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Press Releases
Grammy Award Winning Pianist Michel Camilo Returns to Orchestra Hall
A pianist with brilliant technique and a composer who flavors his tunes with Afro-Caribbean rhythms and jazz harmonies, Michel Camilo’s musical language is expressive and combines his musical heritage in an exciting way with rich harmonic textures and jazz roots. Camilo, who performed his electrifying Piano Concerto No. 1 in the fall with the DSO, was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and studied for 13 years at the National Conservatory. At the age of 16 he became a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic (NSODR). He moved to New York in 1979, where he studied at the Mannes College of Music and at The Juilliard School. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) selected him as co-artistic director with Leonard Slatkin of the first Latin-Caribbean Music Festival at the Kennedy Center, where he also performed with his Trio and his Big Band and had the world premiere of his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, commissioned by the NSO and conducted by Slatkin. Camilo was appointed the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair at the DSO in the 2009-2010 season. His appointment will last through the 2010-2011 season.
Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, Esperanza Spalding, the 25-year-old prodigy-turned-pro, might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music. “She is an irresistible performer,” says The Seattle Times. “Her analysis of what’s going on in jazz today is perceptive.” Spalding attended Berklee College of Music and earned her B.M., but also signed on as an instructor in 2005 at the age of 20 - an appointment that has made her the youngest faculty member in the history of the college. She is the 2005 recipient of the prestigious Boston Jazz Society scholarship for outstanding musicianship.
Ask a roomful of jazz fans about Grammy Award-winning saxophonist David Sánchez and the ensuing buzz will be filled with praise. Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Sánchez is unquestionably one of the finest, most progressive players on the contemporary scene, as more than a decade’s worth of bold, brilliant work has already proven. In 2004, the recording Coral earned David his first Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album and his fifth Grammy Award nomination. After that, Sánchez concluded a seven album relationship with Sony Music. Three years of intensive writing and performing followed, with Sánchez ultimately opting to sign with Concord, where his latest, and arguably most artistically progressive album, Cultural Survival, was released on May 20, 2008.
The career of the Grammy Award winner bassist Charles Flores began in Cuba, with the Cuban jazz vocalist/composer Bobby Carcasses. While playing with Carcasses, he was recruited by pianist Emiliano Salvador, one of the key figures in the history of Cuban jazz. Charles Flores musical creativity and distinct style of playing continues to be demonstrated in his performances with Michel Camilo, Jane Bunnett, J.P. Torres, Brian Lynch, Giovanni Hidalgo and David Sanchez.
A native of San Diego California, Cliff Almond comes from a musical family. Coming from a classical background, (his mother a piano teacher, and his father a choral conductor), Cliff was started on the violin, and piano at the age of five and enrolled in the Suzuki method. As time went on however, Cliff found himself gravitating more toward the drums. Cliff Landed the Camilo gig at the age of 21 and soon moved to New York City where he began to make a name for himself on the scene there. Cliff currently resides in New York City where he remains busy in a number of different styles and genres.
Born in Havana, Cuba in 1985, Alfredo Rodríguez entered Havana’s Manuel Saumell Elementary Classical Music Conservatory at age seven. In 2006, Rodríguez was accepted, and given permission by Cuba, to attend Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival as a visiting musician. There he met the legendary Quincy Jones who was tremendously impressed by the young pianist’s talent. Jones’ staff worked hard to secure a visa for Rodríguez to work in the United States, but, after three years of fruitless efforts, Rodríguez defected to the U.S. in January 2009. Since then, he has performed across the country racking up glowing reviews. He has been compared to Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Theolonious Monk, Keith Jarrett and his mentor Quincy Jones.
Luke Celenza, 17, is a senior at Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY. Celenza has attended the Manhattan School of Music pre-college jazz division for the past six years, studying with Jeremy Manasia and performing with the MSM Combo and Big Band. Celenza has received the NY Youth Symphony Jazz Band Classic Director’s Award and a DownBeat Student Music Award. In addition, he was a member of the 2009 GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble and has attended the Stanford Jazz Residency, the Berklee School of Music Summer Performance Program, the Jazz in July Piano Master Class and the Dave Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony at the University of the Pacific.
Tickets for Michel Camilo Trio on May 7 range in price from $22 to $73 with a limited number of box seats available for $108. Tickets may be purchased and/or reserved at the DSO Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit), by calling the DSO at (313) 576-5111 or by visiting www.detroitsymphony.com.
PERFORMANCE
Bank of America Paradise Jazz Series
Michel Camilo Trio
Michel Camilo, piano; Esperanza Spalding, bass; Charles Flores, bass; Cliff Almond, drums; David Sanchez, saxophone; Alfredo Rodríguez, piano; Luke Celenza, piano
Orchestra Hall Fri., May 7 at 8 p.m. Selections to be announced from the stage
The DSO does not appear on this program Concert preceded by Civic Jazz Live! Featuring the Civic Jazz Orchestra in The Music Box at 6:30 p.m. ###
Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, Esperanza Spalding, the 25-year-old prodigy-turned-pro, might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music. “She is an irresistible performer,” says The Seattle Times. “Her analysis of what’s going on in jazz today is perceptive.” Spalding attended Berklee College of Music and earned her B.M., but also signed on as an instructor in 2005 at the age of 20 - an appointment that has made her the youngest faculty member in the history of the college. She is the 2005 recipient of the prestigious Boston Jazz Society scholarship for outstanding musicianship.
Ask a roomful of jazz fans about Grammy Award-winning saxophonist David Sánchez and the ensuing buzz will be filled with praise. Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Sánchez is unquestionably one of the finest, most progressive players on the contemporary scene, as more than a decade’s worth of bold, brilliant work has already proven. In 2004, the recording Coral earned David his first Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album and his fifth Grammy Award nomination. After that, Sánchez concluded a seven album relationship with Sony Music. Three years of intensive writing and performing followed, with Sánchez ultimately opting to sign with Concord, where his latest, and arguably most artistically progressive album, Cultural Survival, was released on May 20, 2008.
The career of the Grammy Award winner bassist Charles Flores began in Cuba, with the Cuban jazz vocalist/composer Bobby Carcasses. While playing with Carcasses, he was recruited by pianist Emiliano Salvador, one of the key figures in the history of Cuban jazz. Charles Flores musical creativity and distinct style of playing continues to be demonstrated in his performances with Michel Camilo, Jane Bunnett, J.P. Torres, Brian Lynch, Giovanni Hidalgo and David Sanchez.
A native of San Diego California, Cliff Almond comes from a musical family. Coming from a classical background, (his mother a piano teacher, and his father a choral conductor), Cliff was started on the violin, and piano at the age of five and enrolled in the Suzuki method. As time went on however, Cliff found himself gravitating more toward the drums. Cliff Landed the Camilo gig at the age of 21 and soon moved to New York City where he began to make a name for himself on the scene there. Cliff currently resides in New York City where he remains busy in a number of different styles and genres.
Born in Havana, Cuba in 1985, Alfredo Rodríguez entered Havana’s Manuel Saumell Elementary Classical Music Conservatory at age seven. In 2006, Rodríguez was accepted, and given permission by Cuba, to attend Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival as a visiting musician. There he met the legendary Quincy Jones who was tremendously impressed by the young pianist’s talent. Jones’ staff worked hard to secure a visa for Rodríguez to work in the United States, but, after three years of fruitless efforts, Rodríguez defected to the U.S. in January 2009. Since then, he has performed across the country racking up glowing reviews. He has been compared to Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Theolonious Monk, Keith Jarrett and his mentor Quincy Jones.
Luke Celenza, 17, is a senior at Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY. Celenza has attended the Manhattan School of Music pre-college jazz division for the past six years, studying with Jeremy Manasia and performing with the MSM Combo and Big Band. Celenza has received the NY Youth Symphony Jazz Band Classic Director’s Award and a DownBeat Student Music Award. In addition, he was a member of the 2009 GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble and has attended the Stanford Jazz Residency, the Berklee School of Music Summer Performance Program, the Jazz in July Piano Master Class and the Dave Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony at the University of the Pacific.
Tickets for Michel Camilo Trio on May 7 range in price from $22 to $73 with a limited number of box seats available for $108. Tickets may be purchased and/or reserved at the DSO Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit), by calling the DSO at (313) 576-5111 or by visiting www.detroitsymphony.com.
PERFORMANCE
Bank of America Paradise Jazz Series
Michel Camilo Trio
Michel Camilo, piano; Esperanza Spalding, bass; Charles Flores, bass; Cliff Almond, drums; David Sanchez, saxophone; Alfredo Rodríguez, piano; Luke Celenza, piano
Orchestra Hall Fri., May 7 at 8 p.m. Selections to be announced from the stage
The DSO does not appear on this program Concert preceded by Civic Jazz Live! Featuring the Civic Jazz Orchestra in The Music Box at 6:30 p.m. ###
FEATURED JOBS
RENT A PHOTO
