LifeForce Jazz recording artist and
Latin jazz icon Bobby Matos has been awarded an "Artist
In Residence" grant from the City of Los Angeles Department
of Cultural Affairs. Matos will be balancing his busy performing
and touring schedule to lead an "Afro Latin Jazz Workshop
Band" in a series of free weekly workshops and rehearsals
hosted by Stage Of The Arts, Inc.
The purpose of the Afro Latin Jazz Workshop residency project
is to addresses the misinformation and lack of education
about the Latin jazz genre, one of the most important and
vibrant forms of jazz today. "We're aiming at those
musicians who trained in High School and College jazz bands,
and never got the grounding in Latin jazz," says Matos. "Of
course, we're accepting other musicians that have the desire
to play Latin jazz."
The audition process begins in September. Students with
a letter of recommendation from their school band director
will not have to audition. The basic requirement is competency
on any instrument and the ability to learn and play band
arrangements, fax recommendation letters to (323) 662-3750.
The Saturday classes have 3 components. The first focuses
on the important functions of the Afro Cuban percussion section.
The second clarifies the rhythmic figures that are the "keys" to
unlocking the "codes" of Latin music for all instrumentalists.
It will also give students a historical perspective by screening
video performances of many of the masters of the genre. The
third section is devoted to learning and rehearsing classic
latin jazz arrangements by these same masters.
The project schedules 20 weekly workshops and rehearsals
and 5 performances in Los Angeles community venues. Interested
students can contact Stage of the Arts, Inc. at 213 662 3750
or email Crocodile@Afrocuba.org to arrange for auditions
at our Hollywood location.
Bobby Matos is an award winning Latin jazz artist who performs
frequently with his Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble. He follows
6 critically acclaimed CDs for the Ubiquity/Cubop label with
4 groundbreaking releases for LifeForce Jazz. His latest
recording, "Gratitude" is in stores and online
as of August 2007. "Gratitude" features a wide
range of Latin jazz sounds that reflect influences from Cuban
Charanga to John Coltrane. The members of the ensemble contribute
8 originals reflecting inspiration from their families and
their musical heroes. There is also a thoroughly latinized
version of an old standard that becomes a danzon-mambo, and
3 classic tunes from Miles Davis, Tito Puente, and NY Charanga
hero, Lou Perez.
Stage of the Arts, Inc. is a 501 (c ) (3) California Educational
corporation founded 1982 in Los Angeles, sponsoring the Afrocuban
Research Institute to promote education and research on the
Afrocuban transnational arts.
####
CONTACT:
Jorge Luis Rodriguez, Kat Roman,
Director@StageOfTheArts.infoCrocodile@afrocuba.org
Stage Of The Arts, Inc. Phone/Fax: (323) 662-3750
www.StageOfTheArts.info P.O.Box 26688, Los Angeles, CA 90026
AfroCuban Research Institute
P.O.Box 26688, Los Angeles, California
90026
|
