domingo, 29 de agosto de 2010

Nestor Torres: The Magic of Latin Jazz

If a flute could talk and sing, it would certainly be in the voice of Nestor Torres, for he speaks through his instrument. Equally fluent in Jazz, Classical and Latin idioms, his fluid versatility sets him apart. Nestor’s total command of his instrument allows him a freedom of expression that is at once captivating and liberating, powerful and genuine.

Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nestor Torres has played music all his life. His parents (the father, a gifted musician himself, and mother, an educator and business woman) gave him a set of drums at age 5, and later took up the flute (at age twelve). He moved to NYC with his family in his teenage years and went on to study at Mannes School of Music and later at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. At that time he was also able to learn to improvise in a style of Cuban Dance music called ‘Charanga’, which helped to shape and develop Nestor’s melodic and danceable sound.

In 1981, Nestor moved to Miami, where he continued to develop his unique sound - and a strong following. Since then he has - and continues to - tour all over the world. He has also performed and recorded with the likes of Ricky Martin, Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Gloria Estefan, and many more.

Nestor Torres has recorded 13 Cds to date. His 5th & 7th records, Treasure of the Heart and My Latin Soul, were nominated for a Latin Grammy, and his production This Side Of Paradise won the Latin Grammy award in the Pop instrumental category on September 11, 2001.

“Of course it was a great honor and privilege to win the Grammy,” Torres reflects. “That being said, the fact that I was to receive it on 9/11 gave my work and my music a stronger sense of mission and purpose. Terrorism and violence come from ignorance, anger, and hopelessness. Music inspires and empowers; it soothes the human heart and enlightens the spirit. I have made it my prime point to create music and live my life in a way that does just that.”

From that experience, together with a commission to compose and perform for the Dalai Lama, Nestor Torres produced Dances, Prayers & Meditations For Peace in 2005. At that year he also offered a live performance at the Heineken Jazz in Puerto Rico .


Nestor Torres - Cafe Cubano

In his brand new CD, Nouveau Latino, Nestor Torres returns to his Latin roots with a fresh approach, impeccable musicianship, and irresistible improvisations. Featuring songs from stars like Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades, Torres’ interpretations of these great Latin hits appeal to those discovering the songs for the first time as much as those who remember them.


Nestor Torres - Smooth

On the third and final week of The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2009 Miami Residency season (from April 1st through the 4th), Nestor Torres was the featured artist in The Cleveland Orchestra’s education series at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. On September 9, 2009 he played at the Greek Theatre (Los Angeles) with the Dave Matthews Band. He guested on the song "Lying In The Hands Of God." He performed at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games opening ceremony in Puerto Rico.


Destino Mayaguez Intro Edit


Source:

http://www.nestortorres.com/
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domingo, 17 de enero de 2010

Hamlet and his Latin Jazz Experience

"Hamlet and his Latin Jazz Experience" is a brand new septet founded by Hamlet Fiorilli, pianist and composer with Colombian and Italian origins. All tunes are Hamlet's original compositions. He combines his strong latin roots with a particular sense for traditiional jazz flavors. The band is located in Carinthia (Austria). The seven top musicians create their own atmosphere, tastefully mixing jazz improvisations with the colors, flavors and traditions of Hamlet's music, resulting in a powerful sound ready to catch and surprise the listener.

Hamlet was born in Bogotà, Colombia in 1967. The family moved to Italy, and he soon began his musical studies on clarinet and drums, and later at age 13 on piano, studying with a private teacher for one year. He then continued instinctively learning by playing, as he still does today, considering himself more a musician than a pianist. Concurrently to the above studies, he took his diploma in french horn at the P. Mascagni conservatory of Livorno, also studying composition, choir conducting and classical percussion, and finished his arranging studies with a private teacher in the Berkley school method.

Piano became his main instrument; he started professionally with his father's latin band "Macondo" at age 15, also replacing his piano teacher on the local jazz bigband. There followed many concerts with different bands, playing many genres, helping him develop a big, open view of music. At age 17 he played a few seasons on cruise ships around Europe, North Africa and Russia and later moved to Monte Carlo, Divonne Les Bains, and Vienna, playing in prestigious clubs and hotels. In Italy he formed a pop-rock band called "Animali Rari," performing hundreds of concerts around the country, winning prizes and participating in natioinal radio and tv shows. He was the youngest orchestral conductor/arranger on the important Sanremo Festival, and collaborated with artists on the Italian pop scene, including Marina Fiordaliso, Fiorella Pierobon, Giorgia, Vinicio Capossela, Maurizio Solieri and Daniele Tedeschi (guitarist and drummer of Vasco Rossi.) On the salsa side he played a few years with Jairo's Tribu Tayrona (Columbia) and again travelled Europe playing in Cannes, Luxemburg, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and in Trinidad (Cuba) made several performances with the salsa band "Sonora Trinitaria." Hamlet is also currently playing with the American singer Gail Anderson.In some aspects, Hamlet and his band remind us of Serbian Jazz veterans - Jovan Maljokovic Sextet- because similiar style and similiar mood characterize both groups interpretations.

Hamlet & his Latin Jazz Experience most recent album " Descarumbiando " shows just how much this group has imbued the spirit of the Latin Jazz music genre. Hamlet and his fellows undoubtly did a good and fine job.


Descarumbiando Videoclip.


Hamlet solo en El Fuego del Padre.

“Recuerdos” showcases the full intensity of the percussionists on this date. Their work is outstanding and compliments the inner clave of Hamlet Fiorilli’s piano work. Congas and drums combine sharply and there is a superb flamenco break and the handclaps accentuate the heat of the piece. “Suite Latina,” although short is a fine composition rooted in the valse mode but then soon traverses the gamut of rhythms with a dynamic harmonic crescendo, played by the piano almost mimicking a Gershwin roll at first then streaking ahead. “Ron Y Gin” is a classic Cuban mambo and son track that is played with swagger.

“El Fuego del Padre” explores the edges of tonal dissonance and also features some fine conga work. “Gospa” is a well-written authentic bolero. “Tocando Mi Oropel” is rendered as a chorinho and features a memorable dialogue between Fiorilli’s piano and Simon Pibal’s clarinet. In “Bluesambongo” the funky Afro-American and samba rhythmic dialects collide. The highlight of “Siete Camisas” is the fine sense of togetherness that exists in the band as they work each other in unison. And “Tranquilo” is a quiet closer for the date, but not before the quiet fire of Hans Lassnig’s trumpet burns through the bolero.

Tracks: Descarumbiando; Recuerdos; Suite Latina; Ron Y Gin; El Fuego Del Padre; Gospa (Bolero Mayor); Tocando Mi Oropel; Bluesambongo; Siete Camisas; Tranquilo.

Personnel: Hamlet Fiorilli: acoustic piano; Victor Fiorilli: electric bass; Stefan Mortel: drums; Gianni Battilana: congas and percussion; Max Fiorilli: timbales and percussion; Hans Lassnig: trumpet and flugelhorn; Michael Erian: tenor and soprano saxophones (solo: 7, end solo 1); Robert Friedl: tenor saxophone (all other ts solos); Special Guests: Stefan Gfrerer: acoustic bass (7); Simon Pibal: clarinet (7).

Sources:

http://www.latinjazzexperience.com/

http://www.myspace.com/hamletandlatinjazzexperience

http://www.latinjazznet.com
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