Dafnis Prieto Big Band: ‘Danzonish Potpourri’

Published

4 years ago

Jun 23, 2019

Web Editor

“That Dafnis Prieto has undertaken an epic musical voyage is clear from the music on this disc. Back to the Sunset, is the culmination of a journey that looks back from the future. This colourful symphonic fantasy is the realisation of the dreams and aspirations of a drummer who may occupy a seat behind a trap set, but in actual fact belongs everywhere in the orchestra. And magically, Mr Prieto has, in fact, become the orchestra that he animates and in the myriad of stories that are told or, more appropriately-speaking, sung the characters in this moving, passion play change. In some of the lead character is an animated trumpet, or an alto saxophone, a trombone, piano, bass and also, of needs be, a drum.” – Raul da Gama

CD Review: Dafnis Prieto Big Band – Back to the Sunset

Composed & arranged by Dafnis Prieto/ Produced by Dafnis Prieto & Eric Oberstein / Video by Makoto Matsuo.

Soloists: Dafnis Prieto (drums), Josh Deutsch (trumpet), Ricky Rodríguez (acoustic bass), Michael Thomas (soprano sax), Manuel Valera (piano), Peter Apfelbaum (melodica).

Dedicated to Bebo Valdés, Art Blakey & Jane Bunnett from the album ‘BACK TO THE SUNSET’ Dafnis Prieto’s biggest statement yet.

Artist Profile: Dafnis Prieto

DAFNIS PRIETO BIG BAND
Mike Rodríguez, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Nathan Eklund, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Alex Sipiagin, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Josh Deutsch, Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Román Filiú, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Clarinet
Michael Thomas, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Piccolo
Peter Apfelbaum, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Melodica
Joel Frahm, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax
Chris Cheek, Bari Sax

Tim Albright, Trombone
Alan Ferber, Trombone
Jacob Garchik, Trombone
Jeff Nelson, Bass Trombone

Manuel Valera, Piano
Ricky Rodríguez, Acoustic & Electric Bass
Roberto Quintero, Congas, Bongos, Percussion

Dafnis Prieto, Drums & Music Director

Recorded August 28, 2017 at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, NY.

Recording & Mixing Engineer: Joe Marciano
Mastering Engineer: Max Ross
Assistant Engineers: Max Ross & Andrew Cavaciuti
Mixing: Joe Marciano, Max Ross, Dafnis Prieto & Eric Oberstein

Production Coordinator: Danny Martinez

Camera Operators: Makoto Matsuo, Yousuke Kiname, Isamu Maeda, Niklas Moller, Azumi Oe, Yusuke Shibata.

Dafnis Prieto Big Band ‘Back to the Sunset’ is supported in part by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Southwest Airlines, and the Surdna Foundation through a grant from the NALAC Fund for the Arts Grant Program.

Dafnis Prieto Big Band is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization.

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Grant Richards’ Live Performance of “Ballyhoo”

Published

1 year ago

Nov 2, 2021

Danilo Navas

Grant Richards – a pianist deeply immersed in bebop and the blues – leads his music in a bold
and emergent new direction with Ballyhoo, an Afro-Cuban celebration of a previously unspoken
dream, finally realized in a tangible elation of musicianship, culture, and unbridled wonder.
Richards, like the great jazz composers throughout history, wrote the music on Ballyhoo not for
generic instruments, but for the specific and unique musical personalities of the musicians in his
ensemble.

“Ballyhoo is the title track from my new album, my first excursion into Latin jazz, combining
many elements that get me out of my comfort zone like intricate grooves, odd keys, and the
necessity for precise execution,” Richards shares. “The title implies an excited commotion and
with the crisp performance by my bandmates Damian Erskine, Reinhardt Melz, and Carmelo
Torres, I think this track embodies the exuberance and playfulness I intended for the project as a
whole.”

Album cover - Grant Richards: Ballyhoo — Album cover – Grant Richards: Ballyhoo

What is Ballyhoo? The word embodies sensation, animation and enthusiasm, and the record at
its core presents all of the same. Ballyhoo was released on September 24, 2021.