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| Latin Jazz Stars Set to Shine at Newport Jazz Festival The 2011 Newport Jazz Festival Presented by Natixis Global Asset Management offers a full slate of jazz musicians who use their rich heritage as inspiration to fuse a diverse array of musical influences into a jazz mélange all their own. Ranging from current jazz phenom Esperanza Spalding to 50-year jazz veteran Eddie Palmieri, these musicians represent not only jazz's present, but also the past and future. Arguably the most influential jazz guitarist to date, Al Di Meola has successfully fused Latin and Brazilian rhythms with his jazz sensibilities over his storied 30-year career. With a résumé that boasts three gold albums and six million in record sales worldwide on both the electric and acoustic guitar, Di Meola is truly a living legend. Featuring music from his latest album, "Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody, " Di Meola says the "compositions and interplay take on a more complex and interesting direction than anything I've done before." Check out Al Di Meola World Sinfonia Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody Tour 2011 on Saturday, August 6, on the Fort Adams Stage. At the 53rd Grammy Awards, Esperanza Spalding became a household name, beating out mainstream superstars Justin Bieber, Drake and others to win the award for "Best New Artist." A versatile musician who can play bass, violin, guitar, oboe, and clarinet and sing in three languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese), the 26-year-old Spalding has on numerous occasions been heralded as the future of jazz. Although she certainly is off to a fast start, with three albums to her name ("Junjo, " "Esperanza" and "Chamber Music Society"), the best is surely yet to come. The Festival is renowned the world over for its surprise performances and unique pairings, and Esperanza will help keep that tradition alive. Experience Esperanza Spalding & Friends I and II when she performs with two different groups of musicians on Saturday, August 6, on the Quad Stage and on Sunday, August 7, on the Fort Adams Stage. Dominican Republic-born Michel Camilo first heard jazz on the radio at the age of 14. More than 40 years after vowing to learn how to play the style he heard, he is a Grammy, Latin Grammy, and Emmy award-winning pianist, bandleader and composer. Coming off the release of his latest album, "Mano a Mano, " a captivating blend of Latin rhythms and grooves, Camilo will team up with long-time friends, bassist Charles Flores, who began his career in Cuba, and percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, who hails from Puerto Rico. Michel Camilo "Mano a Mano" with Giovanni Hidalgo and Charles Flores is set for Saturday, August 6, on the Quad Stage. A New York native of Puerto Rican descent, Eddie Palmieri's illustrious career spans over 50 years. Palmieri, a winner of nine Grammys, is not only known for his innovative style on the piano, but also for his work as a bandleader of prominent Salsa and Latin jazz orchestras, and his dazzling performances. Now, Palmieri heads his latest band, the Latin Jazz Band, a dazzling septet with all the energy and flare of their leader. Experience Eddie Palmieri's Latin Jazz Band on Saturday, August 6, on the Fort Adams Stage. Led by Puerto Rican-born and Afro-Caribbean-influenced saxophonist Mario Castro, this group of five Berklee College of Music students infuses contemporary jazz with a variety of other styles, most notably hip-hop. Commensurate with the music, the rest of the quintet is comprised of musicians from all over the world—pianist KyuMin Shim from Korea, drummer Jonathan Pinson from California, bassist Tamir Shmerling from Israel, and trumpeter Aaron Kleinstub from Cleveland. Don't miss the Berklee College of Music All Stars on Sunday, August 7, on the Alex and Ani Harbor Stage. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation issued Miguel Zenón a "Genius Grant, " claiming, "This young musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century." Also a Grammy nominee and Guggenheim fellow, the saxophonist has performed with a variety of notable musicians and released four recordings as a Leader in his still young career. Zenón will be collaborating with respected Argentinean pianist and composer Guillermo Klein, known for his original stylistic and harmonic concepts, as they present the Puerto Rican Songbook, a mix of Puerto Rican classics with jazz stylings. Check out Miguel Zenón with Guillermo Klein on Sunday, August 7, on the Alex and Ani Harbor Stage. MUJERES DE AGUA BY JAVIER LIMÓN FEATURING BUIKA Due to the cancellation of the international tour of Mujeres de Agua by Javier Limón, the singer Buika will not appear at the Newport Jazz Festival. The Newport Jazz Festival Presented by Natixis Global Asset Management is set for August 5 – 7 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino and Fort Adams State Park. The 2011 Festival also features Wynton Marsalis; Michael Feinstein; Hiromi; Regina Carter's Reverse Thread; James Farm with Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman and Eric Harland; Charles Lloyd's Sangam featuring Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; Brubeck Brothers Quartet with Special Guest Dave Brubeck; Apex: Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green and many more. TICKETS & OTHER INFORMATION Tickets for the Newport Jazz Festival Presented by Natixis Global Asset Management are on sale worldwide through www.ticketmaster.com and www.newportjazzfest.net as well as by phone, by mail and at the new Festival office at the Alex and Ani store at One Bowen's Wharf during limited hours. General admission tickets (single-day passes only) also can be purchased at the Newport Visitor Information Center, located at 23 America's Cup Avenue. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |