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| Dafnis Prieto Quintet at Chicago's Hot House Dafnis Prieto Quintet will play at "Jazz en Clave" Festival at Chicago's Hot House on Sunday, November 12th with Yosvany Terry - alto and soprano saxophones, Peter Apfelbaum - tenor saxophone, Manuel Valera - piano, and Hans Glawischnig - bass. The New York Times has compared the arrival of Dafnis Prieto in the U.S. to the landing of an asteroid. Indeed, since he emigrated from Cuba in 1999, his groundbreaking drumming techniques have had a powerful impact on the Latin and jazz music scenes both locally and internationally. His growing status as a significant bandleader and original composer were confirmed by the Jazz Journalists Association's 2006 Jazz Award for "Up & Coming Musician of the Year." Dafnis received a thorough classical education in Cuba, having studied first at the School of Fine Arts in Santa Clara and later at the National School of Music in Havana. At the same time, he cultivated a broad knowledge of Afro-Cuban, jazz, and world music outside of the academy. He has worked with an extraordinary roster of musicians, beginning with his first European tours with pianists Carlos Maza and Ramon Valle and the pioneering group "Columna B." He has played with Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O'Farrill, Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, Peter Apfelbaum, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdez, Claudia Acuna, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, and Andrew Hill, among others. As sideman and bandleader, he has performed at many national and international music festivals. As a composer, he has created music for dance, film, chamber ensembles and for his own band projects which have ranged from duets to a "Small Big Band." He currently leads two bands - the Latin jazz ensemble heard on his 2005 debut CD "About The Monks, " and the "Absolute Quintet" featured on his second album, which includes violin, cello, and Hammond organ. Dafnis Prieto has received new works commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America, Jazz at Lincoln Center, East Carolina University, Meet the Composer, as well as from various new music ensembles. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops. Since 2005, he has been a member of the NYU music faculty. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |