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| Luba Mason To Release New CD Mixtura, June 17th A master vocalist with virtuoso chops, Luba Mason has created her new CD, Mixtura as a "genre -bending " musical journey. These are the words that immediately come to mind when listening to MIXTURA, set for release June 17th on Sunnyside Records. УMIXTURA is a message about the importance of art as a medium of freedom of expression and life without boundaries, says Mason, УA culmination of everything I am, have learned and experienced so far in life as a singer, musician and artist. Its meaning is a Сblend of different musical currents, Т each song evoking different parts of me and full of surprises, twists and turns. Produced by the Yellowjackets' Jimmy Haslip, MIXTURA features 12 different tracks including 4 originals - 3 penned by Luba herself - in which she uses her voice as an instrument, one that is finely tuned and able to accomplish breathtaking vocal feats. From the soft, breathy Brazilian ballad "On The 4th Of July" featuring Dori Caymmi and Kenny Loggins, to the jazzy feel of Van Morrison's classic "Moondance" (on which Mason is splendidly accompanied by Al Jarreau) to the wildly, range - defying soulful renditions of standards such as "Love For Sale" and "All That Jazz", Mason proves she can master a wildly diverse range of sounds. Magical folk arrangements abound in "Calm Before The Storm", a song co-written by Mason's husband Ruben Blades and the late Lou Reed, backed by the Grammy nominated all-female Mariachi band Flor de Toalache, to the tear-provoking original "Hannah" about sexual molestation to the emotional sentiment of "Motherland" sung in Mason's native Slovak tongue. The surprising blue grass reinvention of Lou Reed's "Pale Blue Eyes" and Randy Brecker's powerful and haunting solos in the track "Freedom" and "Last Snowfall" round out this exciting, luscious musical palette. A labor of love, encompassing Mason's full scope of musical, vocal and writing talents, MIXTURA is her third CD. Luba is accompanied on MIXTURA by her band including Felipe Fournier on vibraphone and percussion who also serves as LubaТs musical director, Rafael Rosa on electric and acoustic guitar, Dan Martinez on acoustic and electric bass, Joel Mateo on drums and Sara Caswell on violin. (more) As a recording artist, Luba has released two criticallyЦacclaimed albums: COLLAGE (PS Classics), a beautiful marriage of Latin, pop, jazz and poetry, and KRAZY LOVE, (Sunnyside Records), debuting her impressive songwriting skills executing a cool, Brazilian jazz sound. Having toured the US and abroad, Luba has been a featured performer at the PANAMA JAZZ FESTIVAL opening for Wayne Shorter, Danilo Perez and Chucho Valdez and has headlined HAVANA, CUBAТS 40TH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL as well as COSTA RICAТS INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL. In the U.S., she has performed sold out shows at DIZZYТS COCA COLA, THE BLUE NOTE, BIRDLAND, B.B. KINGS, IRIDIUM, 54 BELOW and the 55 BAR in N.Y. On tour, she has headlined at LA's CATALINA BAR & GRILL, YOSHI'S in Oakland, BLUES ALLEY in D.C. REGATTA BAR in Boston and the DAKOTA in Minneapolis. Most recently, Luba and her husband performed together on stage at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL in Paul Simon's sold-out benefit for the Children's Health Fund's 25th Anniversary alongside Mr. Simon, Edie Brickell, Sting, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and numerous other luminaries. Last November, Luba joined her husband at JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER w/Wynton Marsalis and his band in one of the highlights of the evening singing Otis BlackwellТs УFeverФ. Luba Mason is a classically trained singer, pianist, dancer and actor who was nominated for the prestigious 2015 DRAMA DESK and LUCILLE LORTEL theater awards as УBest Featured Actress in a MusicalФ in the Off Broadway musical "PRETTY FILTHY", (track four on MIXTURA, "Beautiful" is featured from that show) and the 2013 "Outstanding Individual Performance" award at the NYMF (New York Musical Festival). A native New Yorker born in Astoria, Queens and first generation American of Slovak descent, she started classical piano at age 5 and continued for 12 more years while singing in several church choirs prompted by her piano teacher after discovering her talent for singing at the end of a piano lesson. Becoming ever more interested in singing, Luba began to study voice w/teachers from The Julliard School and Manhattan School of Music recommended by her older sister who was studying opera there. Having sights on Broadway, Luba was later accepted to Circle in the Square Theatre School and New York UniversityТs Tisch School of the Arts where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in DRAMA. After graduation, 8 Broadway shows ensued including starring roles in the delightfully successful revival of УHOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESSЕФ as the sex bomb Hedy LaRue next to Matthew Broderick's J. Pierpont Finch, Lucy Harris in JEKYLL & HYDE and then, as Velma Kelly opposite Brooke ShieldТs Roxy Hart in the smash musical УCHICAGOФ to name a few. Comfortable in a broad range of settings, Luba was tapped by Ruben Blades as a guest vocalist for his 2003 Grammy Award-winning CD MUNDO singing the Irish classic "Danny Boy", and made a seamless segue from the New York stage to the Hollywood scene tackling dramatic roles in guest-starring parts on PERSON OF INTEREST, FOREVER, LAW & ORDER, NYPD BLUE, NEW YORK UNDERCOVER and many others. Luba Mason's CD MIXTURA, truly has no boundaries here. Says Mason, MIXTURA is not only a musical format that mixes genres and styles, but I hope that it will also change the way people listen to music and experience music. MIXTURA means no longer going to just a jazz concert or a salsa concert. You go to a MIXTURA concert to hear music Ц no labels, no expectations, no limits. write your comments about the article :: © 2016 Jazz News :: home page |