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Gabriel Alegria
One of the most influential figures on the current jazz scene in Perú, Gabriel Alegria was born into an artistic family in Lima in 1970. Alegria’s grandfather Ciro was Peru’s most famous novelist and his father Alonso is Perú’s most acclaimed playwright.
The Afro-Peruvian Sextet currently tours in support of their latest release Pucusana (August 2010) which includes the singles “Taita Guaranguito” and “Pucusana” representing the Peruvian landó and festejo sounds respectively. The recording includes guest appearances by Russell Ferrante and Arturo O’Farril as well as the band’s permanent members Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón, Hugo Alcázar, Laura Andrea Leguía and Yuri Juárez. The bass chair on the album is shared between Ramon DeBruyn and John Benitez.
Alegria combines his experience playing jazz as it developed in the U.S. with a passionate interest and careful study of the black music of coastal Perú. By incorporating and exploring the common African roots found in both styles, he has developed a uniquely Afro-Peruvian jazz music concept. The rich legacy of the black music of coastal Perú can be heard in a contemporary jazz context. In all of Alegria’s work, a cross-cultural exchange between the Americas is always present, carefully defining Afro-Peruvian jazz music as the newest voice to come from Latin America.
Alegria’s 2008 release Nuevo Mundo, on Saponegro Records, soared to the top of both Jazz Week World Music charts and CMJ’s jazz charts, staying on the air for more than 6 months. The CD includes collaborations with jazz artists Tierney Sutton, Bobby Shew, Russell Ferrante and Bill Watrous as well as with the formidable native Afro-Peruvian artists Freddy “Huevito” Lobaton (Peruvian percussion – cajon, quijada, cajita), Hugo Alcazar (drums), Jocho Velazquez (acoustic guitar) and Joscha Oetz (bass). The CD, which includes six compositions by Alegria and his Afro-Peruvian jazz arrangement of the Gershwin classic “Summertime,” represents his most varied work as a trumpeter and composer to date.
Most recently Gabriel completed the groundbreaking “Tour Peru”, a new model in touring that included fans that accompanied the Afro-Peruvian Sextet throughout Peru. He has also performed concerts for the United Nations and various diplomatic missions from around the world. The Afro-Peruvian Sextet has appeared in over 400 concerts and master classes throughout North America. During the course of a career that has spanned the globe, Alegria has appeared in concert and/or on recordings with Arturo O’Farrill, Maria Schneider, Placido Domingo, Kenny Werner, Ingrid Jensen, Tierney Sutton, The Peruvian National Symphony, Bill Watrous, Russ Ferrante and Alex Acuña.
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Gabriel Alegria Afro Peruvian Sextet: Ciudad De Los Reyes
by Skip Heller
Trumpeter Gabriel Alegria has all but issued a mission statement to establish and cultivate a Peruvian/jazz style. Unlike most styles of Latin music, like montuno-based Afro-Cuban and bossa nova, Peruvian music does not stem from the clave rhythm, but instead from 12/8 (or 6/8, depending on who is your resident self-proclaimed expert). In short, it's a three-against-four deal. The opening section of Chick Corea's Litha" provides an easy American reference.Alegria's group has the typical trumpet/saxophone frontline, along with ...
read moreGabriel Alegria: Nuevo Mundo
by Elliott Simon
The latest buzz in New York City world music is jazz of the Afro-Peruvian variety. The newly opened Tutuma Social Club on 56th Street is slaking jazz's insatiable thirst for new symbiotic styles courtesy of musical director and trumpeter Gabriel Alegria. Nuevo Mundo has his sextet and an assortment of invited guests meeting the music head on, embracing its rhythmic complexity and focus on the cajon, a wooden box-like drum. Cajonistas, and Alegria has one of the best in the ...
read moreGabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet Showcases Their Unique Fusion Of Jazz & Afro-peruvian Music On "Diablo En Brooklyn," Set For Sept. 22 Release
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
Gabriel Alegría has dedicated his life to introducing audiences to jazz-infused interpretations of traditional music from his Peruvian homeland, Afro-Peruvian arrangements of works from the Great American Songbook, and original compositions inspired by both styles. On Diablo en Brooklyn, the sixth recording by Alegría’s Afro-Peruvian Sextet, the ensemble presents what is without a doubt their most fully realized and boldest album to date. It is also the first to be made entirely in Peru and, most notably, at Lima’s legendary ...
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Audiophile Vinyl Release Of "10," By Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet, Due June 24
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
The release last year of 10, on ZOHO Music, marked a decade of musical innovation by Gabriel Alegría’s Afro- Peruvian Sextet, its program richly infused with Alegría’s trademark synthesis of folkloric Afro-Peruvian rhythms, jazz, and other musical strains. Now Alegría’s Saponegro Records is preparing to release an audiophile vinyl edition of 10 on June 24—the first such record in the history of Afro-Peruvian music. “We wanted to create a product that would stand the test of time,” says Alegría. “Equal ...
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Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet Celebrates 10th Anniversary With "10," Due From ZOHO Music on August 7
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
A decade of musical innovation by Gabriel Alegría's Afro-Peruvian Sextet is something to celebrate, and the ensemble marks this anniversary in glorious style with the release of 10, due for release August 7 by ZOHO Music. The program on the band’s 5th CD is richly infused with Alegría’s trademark synthesis of folkloric Afro-Peruvian rhythms, jazz, and other musical strains. “It’s a concept album,” Alegría says. “For our 10th anniversary, we wanted to give special care to American and Peruvian standards. ...
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"Ciudad De Los Reyes," 4th CD By Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet, Due Feb. 12
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
Since the release of their 2008 debut, Nuevo Mundo, trumpeter-composer Gabriel Alegría and his Afro-Peruvian Sextet have been blazing a new musical path as they develop and popularize Afro-Peruvian jazz in the United States, Alegría’s native Perú, and beyond. The group’s stunning new CD, Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of Kings), which will be released on February 12 by Alegría’s Saponegro Records, represents a culmination of their efforts to establish Afro-Peruvian jazz as a genre unto itself. “We want the ...
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Album of the Week: Pucusana, Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet
Source:
The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
Pucusana Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet Saponegro Reecords Transformation is an inevitable reality in the jazz world; regardless of where an artist starts musically, their sound will change throughout their journey. There are too many factors that creep into a musician's life throughout their careerat some point, something will inspire new directions in their music. Change doesn't always guarantee a move towards higher artistic ground though, it simply means that an artist's music will sound different throughout ...
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Ingrid Jensen, Jon Wikan, "Huevito" Lobaton & Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet Open Tutuma Social Club (NYC)
Source:
MFA - Mitchell Feldman Associates
New York, NY - Tutuma Social Club, a new restaurant/music venue in New York City combining the best in live contemporary Afro-Peruvian Jazz with the fusion cuisine of Peruvian tapas and other dishes, opens April 28, 2009 with the debut of several series exploring a variety of musical themes. Peruvian percussionist and zapateo dancer Freddy ‘Huevito’ Lobaton will kick off Ritmos Negros del Peru (Black Rhythms of Peru) at 8 p.m.Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29; Canadian trumpeter Ingrid ...
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BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center Presents: The Gabriel Alegria Afro Peruvian Sextet - February 5
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center Presents: The Gabriel Alegria Afro Peruvian Sextet THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 @ 8:00 PM, $35 / $25 (students and seniors save $10) Concert at BMCC Tribeca PAC’s 900 seat theater is the highlight of Alegria’s North American Tour – “Gabriel is a talented and inspired leader and a positive force in the Peruvian Jazz movement.” --Ron Carter “On his sharp new album ‘Nuevo Mundo’, trumpeter Gabriel Alegria teases out affinities between modern jazz ...
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Album of the Week: Nuevo Mundo, Gabriel Alegria
Source:
All About Jazz
Nuevo Mundo Gabriel Alegria Saponegro Records Emerging trends in Latin Jazz rarely appear out of thin air, they simply spend years existing outside of mainstream awareness. These trends generally start as an idea among a group of musicians, and they pursue it diligently. Early experimentations might include rough edges, but a powerful concept always spreads. Listeners become interested, and other artists integrate the same ideas. As the trend gains momentum among its small group of followers, ...
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Creating Authentic Buzz: Gabriel Alegria and Sofia Koutsovitis on Video
Source:
All About Jazz
Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet with Guest Vocalist Eva Ayllon at Joe's Pub in NY Jan. 20
Source:
MFA - Mitchell Feldman Associates
Who: Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet w/ special guest vocalist Eva Ayllon What: Showcase of CD Nuevo Mundo / Ms. Aylln's debut in a jazz context When: Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 9:30 pm Where: Joe's Pub / 425 Lafayette Street / NYC 10003 Cost: $20 / General Admission Info: 212.967.7555 Trumpeter and composer Gabriel Alegra has developed a unique form of World Jazz that combines his distinctive approach to the jazz trumpet with the rich heritage of Afro-Peruvian music. Alegria ...
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