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
Hakan Başar, who was born in 2004 and started playing the piano at the age of 8, continued his studies with his father, who is a guitarist, after short private lessons. In this process, he made the first jazz piano studies with the curriculum of jazz pianists such as Walter Norris, Clare Fisher, Noah Baerman, Jeb Patton, David Berkman, Bill Dobbins, Andrew D.Gordon, Neil Olmstead, Bill Cunliffe, Andy LaVerne. Afterwards, he completed the second part of his studies by studying “Jazz Piano” styles of Michel Petrucciani, Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, Hank Jones, Bill Evans, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Sonny Clark, Art Tatum, Scott Joplin, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea and developing his etudes. While all these studies were going on, Başar was 10 years old when he gave his first concert within the 5th Pera Music Festival. Continuing her music studies and education life together, he made her first studio recordings in 2015 at İTÜ MİAM. In addition to international special events, he gave a concert at the age of 12 as part of the Istanbul Jazz Festival.
The concert series, which started with the “Akbank Sanat Young Talent” concert in February 2017, continued with the Izmir-European Jazz Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival Promotion Night and Ahmet Ertegün Memorial Night. Afterwards, World Jazz Day, Zorlu PSM Jazz Festival, Ankara Jazz Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival and Akbank Jazz Festival were the concerts that followed this series. During this time, he met names such as Ron Carter, Russell Malone, Eddie Gomez, Donald Vega, especially Chick Corea, and had the chance to do a workshop with Chick Corea before the Istanbul concert. After this meeting, Chick Corea’s views, who admire Hakan’s talent, are as follows:
“La releve est assurée.”
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In February 2018, Hakan was entering his first recording, which will turn into an album in 2019, at Babajim Studios, this time with Turkey’s most important musicians Ferit Odman, İmer Demirer, Engin Recepoğulları and Kağan Yıldız. The last part of the recordings was completed with the contributions of Halil Çağlar Serin, and the statement made by Martin Hummel ,who is director of Ubuntu Music, when he came to Istanbul and the Hakan Başar Trio at another Akbank Art Concert, indicated the album date as 19 October 2019. The album, which was released by Ubuntu Music in London, was distributed by Equinox Music.
The album “On Top Of The Roof” was a very important start for Hakan. Because he was on an international platform for the first time, and this time the London Jazz Festival opening concert was Hakan’s second stop after the album launch. The concert on November 15, 2019 was held at Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho and received serious coverage in the British press. The interview by Mike Collins on behalf of London Jazz News was followed by the broadcasting of the album tracks on Jazz FM, one of the world’s most important jazz radios.
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In 2020, which started very quickly with concerts, unexpected pandemic process brought its negativity. Although there were no concerts, the album On Top Of The Roof have been broadcasted on many jazz radios and interviews were held in the written jazz press. One of them was Radio Boğaziçi’s nomination of Hakan among the jazz musician candidates of the year. Hakan Başar’s explanations for the challenging pandemic process are as follows: “This period has been a new beginning for me again. Because I think that I got the necessary substructure with the preparations I have made so far. I switched to a different system. I can say that by making good use of this free time, I gained different opinions for my creative development by analyzing the compositions of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Ornette Coleman etc. Also, I have listened jazz guitarists such as George Benson, Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery, Bireli Lagrene. Besides, I try to enrich his music by listening to Debussy, Chopin, Bach and especially by studying Debussy.”
On the anniversary of his album, another surprise was awaiting Hakan. His recording which was made with Jimmy Haslip and Will Kennedy who are two invaluable legendary musicians of Yellow Jackets, came out in the world, again by Martin Hummel who is Ubuntu Music’s director, this time as “Hub Art Special Edition Single”. The views of Jimmy Haslip, Will Kennedy and Martin Hummel about this project are as follows:
Jimmy Haslip
“Hakan Başar is a brilliant young pianist and the New Hub Art project frames the beauty of his performances and his compositions.”
Will Kennedy
“The future is in the hands of the young and as we do our best to encourage, inspire, and guide those who we pass the baton to, we rest in the knowledge that the future is in good hands. The hands of Hakan with the spirit and soul behind those hands gives us confidence for the future.”
Martin Hummel
“Another dream comes true for this amazing young talent. And everyone should expect many, many more to come! Hakan is a truly gifted artist and a very special person. We love him!” he concludes.
Horacio “El Negro” Hernández | Drums
Dany Noel | Bass
Jorge Vera | Piano and keyboard
Amik Guerra | Trumpet
HORACIO “EL NEGRO” HERNANDEZ
“El Negro” follows the influences from Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Ignacio Berroa, and others. His drumming reflects a musical heritage rooted in folklore tradition.
“El Negro” first gained international recognition as the drummer for the pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and his group Proyecto. Since leaving Cuba in 1990, Hernandez has played in the U.S. with many different pop, rock, jazz and Latin jazz acts, including on many albums, some of which have received Grammy awards, including Roy Hargrove’s Havana (1997), Carlos Santana’s Supernatural (1999), Alejandro Sanz’ No es lo mismo (2003) and Eddie Palmieri’s Listen Here (2005). Hernández owns a Grammy award for the 2001 Latin Jazz album Live at the Blue Note with Michel Camilo (piano) and Charles Flores (bass). Since 2004, Hernandez has recorded and toured with his own band, Italuba.
In July 2010, Hernández was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music. He was presented with the award at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy by Berklee’s former Vice President of Academic Affairs, Larry Monroe.
In 2011 he recorded the album Proposición, with a band including Dany Noel Martinez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Ivan Lewis, Dario Chiazzolino, Ivan Bridon and Amik Guerra. In the same year he played at the Modern Drummer Festival with his new band The New World Order; the concert was released on the Modern Drummer Festival 2011 DVD. Also in 2011 he began playing with Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos.
In 2016 Hernández joined Salazh Trio, a jazz fusion group featuring bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling. Their debut work Circulations was released in December 2017.
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ITALUBA
Of all the Afro-Cuban musicians playing the “conventional” [if you could at all call it that] North American – or “Jazz” – drum sets there is no one more dazzling to watch and listen to than Horacio “El Negro” Hernández. He can play at extraordinary speeds with both hands, never losing control of pulse or time, he seems to have wrists – not lubricated by but – made of liquid and his hand-eye-foot co-ordination is diabolically brilliant. This miraculous dexterity enables him to morph from montuno to swing, mix things up with machine-gun-like “bebop” rhythms as well as odd metres… and best of all he can make it all sound perfect and exactly where it belongs – all in the space of a fine or six minute song.
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With “El Negro” commanding proceedings from his drum chair and Joaquín Betancourt at the helm of affairs [of] the rest of the ensemble, the Italuba Big Band pull off this perfect repertoire showing off their mastery of music redolent of soaring melodies, luscious harmonies, and dynamic, meteoric rhythms that dive in and out of the traditional and the contemporary. There is a magnificent balance of composition and invention throughout. Soli are brief, meaningful and always make elegant musical statements and soloists ascend in soaring parabolas and loops above the melodies before returning the music to its original themes. Music such as “Pati Metal” and Divertimento” are dense in orchestration, and you made ever- aware of the textural strands that make the music unique.
Meanwhile, speaking of the “unique”, it should not be lost on all of us, especially as we have been starved of live music [Cuban music in particular] for almost a year and a half. So what better way than to enjoy a live performance vicariously than on this double-DVD of what is easily one of the most memorable performances of that year – and to do so not only by “listening” to the music, but experiencing it as if it were “live” on DVD? As a production as well, this is a dizzying [sometimes a little too dizzying] production with 13 cameras, including the Go-Pro cameras now-ubiquitous on sound-stages worldwide. The jump-cuts may make things feel a little rushed at times, but nevertheless it is still an enormously rewarding musical experience.
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.
TINTA UNIDA
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.
CONFIDENCE
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
“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.
HACIENDO CAMINO *Latest Release*
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
Bobby Sparks|Keyboards
Keith Anderson | Sax
Jay McK | Bass
Brannen Temple | Drums
James Robinson | Vocals
DJ Ernie G
A Grammy-winning jazz and gospel organist, Bobby Sparks II is best known as a member of the band Snarky Puppy, and as a longtime collaborator with gospel leader Kirk Franklin. Following his debut with Franklin in the early ’90s, he was a member of Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor, and played alongside a mix of jazz, gospel, and pop luminaries including Fred Hammond, Marcus Miller, George Benson, Nelly Furtado, and many more. In 2019, he released his long-awaited solo album, Schizophrenia: The Yang Project.
Born in 1973 in Corsicana, Texas, Sparks grew up with parents who were teachers and musicians. His mother, a church organist, started him on the piano at age three, and encouraged his love of hymns and gospel music. Similarly, his father played trumpet and introduced him to jazz, including organists like Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, and Lonnie Smith. Sparks developed quickly, and throughout his childhood played often for church choirs, musical workshops, and vocal ensembles. At age 16, he was gifted a Hammond B-3 which he soon mastered. After high school, he further honed his skills studying music at Eastfield College in Mesquite near Dallas. It was during this period that he met and joined Kirk Franklin’s gospel group. From 1992 to 2005, he worked as Franklin’s musical director, touring and contributing to albums like 1993’s Kirk Franklin & the Holy Family, 1998’s Nu Nation Project, and 2002’s The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin. With Franklin he earned a bevy of accolades, including numerous Grammy Awards.
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An in-demand session player, Sparks has worked with gospel luminaries like Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans, and Donnie McClurkin, as well as artists from the jazz and R&B world including Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Lalah Hathaway, and Kirk Whalum, among others. He was a key member of trumpeter Roy Hargrove’s funk-jazz outfit RH Factor, appearing on 2003’s Hard Groove, 2004’s Strength, and 2006’s Distractions. Over the years, Sparks also branched out into radio and television, supplying the music for shows like Top Model and movies like The Prince of Egypt. Away from performing, he has also served as organist for Pathway of Life Church.
Since 2016, he has been a regular member of the acclaimed jam band Snarky Puppy, appearing on 2016’s Grammy-winning Culcha Vulcha, and 2019’s Immigrance. Also in 2019, Sparks released his first album as a leader, Schizophrenia: The Yang Project, which featured contributions by Hargrove, Marcus Miller, Snarky Puppy’s Michael League, and others.
Avery Sharpe – José Luis Santacruz – Miguel Ángel Orengo TRIO
Jazz (USA-ES)
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Avery Sharpe | Double Bass
Jose Luis Santacruz | Soprano Sax
Miguel Ángel Orengo | Drums
Avery Sharpe, who was for 23 years the double bassist and with whom he recorded 20 albums by jazz giant McCoy Tyner (known in turn for being part of the John Coltrane quartet in its most golden era and heir to its legacy) and José Luis Santacruz will be making music together next year 2022. His joint admiration for the figure of Jaco Pastorius and Santacruz’s album dedicated to African-American composers brought his passions closer by suggesting the possibility of exchanging his particular visions of Jazz. Avery’s credits include works and recordings with jazz greats such as Archie Shepp ,Art Blakey ,Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsales, Yusef Lateef, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny or Billy Taylor. It has its own label JKNM Records and 12 albums under its name.
José Luis Santacruz in turn has earned a reputation in the USA after the success of his album Through Jaco, leading to his trio collaborations with Felix and Julius Pastorius (three tours in Europe) and his recordings with guitarist and producer Michael Ferenci. It has 12 albums in its name ,a book/CD.
and numerous recordings with artists inside and outside Jazz; includes in his credits works and recordings with : Terje Veenas, Max Sunyer, Jean Luc Vallet , Jorge Pardo, ,Chano Dominguez, Perico Sambeat, Nico Fioole or Julio Muñoz .
La gira incluye Master Class:
The tour includes Master Class: Avery Sharpe’s extensive educational activities include numerous clinics and workshops in the USA and abroad. He has taught at the University of Massachusetts, Williams College, Berklee School of Music, Bates College, the University of Miami and at universities in Peru, Brazil, Australia and elsewhere. He is also a faculty advisor to the Williams Gospel Choir and a member of the affiliated faculty of African studies. His awards include the NAACP Martin Luther King Jr Special Achievement Award, several fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts Achievement in Jazz Award.
José Luis Santacruz is a true story of struggle and overcoming. After starting his professional career in the world of jazz and after publishing his first album, Arroz con costra (1994), in 1995 he suffered a terrible accident that, among other damages, caused an amnesia that forced him to have to learn again to play saxophone. In 2003, he moved to Indonesia, where he studied Chi Qong, Yogas and Dance, and later to Norway, where he studied other Scandinavian arts and disciplines and was an expert monitor for musicians’ ailments. Twelve years dedicated to teaching and writing several pedagogical books, one of them, very special, about the work of Jaco Pastorius.
His awards: finalist of the Madeinjazz competition in New York, in the category “best performer”, in the International Composition Competition “Maurice Ravel”, in the section of Contemporary-Classical and the Latin Jazz Competition in Havana (Cuba) 2004. The trio line-up is completed by the drummer Miguel Ángel Orengo, successful percussionist who has recorded and worked with an endless list of artists and symphonic orchestras inside and outside Spain. He’s currently professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Murcia.
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.
Hipster Assassins is a collaborative endeavor of virtuosic talent that came together in New York City at the historic Zinc Bar in 2010. Over the next 2 years the band had a weekly Monday night residency at Zinc where it started to develop its own sound playing both originals and covers. Since its inception, the band has played all over the world, including Montreal Jazz Fest, the Jazz Cafe in Costa Rica and plays once a month at NYC’s famous 55 Bar.
Each of the 5 members bring their own unique, original voices to the band. Their vast experience with legends of the industry has allowed the members of Hipster Assassins to bring unique voices and ideas to the band, and has been essential to the development of their unique sound.
Felix Pastorius, Bassist: The son of Jaco Pastorius who has worked with the Yellowjackets, Jeff Coffin’s Mutet, A$AP Rocky, and Onyx Collective, has worked hard and achieved his own voice on the electric bass. This voice is the anchor of the band.
Chris Ward, Saxophonist: Chris has worked/recorded with Michael Stipe and Fischerspooner, Lord Huron, The Family Crest, and various projects from all genres, from video game soundtracks to jazz big bands.
John Bendy, Guitarist: Brought up in the blues, John learned his craft from masters Bill Perry and Popa Chubby. His fierce, virtuosic style comes from a blend of the blues and high energy jazz fusion.
Mike Bendy, Bass: The idea of a second bassist in a band could be strange to some, but Mike’s virtuosic skill and experience gives him the tools to compliment the other low-end instruments in the band perfectly. Outside of Hipster Assassins Mike has performed with Kenwood Dennard, Alex Foster, Sean Wayland and the metal band Res15.
Kenny Grohowski, Drums: Kenny works regularly with various John Zorn projects as well as the famed fusion group Brand X. He has also worked with Lonnie Plaxico and Andy Milne’s Dapp Theory.
MAX THE SAX – who rose to fame as the former sax player of the Parov Stelar Band – is taking the club scene by storm with his new and fresh solo project: a funky saxophone, drums and the extra portion of electronic beats.
December 18th 1985, Markus Ecklmayr was born to take the stage and face the crowds all around the world by blowing generously in his golden saxophone. He started to practice at the age of 11 years and studied at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz.
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MAX THE SAX presents himself now afresh with his very best own material. He is a person full of power, energy and love for what he does. And this infects the crowds and his thousands of fans and followers around the world. He sets himself apart with his unique saxophone improvisations and explosive shows, which transport his authenticity and genuine passion across well beyond the stage.
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CAREER
Max The Sax was born as a child of a family of musicians; his father is a tubist and electric bassist, his older brother drummer, who studied music in Vienna, In the family music has been played almost every day, stylistically between big band – and Funk a la Tower of Power, At 17, he became a member of the band “Soulpower”.
While studying at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, Harry Sokal and Florian Bramböck, who plays for many years in the Vienna Art Orchestra, provided him with the necessary tools. His role models ranged from Ray Charles and James Brown to Bruno Mars, dr. Dre and Mr. Scruff; saxophonists like Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Hank Mobley, Maceo Parker and Michael Brecker influenced him, Through the encounter with drummer Hans Jürgen Bart Ecklmayr came to the funk formation “Düsenfried and the Stuffgivers”. At this time Ecklmayr also took on the stage name “Max The Sax”. 40 tracks and three albums were created, in 2017 the band split up. In parallel, Max The Sax 2005 began his collaboration with Parov Stelar, Together, the project toured throughout Europe, Asia, America and at well-known festivals such as the Glastonbury Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Sziget Festival, the Danube Island Festival Vienna, the Chiemsee Summer, the Gurtenfestival, the Hurricane Festival, theSouthside Festival or the Batumi Festival. For ten years, Max The Sax was a saxophonist, frontman and co-composer of some of Parov Stelar’s tracks shaping the project.
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The Parov Stelar project at Voestalpine Klangwolke came about on his initiative. In addition, Max The Sax also played with many other, very different bands and musicians, including La Rochelle Band, Hubert Tubbs, Hot Pants Road Club, Cleo Panther, Dorretta Carter, Basement Freaks, Lee Anduze, Timothy Auld, Jerry di Monza, Anna F, Raphael Wressnig & The Soul Gift Band, Bart & Baker, LMT Connection, Grant Laszlo, Nick Hollywood (White Minsk), Gabriel & Castellon, Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce), Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Ben Rodenburg ( Bakermat), Peter Cruseder, Tyrrell, Roland Schwarz, DJ Maestro (Blue Note Trip) and Cayetano. Since 2014 came the work with The Max Boogaloos, here was played only with acoustic instruments.
In the summer of 2016, Max The Sax played as support for Maroon 5 in Georgia, 2017 at festivals with Bad Religion or Cro in Austria and Germany, In early October 2017, he opened the musical season of the basketball league in Munich’s Audi Dome for FC Bayern Munich.
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.
