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| Musical Nirvana For Students Of Brazilian Jazz Musical Nirvana For Students Of Brazilian Jazz: 2014 Samba Meets Jazz Workshops In Rio And Bar Harbor, Me. Open House/Faculty Concert Tonight, November 19, at Jazz@Kitano in NYC. Artistic Director Nilson Matta and an All-Star Faculty Invite Players at All Levels "For me, Samba Meets Jazz was a dream come true - to work in a small ensemble setting with world-class musicians in a top shelf studio in the magical city of Rio de Janeiro. This will be my fourth time back, and it just keeps getting better and better!" – Chris C. Maxfield, piano, New York. "As a working musician, the Samba Meets Jazz workshop is a great opportunity to dig into the details of Bossa Nova, Samba, and Afro-Cuban styles, which other music schools often "glaze" over … SMJ-Bar Harbor helps you to understand their stylistic differences. And this separates you from the generic and average..." – Gordon Wells, bass, Maine Samba Meets Jazz Workshops is proud to announce its 4th annual intensive workshop in Brazilian jazz, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, February 16-22, 2014, and summer workshops in Bar Harbor, Maine. The Rio session will feature an all-star faculty including legendary Brazilian singer-songwriter João Bosco, acclaimed Brazilian Vocalist-Guitarist-Arranger Célia Vaz, and Pascoal Meirelles, considered one of Brazil's finest drummers, with more faculty artists to be announced. An Open House for the workshops will be held on Tuesday, November 19 at Jazz@Kitano in New York City, featuring an all-star faculty concert including Nilson Matta, Claudio Roditi and Harry Allen, followed by an open jam session for past and prospective workshop attendees, musicians of all levels, and fans of Brazilian jazz. "Whether you are a working musician, a student, or an aspiring player, our week-long immersion in Brazilian music and jazz in Rio de Janeiro is like a dream come true, " said Grammy-nominated bassist-composer-arranger Nilson Matta, who serves as the workshop's Artistic/Music Director. "It's the perfect combination of a fantasy vacation to Brazil with the opportunity to study and jam with some of the best artists in Brazilian jazz, with personalized attention in a nurturing, supportive environment. "Students who attended our previous workshops in Brazil and our summer sessions in Bar Harbor, Maine tell us that the workshop was a transformative experience for them – and also a tremendous amount of fun, " Matta said. Guest faculty at previous workshops have included such Brazilian and American jazz stars as Ivan Lins, Leny Andrade, Arturo O'Farrill, Harry Allen, Steve Wilson, Claudio Roditi, Claudia Villela, John Hart, and many more. Joining the Rio workshop faculty as special guest artists are: · João Bosco, one of Brazilian popular music's most eclectic and imaginative musicians and the composer of some of the best-loved MPB standards. A best-selling solo artist himself, his songs have been covered by many of Brazil's leading singers including Elis Regina, Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque. · Popular Brazilian artist Célia Vaz, who will serve as a Teaching Artist in Rio, has earned wide recognition as a vocalist, guitarist, arranger, songwriter and educator. As an arranger, she recorded over 15 albums with the best-selling group Quarteto em Cy, considered the most important female vocal group of modern Brazilian music. Vaz is also famed for her work with artists including Joyce, Billy Eckstine, and the Rio Jazz Orchestra; and · Renowned drummer-percussionist-composer Pascoal Meirelles, who has collaborated with Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque, Danilo Caymmi, and Ivan Lins, and is a noted educator. In addition to the annual session in Rio, Samba Meets Jazz - Bar Harbor will offer two week-long summer workshops in July, hosted by College of the Atlantic on beautiful Frenchman's Bay in Bar Harbor, Maine, just steps from the entrance to Acadia National Park. This year's workshops – one for singers and instrumentalists and one just for instrumentalists – will include Faculty Artists Arturo O'Farrill, Claudio Roditi, Harry Allen, Cafe, Fernando Saci, Claudia Villela, and more artists to be announced. Samba Meets Jazz Workshops bring together instrumentalists and vocalists of all levels and musical backgrounds from the United States, Brazil and Europe: working musicians; jazz students; music educators; classical players seeking to explore new genres; and dedicated amateurs. Instruction is customized to students' needs. Professionals can hone their skills through master classes with individual coaching, playing alongside musicians recognized as being at the top of their field. Less experienced students enjoy a total immersion in Brazilian music and jazz, receiving individualized instruction and opportunities to play, learn and "hang" with the pros. In Rio, each day students will spend approximately six hours at a luxurious, state-of-the-art recording studio, the Estudio Floresta, studying a curriculum customized to their needs and studying both Brazilian and American jazz styles. Subjects include: · repertoire-based study of Brazilian styles including samba, bossa nova, Baião, Maracatu, and partido alto · study of jazz styles (bebop to modern) · phrasing and articulation in Brazilian jazz · jazz improvisation & harmony · vocal repertoire and technique · jazz ensembles · Batucada (Carnival Music), and · Brazilian percussion for vocalists, instrumentalists and percussionists. After dark, SMJ students attend jam sessions with the faculty; visit Rio's musical hotspots with Mr. Matta, who provides commentary and context; and enjoy other group activities and excursions. Free ground transportation service to all events by private van is included in the workshop price. The workshop week will culminate with a student performance at a Rio jazz club. SMJ students may stay at specially chosen three-star hotels offering attractive low rates to workshop attendees, or they may choose their own accommodations. This year, Samba Meets Jazz – Rio also offers special pre- and post-workshop weekend activities and excursions. The optional pre-workshop weekend includes a guided tour of Rio, a visit (accompanied by Mr. Matta) to the city's famed Samba schools as they prepare for Carnival, and visits to Rio's music hot spots; the optional post-workshop trip extension is to the beautiful, historic city of Paraty, on Brazil's breathtaking Emerald Coast. The cost for this life-changing musical/cultural experience is surprisingly low, with tuition set at $1350 for the week; students pay a discounted rate of $1150, and a limited amount of scholarships and work-study are available. Discounted group airfares on American Airlines start as low as US $780 round-trip. More information on the Rio workshop, including names of additional guest faculty, will be posted on SMJ's website, www.sambameetsjazz.com, as it becomes available. One of the most celebrated Brazilian musicians in America, Grammy-nominee Nilson Matta has collaborated with the biggest names in jazz and Brazilian music including João Gilberto, Joe Henderson, Rosa Passos, Kenny Barron, Herbie Mann, and Paquito D'Rivera. He is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Brazilian jazz Trio da Paz, with guitarist Romero Lubambo and drummer Duduka da Fonseca. Among his many accomplishments, Matta recorded and toured with Yo Yo Ma on the cellist's 2003 album Obrigado Brazil, winner of two Grammys, and on the 2004 live album, Obrigado Brazil Live in Concert. Matta's most recent recording as a leader is 2013's Nilson Matta's Black Orpheus (Motema Music), featuring his new arrangements of music from the iconic 1956 play and 1959 film. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Jazz News :: home page |