo con interlocutori veri o immaginati, dal bozzetto ironico al ritratto amaro. La via maestra delle grandi orchestre dell’età dell’oro del jazz si incrocia con i ritmi latinoamericani o si espande in ballad struggenti.

Tenderlonious - THE SHAKEDOWN featuring The 22archestra (22a Music June 15, 2018)




“The future of UK jazz is bright. If ever proof were needed that London’s young jazz scene is on fire right now, here it is.” Evening Standard

“Not enough people realise how much this artist has helped to shape the U.K underground right now. A don.” The Move 

“Tenderlonious is one of the hardest working men in music, bridging jazz, house and beats with restless ease.” The Vinyl Factory      

“South London beat maker Tenderlonious has made waves with his beautiful hybrid productions of jazzy, house, hip-hop and more. Every new release is a must listen.” Stamp The Wax 

“Loosey-goosey grooves and stoned soul chords” Resident Advisor

“The sheer force of this musician's personality is forging out a fresh universe for others to explore” Clash

22a label founder, flautist, saxophonist, producer and DJ extraordinaire Ed Cawthorne - aka Tenderlonious - has gained a reputation as one of the hardest working, most well respected and influential figures in South London’s burgeoning jazz scene.

Whether dropping sought-after deep house / broken beat 12”s on 22a, releasing via the likes of Ninja Tune, Brownswood, Yoruba Sounds Of The Universe and Far Out, or making inspirational sounds with his other band Ruby Rushton, Tenderlonious is one of the jazz renaissance’s leading lights.

He has helped turn the UK music scene on its head and shifted the focus back from aesthetic and sartorial posturing to live real musicianship, alongside other key piers like Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Henry Wu/Kamaal Williams and Shabaka Hutchins.

Tenderlonious’ credentials in both electronic and jazz worlds are impeccable. He already has a Solid Steel Radio, a monthly slot on Gilles Petersons Worldwide FM mix and NTS shows under his belt, whilst his productions have gained praise and club plays from Gilles Peterson, Benji B, Huey Morgan, Lefto, Bradley Zero, Bonobo, Soul Clap, Osunlade, Alexander Nut. Mr G, Henry Wu and Banoffee Pies.

The Shakedown is Ed’s debut album proper as Tenderlonious and features a new band - the dream team of top talent he named the 22archestra, who he leads seamlessly throughout. Listeners are exposed to the full breadth of Cawthorne’s technical and compositional skills, ranging from subtly meandering jazz, to hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin and exhilarating free form jazz.

SV Disco, a nod to the mighty Slum Village, is a chunk of sensually-contorted disco vibes that brings on full party mode instantaneously, with the slinky bass licks and pitch-bent synthesiser recalling Roy Ayres’s blissed-out funk, blended with flute flurries reminiscent of mind Max Cilla’s La Flûte des Mornes.

Maria showcases Ed’s roots as sample-based producer, pulling influence from around the globe to create an undulating piece of flute-led Brazilian fusion that fans of Ruby Rushton will find familiar. The eastern-inspired embellishments raise the temperature further, whilst former Yussef Kamaal member Yussef Dayes’ sizzling cymbals and shuffling snare work propel the track onwards, locking down a signature 22a groove.

Latin and African influence can be heard across many of the tracks. Togo is a smoky afrobeat jam that leaves space for Tenderlonious’ flute to soar above, his playing mimicking old school styles you might catch from MF Doom or J Dilla.


Yussef’s Groove kicks off with driving drums, and each of the 22archestra enter steadily, fully utilising their virtuosic power, switching between low-slung bass, chic open piano solos and hazy electric piano.

The Shakedown exercises more restraint, with Bitches Brew style ambience providing a palpable sense of anticipation and passion, whilst still retaining that stomping, low-riding 70s swing they do so well.

The 22archestra was conceived after Tenderlonious was invited to record at Abbey Road Studios. The whole crew was rounded-up and the album was recorded during a single 8 hour session – a testament to their musicianship and ability to nail a take, which has been honed on stage.  

Live performances include sessions for Red Bull and Boiler Room, shows for Jazz Re:freshed, House of Vans, Dulwich Picture Gallery and Worldwide FM’s 2017 birthday party, plus a support slot for Ethio jazz legend Malatu Astatke at The Barbican. Crowds have also been wowed in Paris, Milan, Brussels, Croatia and Amsterdam.

22a is an independent record label founded in London in 2013. Born out of a duty to release their music, the focus is on a collective family of artists sharing work through the vehicle of the label, for the love of the music itself. 22a is firmly establishing itself as one of the leading independent labels in the UK, with a consistent output of quality releases spanning house, hip hop, broken beat, rare groove and jazz. They are residents on Worldwide FM and hosted and sold out the re-launch of Jazz Cafe in 2016.


1. Expansions
2. Yussef’s Groove
3. Togo
4. SV Interlude
5. The Shakedown
6. Maria
7. You Decide
8. SV Disco
9. Red Sky At Night

Ed ‘Tenderlonious’ Cawthorne: flute & synth
Hamish Balfour: keys
Fergus Ireland: bass
Yussef Dayes: drums
Tim Carnegue: drums
Mo Kolours: Percussion
Al Dobson Jr: percussion
Aidan Shepherd: keys
Nick Walters: trumpet
Reginald Omas Mamode IV: percussion
Jeen Bassa: percussion
Konrad: percussion

Producer; Tenderlonious 
Executive Producer; Dennis Ayler 
Engineer; Matt Mysko 

All tracks written & arranged by Tenderlonious & The 22archestra 

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, 26th March 2017 

Cover Design; Theo Ackroyd 
Cover Photography; Lou Jasmine




Shows

May 19th - Paris - La Petite Halle
May 26th – Liverpool - The Reeds
May 27th - Leeds - World Island
June 1st - Bristol - Louisiana
June 7th - Brighton - Patterns
June 8th - Wales - Gottwood Festival
June 14th - Manchester - Soup Kitchen
June 15th - Poland – Wrocław 22archestra show
June 22nd - London - Oslo
July 30th - Croatia - Soundwave
31st August - Cornwall - Knee Deep Festival

Ani DiFranco – July 4 at Montréal International Jazz Fest


Place des Arts and Maison symphonique de Montréal : 175, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest ; 514 842-2112, 1 866 842-2112 or placedesarts.com

Centre Bell : 1909, av. des Canadiens-de-Montréal ; 1 855 310-2525 ; evenko.ca

The 39th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will be held
from June 28 to July 7 2018.

Francos de Montréal / Offre spéciale : Maman aime la musique !


Du 10 au 13 mai à minuit, obtenez
25 % de rabais sur les concerts suivants
et gâtez votre maman
*Quantité limitée


Jann Arden
Première partie : Martha Wainwright
29 juin • Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,
Place des Arts

Dreamworks Animation in Concert
30 juin • Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,
Place des Arts

Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite
Première partie : Delgres
3 juillet • Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,
Place des Arts

Bonobo
St Germain
5 juillet • Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,
Place des Arts


Camille
Première partie : Pomme
13 juin • Théâtre Maisonneuve,
Place des Arts

L'événement 50e d'André Mathieu 
Alain Lefèvre et ses invités : Diane Dufresne, Marc Labrèche, Florence K et Catherine Major avec l’Orchestre de la Francophonie dirigé par
Jean-Philippe Tremblay
14 juin • Maison symphonique de Montréal

Annie Villeneuve
5
14 juin • Cinquième Salle,
Place des Arts

Galaxie
Première partie : Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire
14 juin • MTELUS

Mara Tremblay
Première partie : Joli-Bois
15 juin • L'Astral