PIANO VIRTUOSO MICHEL CAMILO DAZZLES WITH MANO A MANO

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Jazz, Michel Camilo, Piano

GRAMMY®, EMMY® AND TWO-TIME LATIN GRAMMY® AWARD WINNER RETURNS TO HIS TRIO SETTING –
FIRST TRIO PROJECT IN FOUR YEARS

DIGITAL U.S. RELEASE ON JULY 26

PHYSICAL U.S. RELEASE ON SEPTEMBER 13

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM MANO A MANO

Michel Camilo - MANO A MANO

The opening track of Dominican pianist and composer Michel Camilo’s dazzling new release, Mano a Mano as he joins the Decca/EmArcy (Universal Music Group), is not only a scene setter but a declaration of principle. Optimistic, brimming with energy and understated virtuosity, “Yes,” an original composition by Michel, hints at the sound of classic Cubop while celebrating modern Afro-Caribbean jazz. “‘Yes’ is a positive piece,” says Michel. “It’s an affirmation. It’s saying that getting involved in this music, in this project, has been all worthwhile. The piece is in the mold of a ‘Donna Lee,’ or an ‘Indiana,’ and it was a way for us to say ‘Yes, we know the jazz tradition. But we also know something else. And here there are two traditions.'”

In Mano a Mano, Michel Camilo, returns to one of his most effective settings, the trio, but with a twist, using congas and small percussion, instead of trap drums. Featuring longtime friends, master conguero Giovanni Hidalgo and bassist Charles Flores, Michel’s trio creates a lighter, more open sound, still powerful, yet also with a certain sweet mango-flavored lyricism that proves to be a perfect vehicle for a wide ranging repertoire that includes eight original compositions and three standards.

James M. Gregg – Another Bridge Born [M3E]

Tags

James M. Gregg, Jazz, Trumpet

James M. Gregg - Another Bridge Born

James M. Gregg -][- ANOTHER BRIDGE BORN -(MP3)- [M3E, 2011]

Bridges are a fascinating metaphor for how we shape our lives. We make plans, have dreams, and set goals…so we build bridges to get from where we are now to where we want to be. Sometimes we cross over to the other side and find exactly what we wanted…sometimes we cross and find something totally unexpected…and sometimes we never even start the journey. Occasionally we get halfway across and turn back, and sometimes we simply jump, leaving no question that we’re ready to move on to the next big thing.

“Another Bridge Born” is a musical example of a bridge in the life and musical career of its creator, James M Gregg. Having spent decades bouncing from one musical endeavor to another, looking for an elusive sound that he could define and that would define him, he finally hit on something that truly resonated with his innermost motivations.