FYC KATHERINE FARNHAM LATIN JAZZ CD Alquimia

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Grammy U Mentor, Billboard charting, internationally acclaimed and ten time Global Music Award winner Katherine 'KOOL KAT' Farnham is up for a Latin Grammy Award nomination for "Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album" with her new release ALQUIMIA. The album features original songs and well-known favorites in Spanish and Portuguese with Guest Artists 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.

Farnham says, "This project 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 had close friends that spoke Spanish or Portuguese as their first language. In 2016 I wrote the opening song, "Tango" and in 2019 as we were completing the Love Philosophy CD, 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 CD expresses love for music and for people and reminds listeners not to lose passion for living, even during challenging times."

The third-generation musician and singer/songwriter/pianist just won her sixth Global Music Award recognition for "Female Vocalist" for the album and another one for one of the album singles, her elegant version of "Besame Mucho" featuring Four-Time Grammy Nominee Denny Jiosa. HG Radio in Mexico also nominated her for her Spanish language singing with "Cantante Feminine del Ano".

Musical Memoirs Jazz says, "...boisterous, joyful production...powerful vocals, multi-talented woman. Farnham has deep roots and early training in music. The piano line is a surprise and supportive of her voice in this refreshed arrangement (Besame Mucho)." Exclusive Magazine says, " vibrantly earthy and wholly embracing...luscious Latin melodies...simply beautiful." Midwest Record raves, "No stranger to high tone notice, Farnham takes her four octave range for a dramatic ride south of the equator in which she lines up some Latin jazz stars to help her bring this dramatic set to the fore. With a four on the floor take no prisoners delivery, Farnham brings all the strum and drang tango et al can deliver, including a generous dollop of her own special sauce. Sets like this define 'performance'."

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 styleacoustic 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.

The four-octave vocalist and classically-trained Farnham has also recorded with legendary saxophonist and Grammy winner Kirk Whalum, Grammy Nominee Mindi Abair and Grammy winner and Blues Hall of Famer Darrell Leonard. 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 on stages with Latin jazz greats Tito Puente Jr and Celia Cruz. She 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.

Katherine is 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 has 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 five other awards for "Female Vocalist" (English and Spanish) and one for "Songwriter".

Farnham is no stranger to singing in Spanish as she was chosen to represent Miami-Dade County in Florida as the artist and writer behind Miami's Theme Song of Unity. For this project, she was recognized by the Recording Academy as well as the Mayor who included her song in his radio and television public service announce- ments with a message of ethnic unity.

A third generation musician, 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.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Katherine Farnham's
Latin Jazz Recording
Alquimia

Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album

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