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“Listen to Cuadrado’s compositions and you’ll find every reason to take him seriously.”- Josh Jackson, NPR Music

Alexis Cuadrado

“A Lorca Soundscape” is a new work­­ by bassist-composer Alexis Cuadrado, reflecting on Federico Garcia Lorca’s 1930 book, “Poeta en Nueva York“, with a series of jazz pieces that utilize Lorca’s poetry as lyrics.

Lorca lived in NYC for a few months in 1929-30 and he wrote a heartfelt set of poems that reflect on the culture shock and loneliness that he experienced at the time. The book is a raw social commentary that connects with themes that are still an important part of the American reality today, such as the economic inequalities, racial-social discrimination or the brutality of the urban landscape. “Poeta en Nueva York” deeply connects with the current socio-economic climate, the “Occupy” movement, and the general population discontent about how our system is working.

Cuadrado’s music is a contemporary reflection on Lorca’s themes and cityscape. The exceptional line-up features some of today’s outstanding jazz performers, and an original view of “new jazz” creates a unique dialog across time.

The world premiere of this piece, also coincides with the 75th anniversary of García-Lorca’s death. He was assassinated in 1936 by the military forces that would go on to rule Spain for the next forty-plus years.

About the composer:
An award-winning composer and bandleader, a bassist with a solid reputation, and a devoted world-class educator; Barcelona-born Alexis Cuadrado has become one of the most sought-after musicians on the New York jazz scene.

In 2012 he will be premiering 2 new projects, “A Lorca Soundscape” featuring Claudia Acuña and Miguel Zenón which is a Chamber Music America commission, and “Jazz Miniatures”, a work for a doble quartet (jazz and string quartet), commissioned by The Jazz Gallery. In 2008 he was awarded a Chamber Music America “New Works” grant that led to the creation of his new epic recording, Noneto Ibérico (Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records , 2011), which has received outstanding critical acclaim, including this praise from DownBeat Magazine (4 star review), “The record teems with surprising time-signature shifts, stacked rhythms and counterpoint passages yet comes across as entirely natural. The genius of Cuadrado’s tonally pungent and fairly lengthy compositions relates to how they’re tethered to central motifs that often function as bookends.” Cuadrado and his ensemble have previously released three other CDs: Puzzles (BJURecords, 2008), Visual (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2004) and Metro (FSNT, 2001), which include original compositions and have received enthusiastic reactions from critics and fans alike.

Cuadrado also has excellent credits as a sideman, with over twenty recording appearances and live concerts with such greats as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Bruce Barth, Ben Monder, Perico Sambeat, Mark Turner, Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo (Carnegie Hall in 2010), Ben Waltzer/Bill McHenry Quartet, Steve Wilson, and Seamus Blake amongst many others. He currently keeps busy freelancing with different ensembles in New York, the US and Europe, is a faculty member at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, and teaches worldwide as a guest lecturer.

He is a founder of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground and BJURecords, a 10 bandleader/composer collective that strives to promote originality and create awareness of innovative jazz artists in Brooklyn.

Musical compositions of Alexis Cuadrado with lyrics from “Poeta en Nueva York” by Federico García Lorca. “A Lorca Landscape” is a 2011 commission by Chamber Music America, “New Jazz Works” program

Featuring The Alexis Cuadrado Group
Claudia Acuña – Voice
Miguel Zenón – Saxophone
Dan Tepfer – Piano
Alexis Cuadrado – Bass
Mark Ferber – Drums

Tues., March 27, 7:30PM: The Center for Latino Arts
and Culture at Rutgers University
Nicholas Music Center, Douglass Campus, 85 George Street, New Brusnwick, NJ,
click here for more info

Wed., March 28, 9PM: The Checkout Live From 92Y Tribeca
Also on the bill – Manuel Valera & The New Cuban Express
200 Hudson Street, NYC, click here for more info

At your leisure, check out “Noneto Ibérico” from last year on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records!

..:: SOURCE: Red Cat Publicity ::..