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| AWARD-WINNING ARTIST KATHERINE FARNHAM RELEASES LONG-AWAITED LATIN JAZZ CD Billboard charting, internationally acclaimed and nine time Global Music Award winner Katherine 'KOOL KAT' Farnham will release her long-awaited Latin jazz CD in 2022 called, "ALQUIMIA". The album features original songs and well-known favorites in Spanish and Portuguese and features Latin Grammy winner and virtuoso flutist Nestor Torres, Four-Time Grammy Nominee and acclaimed guitarist Denny Jiosa and beloved, award-winning Brazilian artist Guinga on vocals and guitar. Katherine has performed on stages with Latin jazz greats Celia Cruz and Tito Puente Jr. She has recorded with many renowned musicians including Grammy winner and legendary saxophonist Kirk Whalum, Blues Hall of Fame and Grammy Winning trumpeter Darrell Leonard, Grammy Nominated saxophonist Mindi Abair and others. She has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC 6, and Telemundo and toured throughout the US and abroad. She performed to a sold out room at the Hub City Jazz Festival in New Jersey, and has even inspired audiences with her courage at major sporting events such as The Ericsson Open (only female artist), The Miami Marathon and national dates for NASCAR. The Los Angeles Music Awards voted the third-generation musician the "Best Female Singer/Songwriter" in their entire twenty-five year history. All Music Guide says, "Her lyrics are heavy and meaningful, but her vocalizing is soaring." AXS says, "...a singer with many sides, all worth getting to know...an open, fearless artist. Two-Time Emmy Nominee and Celebrity Radio Host Phillip Silverstone raved, "absolutely brilliant. Farnham is doing for jazz what Clapton did for the blues – bringing it to the mainstream." HG Radio in Mexico called her "a huge talent". Farnham says, "ALQUIMIA represents the culmination of many years of work. The concept is spiritual in the sense that it describes the work of perfecting the soul. Since college, I have had close friends who spoke Spanish or Portuguese as their first language. In 2016 I wrote the opening song, "TANGO", inspired by a man I'd known for over a decade. Then in 2019 as we were completing the "LOVE PHILOSOPHY" album, I was going through songs and realized that I had enough to do a complete Latin jazz album. So that project actually led nicely into this one. This album expresses love for music and for people and reminds listeners not to lose passion for living, even during challenging times." Farnham has already been recognized specifically for her Spanish language singing, including a Global Music Award for one of the album singles, her elegant version of "Besame Mucho" featuring Guest Artist Four-Time Grammy Nominee Denny Jiosa. She also received a nomination from HG Radio Awards in Mexico for "Cantante Femenina del Año". On "ALQUIMIA", Farnham recorded her first duet "A Vox do Mundo". It features Farnham on lead vocals and piano and Guinga singing and adding Brazilian style acoustic guitar. The song is a tribute to her friend, the late journalist, radio host, and producer Toninho Spessoto. The song is a moving tribute to a man who supported both Brazilian and American jazz. Guinga is a well known and beloved artist from Rio de Janeiro who has penned songs for famed Brazilian singer Elis Regina as well as Michel Legrand and others. When he was 13 years old, Guinga taught himself to play the guitar. Later, he formally studied music, including five years of classical guitar lessons with the renowned Jodacil Damasceno. Guinga began composing music when he was 16 years old and by age 17 he had already qualified one of his compositions for the Festival Internacional da Canção (International Festival of Song). By the time he became a professional musician, Guinga was already accompanying famous Brazilian artists such as Clara Nunes, Beth Carvalho, Alaíde Costa, Cartola, and João Nogueira, among others. His songs have been recorded by Elis Regina, Michel Legrand, Sérgio Mendes, Leila Pinheiro, Chico Buarque, Clara Nunes, and Ivan Lins. In the last few years, Farnham has won over a staggering twelve music awards, including being one of the youngest recipients of the Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. (Other recipients include Colin Powell, Wonder Woman entertainer Lynda Carter and actress Dee Wallace.) She also won Los Angeles Music Award Nominations for "Best Jazz Artist" and "Americana: Blues & Roots Artist" and was selected as the "Best Female Singer/Songwriter" in the quarter century history of Los Angeles Music Awards and also won a Las Vegas Counter Culture Award for "Best Jazz Performer" among others. For the "Love Philosophy" album, she earned Global Music Awards for "Jazz/Emerging Artist" and "Jazz/Blues Song" as well as four awards for "Female Vocalist" (English and Spanish) and one for "Songwriter". Recognized as a child prodigy, Farnham began performing as leading lady in a school play at the tender age of five, and gave her first jazz vocal solo performance a few months later. She studied with her mother, a concert pianist and vocal coach for The Sante Fe Opera. Her debut sold out and her subsequent discography has garnered interviews and airplay in US, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa along with rave reviews in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The recipient of the Rotary Outstanding Service Award, Katherine is also an author and humanitarian whose articles on music and singing have been published in several magazines. In addition to all this, she organized and sponsored six benefits in Miami and Los Angeles supporting music education and ethnic unity. She still finds time to donate charitable performances and support to organizations like The Salvation Army, ASPCA, Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross and many others. write your comments about the article :: © 2022 Jazz News :: home page |