Jacopo De Nicola Italian Gypsy Folk Born and raised in Italy and transplanted to the United States via the Camino De Santiago, singer songwriter Jacopo De Nicola mixes Old and New World influences into an edgy sonic cocktail. Expanding on the tradition of the Italian Cantautori like Lucio Battisti, Paolo Conte, Franco Battiato and Max Gazze, Jacopo enlivens the audience with infectious upbeat tunes as well as introspective ballads and protest songs. His live performances are … [Read more...]
Sharon Katz & The Peace Train South African The multicultural South African band of Sharon Katz & The Peace Train helped Nelson Mandela end Apartheid and continue spreading their message of peace and reconciliation through music all around the world. Honoring South Africa’s 25th Anniversary, The Peace Train:Transcending Barriers tour features concerts, film screenings and workshops across Africa, Mexico, Cuba and the United States in 2019-2020. Their pulsating rhythms, … [Read more...]
Minas Brazilian | Latin | Jazz Minas takes Brazilian and American roots to create a sound that is fresh and innovative, from ballads tinged with melancholic traits of Blues and Choro, to Folk coasting on the subtle coolness of a Bossa Nova pulse, to upbeat Sambas elaborated with instrumental jazz improvisation, scat singing and skillful whistling. With recordings of original music and a collection of over 100 songs, Orlando and Patricia's compositions capture the essence of great … [Read more...]
Conjunto Cuban | Latin Jazz Conjunto Philadelphia performs music of pre-Revolutionary Cuba, including the Son, Cha-Cha-Chá and Bolero. The group's main aspiration is to pay homage to Cuba's deep and treasured musical history as well as infuse a new energy and fresh interpretation into the music. Conjunto Philadelphia was founded in 2010 by Jeff Torchon as a way to recreate the incredible music he heard on the Buena Vista Social Club album and documentary. To this end, Jeff has … [Read more...]
Oscuro Quintet Tango Founded in 2006 in Philadelphia, Oscuro Quintet is hailed as “a modern super group… one of the most original and acclaimed tango ensembles on the East Coast.”- WHYY TV On Tour. Inspired by Astor Piazzolla’s signature amalgam of tango, jazz, and classical music, Oscuro Quintet embarked on a quest to present tango of past and now and create new music for this unique instrumentation. The members of Oscuro Quintet come from classical, jazz, and tango background … [Read more...]
François Zayas Composer | Percussion | Latin Jazz Born in Cuba, François Zayas graduated from the Instituto Superior de Artes (ISA) in 1998. He taught there, while still a student and after graduation and was a member of the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba. During this time he collaborated on different projects with bands of diverse backgrounds, including Jazz, Hip Hop, and Rock. From 1994 to his establishment in the USA in 2006, he made several international tours with … [Read more...]
Trinidelphia Calypso | Soca | Funk | Reggae Trinidelphia has been pleasing audiences with their distinct combination of American and Caribbean styles since 2005, after meeting in Philadelphia while studying music at the University of the Arts. Fusing Trinidadian soca and calypso with latin jazz, reggae, salsa, and American top-40, they have developed a sound all their own over the past decade. Their unique and rhythmic arrangements of jazz and popular songs cast the steelpan in … [Read more...]
West Philadelphia Orchestra Balkan | Show Band With a diverse line-up of professional Philadelphia musicians whose influences range from Sun Ra to Bulgarian brass bands, West Philadelphia Orchestra is a unique live ensemble in today’s auto-tuned musical world. They began playing Romanian ballads, Macedonian folk-dance songs, Bulgarian wedding music, and Klezmer in late 2006, and have continued expanding their repertoire of Eastern European music. The band also plays original tunes … [Read more...]