Hello all.
I’ve had a very busy couple of months so I’d like to share some of the happenings with you. First of all I am in the midst of producing a series of events in my area to try to generate some work for us all. My township, South Brunswick, is hosting a Jazz series once a month and we are partnering with the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation, to fund the series. Should be fun, bringing in good bands from all over. I’m also helping the Arts Council of Princeton to put on a Jazz series. I am also going to put on events for the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation so be on the lookout for some events on this side of the river!! I’ve been writing music again and it feels great.
The Jazzcorner Jam session in January was a blast! I saw so many people I haven’t seen in forever; Onaje Allan Gumbs, Rob Schneiderman, Robin Eubanks. Clark Terry was amazing. He is such a strong spirit; one who needs to be honored and cherished. On March 19, I will be presenting a workshop on the research I have been doing on the Cuban flute and Charanga music at the New York Flute Fair. I’m hoping to be presenting more of this workshop in the future at different colleges.The record company, Spirit Nectar, who put out my first CD, is producing a CD in honor of the CEO’s wife’s passing. Wayne Wallace, and John Santos are a couple of people involved so it should be fun.I wrote a piece to be recorded for the project as well. They will be flying me out to San Francisco in April. I’m also going to Canada to be a guest artist with the Winnepeg Jazz Orchestra. They will be arranging some of my original music in the big band format which should prove to be very interesting. My third CD is coming out by March 15. This is a project which I did with Chembo Corniel, the great conga player. We have some wonderful players on the project including Hilton Ruiz and Steve Turre. I’m really excited about the project and it will be put out by Consolidated Artists Productions, a company founded by Mike Longo, former director of Dizzy Gillespie’s band. I just recorded three tracks for Pete Ferrer out of Miami and Giovanni Hidalgo as well as Claudio Roditi are on the CD.
I am also involved in another production which will be a benefit for a very dear friend of mine who has cancer. Many great players will be at this benefit including Eddie Palmieri, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Willie Martinez, Chembo Corniel just to name a few. Be on the lookout for more information around the beginning of May. So, take care and I’ll be writing soon.
Andrea