Summer Jazz Concert Series in Harlem

Casa Frela Gallery
47 West 119th Street
NY, N.Y. 10026
212-722-8577
Fax: 565-342-9038

Featuring Octavio Kotan & Xiomara Laugart
July 14th 8:00PM-10:00PM

The son of one of Cuba's most legendary guitarists, Octavio Kotan's remarkable career reflects the richness of the three cities he has made home during his lifetime: Havana, Madrid, and currently, New York City. He is known for his excellent composing and arranging as well as for being a famed session musician and guitar maestro. Kotan is currently the arranger and guitarist in legendary Cuban singer Xiomara Laugart's band.

Xiomara Laugart is a Cuban-born jazz singer who resides in New York. Her range is such that her jazz influences seem to be a natural extension of her repertoire. She takes on each style of music and embraces it with her own stamp and authentic flair.

Featuring Antar Goodwin & Richelle Claiborne
July 21st 8:00PM-10:00PM

Relying on melody and phrasing rather than chops and speed, The Antar Goodwin Group has created a sound that is instantly recognizable. The music he has created with his band ranges from solo guitar compositions to music written for the full six-piece group, which consists of a guitarist or a pianist, a drummer, a percussionist, a trumpet player, and a jazz vocalist, with Antar at the helm, switching effortlessly between fretless and acoustic bass.

Richelle Claiborne has been a performer since the age of 4, although she didn't start writing poetry until the age of 7. She has been inspired by her own pain as well as the pain of those around her, and uses her poetry to convey not only the darker side of the human emotional gamut, but the funnier and sexier sides as well. She can be found regularly at Live Arts Theater, performing with her band, Claiborne & Co., as well as performing her poetry with other bands at poetry venues around the country.

Featuring Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans
July 28th 8:00PM-10:00PM

Concert and recording artist, arranger, and producer Annette A. Aguilar is a versatile percussionist and composer. String instruments, congas and frijoles (beans, habichuelas) might seem like a strange mixture of ingredients, but in the hands of percussionist Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans, her Latin Brazilian jazz band, they become a musical feast. This exquisite ensemble blends Afro-Cuban and Afro- Brazilian rhythms with harp, guitar, violin, piano and bass creating the unique StringBeans string and percussion sound.

Featuring Isabella
August 4th 8:00PM-10:00PM

Isabella Owen Perelman -- musically, just Isabella -- was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but grew up and has spent much of her adult life in and around Washington DC. She is a graduate of St. John's College in Annapolis, MD, and studied voice and music at American University and elsewhere. As a songwriter, Isabella's style is eclectic, with elements from folk (American, Latin American, Celtic, and European), classical, country, American standards, and jazz. She plays guitar and keyboard.

$12 Cover
Includes free wine and hors d'oeuvres

To guarantee your seat please RSVP at [email protected] or call 646-752-4019