From the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno”, the former members of his resident band
KNICK SMITH TRIO | (USA)
Jazz
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AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE 2023
DECEMBER 1ST/20TH
THE KNICK SMITH TRIO
Nick Smith | Keyboards
Edwin Livingston | Bass
Marvin “Smitty” Smith | Drums
NICK SMITH
Nick has toured with various artists, including Stanley Clarke, Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah, Kenny Garrett, Kirk Whalum, George Duke, Roy Ayers, Brandy, Kenny Lattimore, Donald Byrd, Michel Polnareff, and Dianne Reeves. For almost ten years, Nick toured with Stanley Clarke and worked on the Showtime series Soul Food and several movie projects. Some of the movies include Higher Learning, Eddie, Sprung, Funny Valentine, and The Color of Friendship. Nick also worked with bassist Robert Hurst on the music for the motion picture, Brown Sugar. In 1995, Nick appeared nightly on the Tonight Show featuring Jay Leno. After leaving the Tonight Show, Nick built a home studio and began recording. He has composed enough music to complete several CD’s and is currently working on three CD projects.
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EDWIN LIVINGSTON
Edwin has performed and/or recorded with:
Elvin Jones, Ellis, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Jr., Lionel Loueke, Otmaro Ruiz, Mike Garson, Russell Ferrante, Leni Stern, Dave Weckl, Will Kennedy, Peter Erskine, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Joe LaBarbera, Henry Butler, Queen Latifah, The Benjamin Wright Orchestra(Raphael Saadiq, Justin Timberlake, Will.I.Am, Brian McKnight, Mary J Blige, Aretha Franklin), Vince Mendoza, Bob Mintzer (Grammy nominated large ensemble album), Yellowjackets, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jovanotti, Keiko Matsui, Melody Gardot, Natalie Cole, Ben Vereen, Frankie Valli, Thelma Houston and many others.
In addition to a full playing, touring, and recording career he is on the faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music, teaching bass & small ensembles in the jazz studies department. He is also on faculty at The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) teaching core curriculum, ensembles and bass.
Edwin has appeared in several feature films, including Ray, Dreamgirls, Dolemite Is My Name, and Low Down, he has also performed on NBC LIVE Jesus Christ Superstar with John Legend, Sara Bareilles, & Brandon Victor Dixon. He’s performed with Seal on The Late Late Show with James Corden, with Melody Gardot on Later…with Jools Holland, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, LIVE with Regis and Kelly and the A & E show Private Sessions with Queen Latifah.
MARVIN “SMITTY” SMITH
Marvin “Smitty” Smith is a musician extraordinaire whose work has been described as a “comment on invention, firm and adventurous time and technical sufficiency.” He has traveled extensively throughout the Orient, Europe, and the continental USA; and he has shared the stage with such greats as Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Frank Foster and Frank Wess, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, and Milt Jackson. He is a former member of the Ron Carter Quartet, The New York Jazz Quartet, and The Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet.
Featured on more than 45 albums, additional performances and recordings augmented with Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison, Ray Brown and Phineas Newborn, George Shearing, Bobby Watson, Hamiet Bluiett, Branford Marsalis, David Murray, Emily Remler, Peter Leicht, Kevin Eubanks, Donald Byrd, Monty Alexander, Diane Reeves, Michel Camilo, and Grover Washington Jr. Currently he’s a member of Steve Coleman’s Five Elements, and The Dave Holland Quartet. Smitty conducts seminars and clinics for students in jazz workshops, both in the United States and Europe; and is currently on staff of jazz program at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts, Canada, and Drummers Collective, New York City.
AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE 2023
MARCH 27th / APRIL 30th
Jeff Berlin | Bass
Emilio García | Guitar
Jorge Vera | Keyboards, vocal
Asaf Sirkis | Drums
Jeff Berlin is a flexible and powerful electric bassist. He was one of the major fusion bassists to emerge during the mid-’70s. His father sang opera and his mother played piano. Berlin had nine years of violin lessons starting from when he was five and was considered a child prodigy, appearing with orchestras in New York City. However, when he was 14 he switched directions and began playing electric bass; Jack Bruce was an early hero. Berlin attended the Berklee College of Music for a time and then moved back to New York. For a short period he was in a trio with Allan Holdsworth and Tony Williams. In 1975 he recorded in Europe with Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz and then in New York he became quite busy with studio work, club dates, and record sessions. Berlin played with many top musicians including Pat Martino, Gil Evans, Toots Thielemans, Al DiMeola, George Benson, Earl Klugh, Larry Coryell, Bob James, Dave Liebman, Herbie Mann, Ray Barretto, the Brecker Brothers and others. Berlin was also a regular member of Bill Bruford’s band (which included guitarist Holdsworth and keyboardist Dave Stewart) for a couple years starting in 1977; four recordings resulted.
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Berlin subsequently moved to Los Angeles, worked in clubs with Scott Henderson and Frank Gambale, became an educator (helping to found the Bass Institute of Technology), played rock (including with Frank Zappa), and turned down an opportunity to join Van Halen. During 1985-1986 Berlin recorded two fusion/rock dates for the soon-defunct Passport label. He moved to Florida in 1990 and toured with Yes, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Kazumi Watanabe, and other musicians from a wide variety of creative genres. In addition, he began teaching at the Players School. His third set as a leader, 1997’s Taking Notes for Denon, was Berlin’s most jazz-oriented set to date. He continued releasing a number of albums into the 21st century, including Lumpy Jazz (2004) with his core trio featuring pianist Richard Drexler and drummer Danny Gottlieb; the highly regarded In Harmony’s Way (2004) with guest appearances by saxophonist David Liebman, vibraphonist Gary Burton, and guitarist Mike Stern; Ace of Bass/Aneurythms (2006); and the piano trio-oriented High Standards (2010), again featuring Drexler and Gottlieb in addition to the session leader.
Jeff Lorber | Keyboards
Jimmy Haslip | Bass
Sonny Emory | Drums
Jeff Lorber (Jeffrey H. Lorber born November 4, 1952) is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Prototype by his band the Jeff Lorber Fusion.
Many of his songs have appeared on the Weather Channel’s Local on the 8s segments and on the channel’s compilation albums, The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz and The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album He Had a Hat (Blue Note, 2007).
Jeff Lorber Fusion
His first group, the Jeff Lorber Fusion, released their self-titled debut album The Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1977 on Inner City Records. Supported by a revolving cast of musicians, including drummer Dennis Bradford, he recorded five studio albums under this moniker. These early albums showcased a funky sound influenced by other jazz fusion practitioners such as Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, and Return to Forever, the latter’s Chick Corea appearing on several songs. Like his contemporaries, Lorber performed on multiple keyboard instruments, including piano, Rhodes piano, and analog synthesizers, often favoring the Minimoog and Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. The Jeff Lorber Fusion’s 1980 album, Wizard Island, introduced saxophonist Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, better known as Kenny G.
Solo career
In 1984 he released his second solo album In the Heat of the Night and Jeff Lorber Fusion compilation album Lift Off. Later that year, he and the production duo of David Frank and Mic Murphy, otherwise known as the System, produced Step by Step. The title track, written with Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, rose to number 31 in the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. The song “Facts of Love” (featuring Karyn White) from the 1986 album Private Passion was his biggest chart hit, reaching No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 on the R&B chart. Several singles from this period also appeared on the Billboard Dance charts. However, Lorber was not satisfied that he was being overtaken by a more vocal and R&B feel on his own albums, so he took a seven-year hiatus. After Step by Step, he quoted Clive Davis as telling him, “We really want you to put more vocals on your records”, which Lorber thought was a mistake.
Lorber’s keyboard work appeared in the video game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. His input can be heard during the game’s closing theme song “I Am the Wind” (which also featured the saxophonist Gerald Albright).
Two greatest hits compilation albums were released in 2000 and 2002. Flipside (2005) was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, his 2013 album Hacienda was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album. In 2018, he received a Grammy for his album Prototype in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category.
Lorber has done extensive production and session work for other musicians, including Dave Koz, Eric Benét, Herb Alpert, Carol Duboc and Laura Branigan. He hosts a show on Sirius Satellite Radio.
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JIMMY HASLIP
James Robert Haslip (born December 31, 1951) is an American bass guitarist who was a founding member of the jazz fusion group the Yellowjackets, which he left in 2012. He was also an early user of the five-string electric bass.
Early life and career
Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican immigrants, Spanish was Haslip’s first language and he learned to speak English in kindergarten. His father, James Joseph (Jaime) Haslip (1915–1999) served in the United States Customs Service, beginning as a Merchant Marine until moving to patrolman and eventually deputy commissioner, marrying Jimmy’s mother Virginia (Viera) Haslip (1912-2009) in 1937.
Haslip moved to Huntington, New York when he was four years old. At age seven, he began playing drums and then moved onto other instruments such as trumpet and tuba until playing bass at age 15. Although he took music lessons and went to a private music school, he considers himself self-taught. He has said that he went to a local music shop with his father and purchased a right-handed bass (he is left-handed) and learned to play it upside down (without restringing).
In an interview with magazine JazzTimes, Haslip said he was surrounded by music as a young boy, from visiting nightclubs and concert venues to his peers. He explains that there was music in his house as well, from his older brother Gabriel listening to classic jazz, his father listening to Latin and orchestra jazz and his aunt listening to “sappy stuff like Jerry Vale and Johnny Mathis”. In high school, Haslip created his first band called Soul Mine with his high school classmates, playing soul music at school dances and parties.
In the early 1970s Haslip played with New York glam band Street Punk, he toured alongside musicians, and moved to Los Angeles in 1976, where he played with guitarists Tommy Bolin and Harvey Mandel. in addition to the Yellowjackets, he has worked with Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Bruce Hornsby, Rita Coolidge, Gino Vannelli, Kiss, Tommy Bolin, Allan Holdsworth, Marilyn Scott, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Donald Fagen, and Anita Baker.
Haslip has released two solo albums: Arc, and Red Heat, with Joe Vannelli, in 2000. He was active with the Yellowjackets between 1977 and 2012. He was part of a combo with Allan Holdsworth, Alan Pasqua, and Chad Wackerman. Other collaborations include Jing Chi (with Robben Ford and Vinnie Colaiuta) and Modereko. Haslip was a member of the rock group Blackjack from 1979–1980 with Bruce Kulick, Sandy Gennaro, and Michael Bolton. He also toured with guitarist Allan Holdsworth and drummer Virgil Donati.
In 2012, Haslip took a year-long hiatus from Yellowjackets, which later turned permanent. Haslip wanted to devote more time to his family and other musical projects. He was replaced in Yellowjackets by Felix Pastorius, the son of Jaco Pastorius. Regarding this topic, he stated: “The primary reason for my hiatus is so that I can spend more quality time with my family”, says Haslip. “I spent ten months on the road last year. The break will give me an opportunity to spend more time at home as well as work on other artistic endeavors, such as independently producing projects”. Haslip adds, “This was not a rash decision and there is no animosity by any means. Everybody is still friends and I’m excited for the band and their upcoming plans with Felix”.
SONNY EMORY
Sonny Emory is a native of Atlanta who received his first drum set at the age of four. After graduating from Georgia State University with a Bachelor in Jazz Performance, Sonny began his transition into becoming a professional drummer playing with Joe Sample and the Crusaders. With over 30 years of live performance and studio work behind him, Sonny maintains a busy schedule in the music industry and is highly regarded in the business.
Though probably best known for his groundbreaking drumming with Earth, Wind, and Fire; Sonny has performed with a virtual “who’s who” in pop and jazz music including Stanley Clarke, David Sanborn, Bette Midler, Al Jarreau, Paula Abdul, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Boz Scaggs. He is also known for innovative visual effects during live performances that include exciting stick-twirling and back-sticking techniques. As a World Renowned Drummer and Grammy Award Winner, Sonny is considered to be one of the greatest drummers to have come along in a while. His proficiency and style have awarded him the opportunity to record on platinum status albums such as the B52s’ Cosmic Thing and Steely Dan’s Grammy award winning Two against Nature.
While Sonny is in high demand as a touring musician for what he delivers during live performances, he is equally in demand for studio work. He is a former member of the legendary group Earth, Wind, and Fire, having held down the drum seat for thirteen years. Sonny has additionally played with artist that include Bruce Hornsby, Jennifer Lopez, Lee Ritenour, Bette Midler, Steely Dan and he is currently touring with Eric Clapton.
In early 2015, Sonny completed a tour with Spyro Gyra and ended the year by performing in the Dreams Come True Japanese Wonderland Tour. Currently, he is gigging with Lee Ritenour, Jeff Lorber and Bruce Hornsby and Eric Clapton. Sonny’s latest CD entitled “Love is the Greatest” was released worldwide though Universal Japan on October 10, 2017.
PROFESSOR
With a wealth of teaching experience, Sonny is committed to balancing academics and entertainment. He served as an Adjunct Professor of Applied Percussion at Georgia State University. Additionally, Sonny teaches private lessons to assist students in developing their craft and setting long-term goals in order to be successful in their chosen musical endeavors.
CLINICIAN
Sonny has performed countless clinics and master classes in academic settings, drum stores, and during national music conferences, both independently and for his endorsers YAMAHA Drums and ZILDJIAN Cymbals.
COMPOSER/MOVIE CREDITS
Sonny co-wrote the tune “Crusin”, which can be heard on the score to Spike Lee’s 1998 film “Get on the Bus”. Also, he worked on the “Lethal Weapon II” soundtrack with Eric Clapton and David Sanborn. He most recently performed on the score to Spike Lee’s 2015 film “Chiraq”. Sonny released several projects, including “Hypnofunk” produced by the late, Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind and Fire. Sonny has also released a jazz project entitled “E.S.P.”, and a funk project entitled “Love’s Pure Light” and “Rock Hard Cachet” featuring Eric Clapton and Bruce Hornsby.
His latest release on Aftertouch Music is titled “ FULL TILT featuring SONNY EMORY”
ENDORSEMENTS
Sonny is endorsed by YAMAHA Drums, ZILDJIAN Cymbals,Vic Firth Drumsticks, Remo drum heads, Shure Microphones, Meyers Sound Systems, Toca Percussion, and LP Percussion.
Musician. Composer. Guitarist. One of the best MPB and Jazz guitarists plays classical and electric guitar. Born in the neighborhood of Bangu, west of Rio de Janeiro, he was raised in Italy by his father, the “immense” guitarist IRIO de PAULA, a musician residing in the country since the 70s. Robertinho De Paula has played in several European countries (Germany – France – Greece – Spain – Netherlands) and Argentina He has played in several festivals “Festival de Jazz de Castelbuono”, “Ariano Irpino Jazz”, “Seravezza Jazz”, “Teggiano Jazz”, “Padova Jazz Festival Centro Porsche” “Jazz Pantelleria Festival” “GuitarMaster” (Germany), Ecojazz Festival “(Italy), “Peperoncino Jazz Festival” (Italy) “Jazz in Sud de France” (France) “Roma Jazz Festival” (Italy) “San Marino Jazz” (Republic de San Marino) “San Martin Jazz Festival” (Italy) “Beat Onto Jazz Festival” Italy “Etno Jazz Festival” Italy the others… In 2004 he released his first solo CD entitled “Bate Papo”, along with his father Irio De Paula being voted one of the best albums of 2004 in Italy, touring several cities in Italy: Verona, Torino, Ná poles, Palermo, Acona Cevignano di Friuli, Borgo Valsugana, San Donà di Piave, Vilminore di Scalve, Bolzano and Venice. He released solo albums in Europe, especially “Cores” (RDP Quartet – Italy) “Vera Cruz – Vertere and RDP String Quartet” (Italy); “The Seed of Love, jazz guitar, Brazilian style – RDP” (Italy) “Chameleon Jazz – RDP Jazz Quartet” (Italy) “ITBRIT – RDP” (Italy) “Live In Berlin – RDP ” (Italy); “Bebo Best and Our Soul Sings – Special Guest RDP “Atras Da Porta” Nadia Cancila – RDP (Italy) “Roda De Bossa” Nossa Alma Sings with RDP (Italy) “Natural” RDP (Brazil) ) “Bate Papo” Irio De Paula and Robertinho De Paula (Italy).
Robertinho De Paula has played with musicians such as: Larry Coryell – Martin Taylor – Paul Wertico (Pat Metheny Group)- Dave King – Ivan Lins – Fabrizio Bosso – Massimo Manzi – Vito Di Modugno – Seu jorge – Soweto Kinsh Robertinho Silva
Carvin Jones – “Victory Is Mine” live performance on RTV Spain Radio3
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The CARVIN JONES Band CARVINATOR BLUES Guitar Power Trio Club Soda Montreal Canada 2018
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Carvin Jones – Ultimate Guitar Experience of the Year – On Tour Now!
Carvin Jones Does His Jimi Thang @ The Beaverwood Club 20/11/2018
World renowned blues/rock icon Carvin Jones, voted one of the greatest blues guitarist of all time by Guitarist magazine.
“Carvin Jones is a young cat out of Phoenix who I think is the next up-and-coming blues player.” Eric Clapton
“One of the best guitarists in the world ” London Surrey News
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Carvin has released 4 LP’s – What You Need (1999), The Carvinator (2008) and Victory is Mine (2014) and his new album release What a Good Day (2018). He has played countless festivals, made numerous television appearances and has received praise and recognition from some of the top artists in the blues world. He has pleased music fans worldwide with his high energy show and electrifying guitar style. He has shared the stage and toured with legends including BB King, Santana, Jeff Beck, Albert King, Albert Collins, The Animals, REO Speedwagon, Jimmy Vaughan, Double Trouble and many more. Carvin himself has performed with Joe Cocker and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Carvin even performed in Iraq and Kuwait in 2011.
Prior to the current incarnation of the band, Carvin has a long 25 year history of success worldwide.
The band currently averages around 330 live performances a year and have performed in 37 countries on 3 continents in 24 months. The band has been well received by critics and fans alike.
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From 2013-2016 the band appeared at several major blues and music festivals including Cerdanyola Blues Festival (Barcelona, Spain), Grollo Intl Blues Fest (Grollo, Netherlands), Otwock Blues festival (Warsaw, Poland), International Jazz Festival (Kraljevo, Serbia), Con Alma de Blues Festival (Buenos Aires Argentina), Sisak Blues Festival (Sisak, Croatia) and In Wires Festival (Uzice, Serbia). In September 2016 they appeared on the late night show Radio 3 on RTVE National Television in Spain which drew 20 million viewers. On June 23, they performed their biggest show to date in Valladolid, Spain. 60,000 were in attendance for Carvin’s 50th Birthday show.
2017 was another very busy year for Carvin and the band. They toured United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Italy.
2018 proved to be an epic year as the band had sold out tours in Canada, Spain, England, Scotland, Germany and Belgium in addition to completing their first ever American Hard Rock Cafe tour summer 2018! They performed at exclusive Hard Rock Cafe locations in prominent American cities such as Boston, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Denver, Seattle, Indianapolis, Tampa, Phoenix and Anchorage.
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Carvin’s new LP , “What a Good Day” was released early in January 2018 with a limited release of 11 tracks that will be performed on select tour dates in Phoenix, AZ, Chicago, IL, Belgrade, Serbia, Paris, France, Moscow, Russia, Iceland, Helsinki, Finland, Montreal, Canada, Reykjavik, Iceland and Rome, Italy.
Select tracks will also be featured on the upcoming television drama series ‘Scrutiny’, which features Carvin’s debut acting roll!
2019 is also proving to be another spectacular year for Carvin as he is scheduled to make numerous highly anticipated performances in the following countries and cities: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ireland in addition to several cities in the UK (Germany, England, Belgium). American cities include Canton, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Seattle, Prescott, Sedona, Philadelphia, New York and Taos just to name a few!
All stay tuned…. 2019 already proving to be ROCKIN!
Dany Noel | Bass & Voice
Dani Morales | Drums
Jorge Vera | Piano
BIO
DANY NOEL
Daniel Noel Martínez Izquierdo, better known as Dany Noel, was born in Havana, Cuba, on 14th June
1973. He began his musical studies at the age of 10 and graduated in classical guitar at the Conservatory “Ignacio Cervantes” (Havana).
Already as a professional, he started playing bass and double bass with numerous Cuban orchestras and artists of recognized national and international prestige, like Pío Leyva and Omara Portuondo, members of “Buena Vista Social Club”. He recorded discs with Ángel Bonnet, Eddy Gaytán and Xiomara Laugart. In the successful “Que manera de quererte” Dany participates as a bassist and music producer. He works with folk music orchestras and in numerous Latin jazz projects.
So he is considered among the most important bassists on the international scene, he has also collaborated with artists like Celia Cruz, with whom he created the World Tour 2001.
In 2004, together with the famous drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, he founded ITALUBA, a quartet of which he is bassist, composer and arranger. They recorded their first CD ITALUBA1 and quickly gained the favor of the public and critics and start ed an intense European tour. This album won a Grammy nomination for best album in the Latin jazz category and two years later their second CD ITALUBA2 was born. They have continued to release albums, most recently ITALUBA15, in May 2020.
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In 2006 he launched his first solo album, “Mi sentir”, where besides arranging and composing he debuts as a singer, presented in Midem 2006 (Cannes). In the same year he recorded another Rumba CD “Dime si tú sabes” as Duo Chocolate, where there is also his music.
Since 2007 Dany Noel has collaborated with several artists of the international scene including Roy Hargrove, Bebo Valdés, Chucho Valdés, José Luis Quintana “Changuito”, Giovanni Hidalgo, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, Diego el Cigala, Andy Montañez, Richie Flores, Ivan Lins, Julio Barreto, Dave Valentin, Eric Harland, Alex Acuña, Kenny Garrett, Zucchero Fornaciari, José Alberto “El Canario”, Alfredo De La Fe, The New York Salsa All Star, Orquesta Mercado Negro, Luis Salinas, Niño Josele, Jerry González, Paquito D’Rivera and many others.
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Then he entered the pop-flamenco and flamenco scene, recording discs with the well-known producer and guitarist Javier Limón and with some singers like Concha Buika, with whom he made many world tours.
IHis work can be found on albums of artists such as Luz Casal, Victoria Abril, Lolita Flores, Ainhoa Arteta, Mariza, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Fito Páez, Hip Hop Roots, Ojos de brujo, receiving numerous awards in the musical field. In addition, to remember his collaboration in the Musical “Enamorados Anónimos” as
arranger for the brass section. He also worked as an arranger in “Perales en directo 35 años” DVD of José Luis Perales.
He collaborated with the director Fernando Trueba in one of his films “Chico y Rita”, as arranger alongside the great pianist Bebo Valdés. He also collaborates on the soundtrack of the film “La piel que habito” by director Pedro Almodóvar.
Lately he won Cuba Disco prize with ITALUBA, in the best Latin jazz record category, with his compositions and arrangements for Big Bands. In addition, two of his songs “Por la Habana” and “Amada Habana” have been included in a book created for the 500th anniversary of Havana. In the latter period he has cooperated, as a producer of new talent, with young Grammy winning artists like Tony Succar, Nella.
In July 2020, thanks to his musical career, the renowned bass guitar brand Laurus made a unique and personalized model called DANY NOEL, which is already available for sale.
JORGE VERA
Pianist, composer, drummer, music producer began his professional career very early at the age of 14 in Santiago de Chile where he was born. He quickly became one of the most requested musicians in his country and participated in various musical programs accompanying artists such as Miguel Bosé, Luis Jara or David Bisbal. He was also the official pianist of the well-known “Festival de Viña del Mar” between 2005 and 2010 while recording with the local jazz elite, artists such as Christian Gálvez or Carlos Figueroa.
Cuban drummer and percussionist rooted in Madrid since 2008 where he participated as an instrumentalist with numerous Spanish artists and bands such as:
Café Quijano, Tamara, Sole Gimenez, Tino di Geraldo, Dany Noel Jazz Trio, Alain Perez Jazz Quintet, Ivan Melon Lewis, & The Cuban Swing Express, Marina Abad (Ojos de Brujo), Aihnoa Arteta, La banda de Jazz fusion Patáx, Erwin Schortt (Opera), Ruben Martín, Jose Feliciano, Carlos Rivera, Eve Cornelius (New York). His favorite styles and his main influences are based on Cuban music, Latin jazz, son, timba, Afrocuban music, gospel, funk, pop. He stands out for being a versatile musician in different ensembles both as: pluri-percussionist and as a drummer.
A new artistic perspective of Dany Noel, in which Cuban music, flamenco and Latin jazz come together in an atmosphere of fusion. To realize the project he availed himself of the collaboration of great musicians and friends: the New York trumpeter and conga player Jerry González, the drummer Horacio “El negro” Hernández, the singer Concha Buika, the pianists Javier Masso Caramelo, Ivan “Melon” Lewis and Ivan Bridon, Dario Chiazzolino on guitar, Inoidel González on Sax and Carlos Sarduy on trumpet. In this project Dany Noel takes us on a journey full of good music and poetry, in which we feel different and innovative influences in a single fusion genre.
A fresh work, with a festive atmosphere, that vibrates in the tradition of Cuban rhythmic music that blends with flamenco and Latin jazz, to achieve a surprising result that lives in the memory of the spectators. Tinta unida represents colors, the skin colors of his musicians, the colors of music. It comes in various forms, all of equal importance without losing its essence. The composition, arrangements and melodic, harmonic and rhythmic treatment represent this essence, which Dany Noel imposes as composer, ar ranger, bassist, singer and producer.
An album recorded in duo by Dany Noel and Italian guitarist Dario Chiazzolino. It is a purely jazz work. These two musicians come together to express their feelings and lifestyles through music, in an album that is recorded through the art of improvisation, creating rich melodies that caress the soul of all those who appreciate good music.
“Por la Habana” represents an ode to his hometown for the 500th anniversary of its foundation and thanks to its music reflects the culture of the Cuban people. A record that represents an incitement to the “bailador” that flows from its roots to reach all Caribbean genres. His arrangements are full of Cuban rhythms, where in addition to singing and performing new themes, Dany Noel transforms the Italian song “Stare bene a metà” by Pino Daniele into a danceable theme, making the audience stand up for an evening full of Cuban flavor.
Dany Noel presents a new project called “Haciendo Camino”. It is an album in which the director and arranger Dany Noel invites us to travel with music; he’s offering a concert for all tastes. It is a fresh and evocative repertoire ranging from bolero jazz to Latin jazz, bebop and other genres. It is a fusion proposal that will transmit a musical richness that can surely be appreciated by every kind of audience.
“I know Dany Noel, we’ve worked together, he’s an excellent bass player capable of playing any genre with absolute skill. He wrote this book as a guide to Cuban bass “Tumbaos” of all time. It’s a good job! Congratulations Dany!”
Chucho Valdés
“In this valuable pedagogical and chronological material Dany takes us on a journey of his own through different styles of Cuban music thanks to his instrument, the bass. Concepts that he himself learned and that were fundamental to his training, leading him to become one of the most important voices in contemporary Cuban bass guitar. Moreover, it is recommended not only to bass lovers, but to all kinds of scholars of our great Cuban music. Congratulations Dany!”
Horacio “El Negro” Hernández
No Latin is kinda all star quartet of Alessio Menconi’s new cd entitled “Historias” which makes use of illustrious participations: Elio, Faso, Gegè Telesforo, Nick The Nightfly, Dado Moroni, Simona Bencini, and other super guests.
Latin America has a great history of migrations, encounters of cultures and ethnic groups, and each song on this record has its own stylistic location and its own “history”. Precisely for this reason I decided to call it “Historias”.
The super-quartet offers songs taken from the CD and other original compositions or covers, with a sound that includes Latin American music, jazz and pop.
Christian Galvez is directly related with the generation of electric bass players of the post-Pastorius era.
Gálvez playing is closely related with colleagues like John Patitucci and Stanley Clarke, influences where Christian starts from, going into other personal universes, thanks to his original virtuoso style, colorful and musical, where the use of harmony and chords at highest level are a key part of his own language; style that comes close to great geniuses of the “chord melody” as Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, George Benson and Pat Martino.
His vision of the electric bass as harmonic instrument is unrivaled: “His bass is not only a bass, but pretty much a guitar with bass strings … Galvez does everything a guitarist can do, but when its time to be bass player he plays all what a bass is able to play.
“Since 2005 he worked closely with the Argentine guitarist Luis Salinas, and national accompanied great musicians like jazz fusion drummer Billy Cobham or the bassist Stanley Clarke. The meeting between the two musicians came to fruition in early 2007 and resulted in the departure of Gálvez to Los Angeles as member of the Stanley Clarke Electric Band. with which he was in tour worldwide during the next three years. Very active as teacher, he creates the Escuela Superior de Jazz and he plays with his Christian Galvez Quartet in the whole Latin America. He toured the world for around 7 years with América Comtemporánea, one of the most important latin American projets of the las 20 years. He’s member of the Masters of Bass with Gary Willis, Dominique di Piazza and Hadrien Feraud, of the Frank Gambale Quartet and recently of Paolo di Sabatino Trace Elements, alongside with drummers as Peter Erskine, Dennis Chambers and Jojo Mayer. He is currently part of the Billy Cobham Band, touring Europe with the legendary drummer.
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He has recorded 13 albums and 3 DVD with Pez Records label, plus his Concert N. 1 for bass and symphony orchestra (the first concert for bass and orchestra in the world) that Christian already performed live together with the most prestigious orchestras in Chile, Bolivia, Panama at most important festivals of Latin America. At today Galvez is for sure the best bass player in Latin America and makes part of the selected small group of the best bass virtuosos of the planet.
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JORDAN & GALVEZ DUO
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Versatility and lyricism are the characteristics of those great virtuoso players and composers. Stanley Jordan, eclectic musician that developed the guitar tapping technique into a level never reached by anyone.Christian Galvez, bass guitar player (in the widest conception you can think of) is able to perform whatever he needs from the harmonic and rhythmic point of view.Versatility and lyricism: the capacity to go into musical territories not often visited, performing a journey that goes from Mozart to Miles, from Mc Cartney to Mingus, through a unique sound and musicality sometimes transparent and ethereal, sometime telluric and complex.
Stanley Jordan | Jazz Discovermusic2018-The10Bestguitarists
Stanley Jordan | Jazz WickhamFestival
Stanley Jordan | Jazz
Stanley Jordan | Jazz
Stanley Jordan | Jazz
Stanley Jordan | Jazz -wickham-festival
Stanley Jordan | Jazz
Stanley Jordan | Jazz
Stanley Jordan | Jazz
Stanley Jordan | Jazz
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Stanley Jordan – Guitar
Christian Galvez – Bass
Gabor Dornyei – Drums
Kornel Horvath – Percussions
Stanley Jordan is a true chameleon, characterised by his openness, imagination and versatility. The guitarist, known for his special, eight-fingered ‘tapping’ technique, began his career in 1985, and since then his daring adaptations of classical works, his discoveries of pop hits and his ultramodern improvisations that push the boundaries of jazz have fascinated his audiences time and again. One of his partners in the concert will be Chilean bass guitarist Christian Galvez, who has been featured in the bands of Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke and Dennis Chambers, and is also a member of the Masters of Bass group along with Gary Willis, Dominique di Piazza and Hadrien Feraud. Because of the virtuoso musician’s gracefulness and melodic playing, many think that he actually plays on a guitar equipped with bass strings.
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The group is completed by two Hungarian percussionists from the tHUNder Duo, who play 21st century chamber music using influences from North and South American, African and European music cultures. Gábor Dörnyei is one of the most sought-after drummers in Europe, whether as a soloist, session musician or as a teacher. His 2017 film DRUMEO elevated him among such excellent players as Peter Erskine, Bernard Purdie and Billy Cobham. Kossuth prize-winner Kornél Horváth is well-known to Hungarian audiences, but also enjoys great popularity abroad: in 2016, readers of the British magazine Rhythm voted him ‘Percussionist of the year’. We can confidently call him one of the most original Hungarian performing artists, who has a unique stick technique, and whose playing excitingly combines Hungarian musical roots with influences from jazz, Indian, Arab, African and Latin American music.
His last project “Stanley Jordan plays Jimi Hendrix“, is his tribute to Jimi for the 50th aniversary of his death, which occurs in this 2020. A 50th aniversary is a very important celebration and if you want to celebrate the legend of Jimi, there’s no better opportunity and there will be no better one for many years.
It’s something unique. Stanley, considered one of the 10 best living jazz guitarists, playing with an incredible two hands tapping technique, plays the music of one of the best guitarists ever.
Every Stanley’s concert is sold out. He’s also available in solo and in various formations as well.
“The hour-and-a-half set was a virtuosic tour de force, as Jordan’s sets so often are. But it also was a musically exploratory, emotionally dense and rhythmically energizing roller-coaster ride through a group of tunes ranging from Ravel’s “Bolero” to Lennon & McCartney’s “Eleanor Rigby.”” Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
“His piano-like approach to the guitar produces melodies, chords and bass lines simultaneously; his musicality is exemplary; his creativity, a constant. There’re few guitarists like Stanley Jordan; few have pushed the instrument’s boundaries in the same way.” Alejandro R. Chang, Cubaness
“Su estilo es sorprendente. Nada que ver con Ingwie Malmsteen, John McLaughlin o algunos de los otros monstruos de la guitarra que en el mundo han sido y son. Y su producción lo demuestra. Sin afeites ni riff deslumbrantes. Sin uso de efectos electrónicos, todo su trabajo se sostuvo en una digitación limpia, en la técnica conocida tapping — trabajo sobre el mástil a «puros trastes» — , sobre arpegios, pizzicato, «rasgueo» y bajo en síncopa.” Jorge Sariol, Alma Mater
GIPSY KINGS by ANDRE REYES Flamenco, Salsa, Pop (FR)
GIPSY KINGS by ANDRE REYES Flamenco, Salsa, Pop (FR)
GIPSY KINGS by ANDRE REYES Flamenco, Salsa, Pop (FR)
GIPSY KINGS by ANDRE REYES Flamenco, Salsa, Pop (FR)
GIPSY KINGS by ANDRE REYES Flamenco, Salsa, Pop (FR)
GIPSY KINGS by ANDRE REYES Flamenco, Salsa, Pop (FR)
GIPSY KINGS by ANDRE REYES Flamenco, Salsa, Pop (FR)
It has been twenty-five years since the Gipsy Kings captured the world’s imagination with their self-titled debut album, a record that became a genuine phenomenon, certified gold and platinum around the globe, introducing millions of listeners to a unique, irresistible blend of traditional flamenco styles with Western pop and Latin rhythms. Since then, the band has toured virtually non-stop, to the farthest-flung corners of the planet, and sold almost twenty million albums, all the while retaining the same line-up of virtuoso musicians.
Now the Gipsy Kings return with SAVOR FLAMENCO, their ninth studio album and first new release in six years. The project marks the first time in their storied career that the Kings have produced themselves and written all of the material. It also starts a relationship between France’s most successful musical group of all time and a new label, Knitting Factory Records.
“Music has always been a passion,” says lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo. “Even after all this time, after all these years of touring and working. It has given us so much. We have matured, we have developed in music, and it has been so good for us.”
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Twenty-five years is an eternity in pop music, but the story of the Gipsy Kings reaches back much farther. Theirs is a music that extends through generations, to the sounds of their ancestors, and reflects the eclectic and peripatetic history of the gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled the Catalonia region during the Spanish Civil War.
The group has been fronted for 25 years by the two songwriters and producers Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo. The father of Nicolas, Jose Reyes, formed a celebrated flamenco duo with Manitas de Plata which counted the likes of Miles Davis and Pablo Picasso among its fans. When the pair parted ways, Reyes became even more popular after starting his own band, backed up by his sons and called Los Reyes.
When the senior Reyes passed away in 1979, Nicolas and Tonino began playing together in the Southern French town of Arles. They traveled throughout the country, busking on the streets of Cannes, playing wherever they could—weddings, parties, festivals. Having adopted the perpetual motion of the gypsy lifestyle, they eventually translated “Los Reyes” and changed their name to the Gipsy Kings.
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“World Music” is often a meaningless catch-all phrase, a marketing shortcut, but as one of the acts that first helped define the phrase, the Gipsy Kings create music that really does cross all borders. From the beginning all the way through SAVOR FLAMENCO, their sound has reflected the constant travel and diverse influences of the gypsy heritage. Their 1987 debut album, which spent forty weeks on the US album charts, introduced the world to “Rumba Gitano”—South America’s rumba rhythm married to the fleet attack of flamenco guitars. That record’s “Bamboleo” became a huge, break-out worldwide hit (more than twenty years later, it even turned up on an episode of the TV series Glee).
Over the years, the music of the Kings incorporated elements of Latin and Cuban styles, Arabic music, reggae, and jazz guitar reminiscent of the French Gypsy master Django Reinhardt. Yet, as heard on the new album, they have never lost their intense connection to the traditional flamenco of their heritage, keeping a spotlight on Tonino Baliardo’s fluid guitar work and Nicolas Reyes’s powerful vocals. This broad cultural mix has enabled the Gipsy Kings to be embraced wherever they play—from China to Brazil, New Orleans to Russia, Australia to Africa.
The band’s music has also remained visible over the years throughout popular culture. They recently performed their version of “Volare,” which was an international hit in 1989, on an episode of Dancing with the Stars. Their rendition of “Hotel California” was included in the film The Big Lebowski and on the HBO series Entourage. The 2010 film Toy Story 3 featured a Gipsy Kings version of the movie’s popular, Randy Newman-penned theme, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Following the release of their last album, 2006’s Pasajero, the Kings looked at the chaos that was dominating the 21st Century music industry and opted to take a break from recording. They never stopped writing new material and developing songs on the road, though; they began recording SAVOR FLAMENCO two years ago, feeling free to write their own arrangements, select the additional musicians they wanted, and produce their own tracks for the first time ever. When it was time to re-enter the marketplace, they also found an innovative new partner in Knitting Factory Records, an independent label which recently oversaw an ambitious campaign to reinvigorate the catalogue of Nigerian musical/political icon Fela.
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For the band, the new album represents both a look forward and a look back. Nicolas Reyes says of “Samba Samba,” the lead single of SAVOR FLAMENCO, that “it’s a song very much from our early years—it was written for parties, sun, joy, and beaches.”
The Gipsy Kings have spent a remarkable two-and-a-half decades at the top, in a category that’s all their own. Yet in those occasional periods when they aren’t touring, the band members still live with their families in the south of France, the area that defined their identities and their sound. Each time, they return to their isolated enclave, and then recreate the experience of immigrants coming to a new land. Certainly, their lives are different from those of their ancestors, but something fundamental still remains; as they continue to travel the world, absorbing new cultures and styles, this mobility, curiosity, and adaptation drives their music ever forward.
And as active as this remarkable collective remains, they are also looking to what the longer-term future will hold for the Gipsy Kings—and for the family bonds that define the group. “Even though it’s been 25 years, we want to keep on making new music because it’s our life, it’s who we are,” says Nicolas Reyes. “But I think there will be a time when we pass down the Gipsy Kings to our sons.”