Jazz Articles

Claudia Acuna Casts Her Flamenco Jazz Spell in Amsterdam

by Guy Zinger
April 18, 2010

Claudia AcunaBimhuisAmsterdam, NetherlandsApril 3, 2010 Much like a modern-day matador, Claudia Acuna took the stage of the Bimhuis, dressed for the occasion. A performer filled with passionate dramatic tension on the one hand and tender jazz intimacy on the other--strength and grace, intertwined. Singer-songwriter Claudia Acuna, born in Santiago, Chile, Acuna began singing music native to her country. At the age of 15 she became acquainted with her musical models--Frank Sinatra, Erroll Garner and Sarah ...

Claudia Acuna: En Este Momento

by David Adler
April 7, 2009

It's been roughly five years since Chilean vocalist Claudia Acuña released Luna (MAXJAZZ, 2004), a brilliantly conceived meeting of minds with pianist/co-producer/co-composer Jason Lindner, her strong ally coming up in the New York Smalls scene of the '90s. In the interim, Acuña made In These Shoes (ZOHO, 2008), an overtly Latin-pop collaboration with pianist Arturo O'Farrill, plus inspired guest appearances on David Gilmore's Unified Presence (RKM, 2006) and Joey Calderazzo's Amanecer (Marsalis Music, 2007). En Este Momento represents a long-awaited ...

Claudia Acuna Dazzles In Rochester, NY

by Jason Crane
May 24, 2006

Claudia Acuña The Lodge at Woodcliff Rochester, NY May 11, 2006

Claudia Acuña proved last night that music works best when it makes an emotional connection. Her band had all the chops that any group needs to skillfully navigate the music, but it was her ability to play on the audience's empathy that put the music over the top.

Claudia Acuna: Luna

by C. Michael Bailey
March 5, 2004

MaxJazz, the independent jazz label formed in the late-1990s which originally specialized in vocal jazz, continues its well-received vocal jazz series with what can only be termed a pièce de résistance, the recording of Chilean-born singer Claudia Acuna. Miss Acu'a has two previously releases on Verve that have helped establish her a talent worthy of recognition. Her present recording, Luna, extends that worthiness.

Luna is an assembly of pieces in Spanish and English, with the better part of ...

Claudia Acu: Wind from the South

by AAJ Staff
January 20, 2003

Opening with a playful stretch of “Pure Imagination," Chilean chanteuse Claudia Acuña leads a talented band based around bassist/co-producer Avishai Cohen, drummer Jeff Ballard and pianist Jason Lindner through a series of contrapuntal improvisations. Performing songs composed both by old guards like Ellington, Berlin, the Gershwins and Rodgers and Hart, as well as newer standard bearers like Newly and Wonder, Acuña displays a penchant for original shaping, which is at times overextended and at others constrained. Among the odder arrangements ...

Claudia Acu: Rhythm of Life

by David Adler
April 12, 2002

Claudia Acuña dedicates her sophomore effort to her friend and mentor Dianne Reeves, and indeed, there’s a certain Reevesian drama to Rhythm of Life. Whereas Acuña’s debut was driven mainly by pals Jason Lindner and Avishai Cohen, the new record features a broader cast of characters, including the perfect-10 rhythm team of Dave Holland and Jeff “Tain" Watts. Lindner is still quite present, however, playing piano and penning five of the nine arrangements (four of the five collaboratively with Acuña). ...

Claudia Acuna: Wind from the South

by David Adler
June 1, 2000

Chilean-born singer Claudia Acuña burst onto the New York jazz scene in the late 90s. Her debut CD is nothing short of marvelous. Supported by a stellar cast of young, cutting-edge musicians — Jason Lindner on piano, Avishai Cohen on bass, and Jeff Ballard on drums, as well as special guests — Acuña casts a spell with her latin-influenced repertoire and her highly creative interpretations of standards. Avishai Cohen co-produced the disc with Acuña, and much of the material bears ...