Artists

Ami Molinelli

USA / San Francisco / California

Ami Molinelli Co-leads the Brazilian and jazz Grupo Falso Baiano

Exclusive Latin Percussion (LP) artist & Rhythm Tech

Ami Molinelli is a professional percussionist and educator specializing in Brazilian and Latin percussion.

She co-leads the Brazilian and Jazz ensemble, Grupo Falso Baiano with three albums to their credit: “Depois” released in 2017, “Simplicidade – Live at Yoshi’s” and “Viajando em Choro e Jazz.”

Grupo Falso Baiano

Have been featured on NPR’s the California Report, Radio Latina and Pandora LIVE!.

Ami received her Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts. Her performance and recording credits include theater, television (NBC). She is a freelance performing artist as well.

She is endorsed by Latin Percussion (LP) and Rhythm Tech.

Her percussion curriculum has been used and published in clinics and education workshops including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The San Francisco Jazz Center, Los Angeles Music Center, Music in Schools Today, Young Audiences of Northern California, UFBA Ouro Preto, Brasil, HeadStart (San Mateo County), Los Angeles Music Academy, California Brazil Camp, Jazz Camp West, etc.

Her curriculum, “Recycled Rhythm” was created for her artist residency of 7 years at the Los Angeles Music Center.

Currently Ami is a music integration and curriculum specialist with organizations such as The San Francisco Jazz Center, Living Jazz and San Francisco Unified School District.

Aguas Trio North American debut in Birdland

North America - United States – New York

Aguas Trio with Omar Sosa, Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles from February 18th to 22nd in Birland

Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and Cuban violinist-vocalist Yilian Cañizares have come together to create AGUAS Trio, an inventive and engaging mix of the artists’ Afro-Cuban roots, Western classical music, and jazz.

Featuring Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles, Aguas Trio reflects the perspectives of two generations of Cuban artists living outside their homeland, interpreting their traditions in subtle and unique ways. Songs range from the poignant to the exuberant and are expressive of the exceptional musical chemistry, poetic sensibilities and originality of the artists. The concerts at Birdland are the group’s North American debut!

Omar Sosa y Yilian Cañizales, Aguas Trío

Aguas Trio

It is dedicated to water, and especially to Oshun, the Goddess of Love and Mistress of Rivers in the Lucumí tradition of Yoruba ancestry known in Cuba as Santería – a spiritual practice important to both artists. As water is synonymous with life and energy and strength, the music of Aguas Trio is inspired by the important influences of water- its hidden powers, its infinite transmutations and its relentless destruction and creation.

Dubbed the “The Jazz Corner of the World”, by its namesake, the late Charlie “Bird” Parker, Birdland is a modern nightclub in Midtown Manhattan in the tradition of classic New York elegance, and one of the town’s most iconic venues. In recent years, Birdland has presented memorable sets by such music legends as Oscar Peterson, Pat Metheny and Diana Krall, as well as the big bands of Chico O’Farrill and Maria Schneider. Birdland remains New York’s premier destination for jazz lovers the world over.

Dates and Prices

Doors: 7:30 PM / Show: 8:30 PM

$30.00 – $40.00

Birdland Jazz Club

Address

Birdland Jazz Club

315 West 44th St

New York, NY 10036

(212) 581-3080

Omar Lugo

North America / Puerto Rico / San Juan

Omar Lugo “Young Promise of the Juvenile and Romantic Salsa of Puerto Rico”

Omar Lugo - Puerto Rico — Omar Lugo – Puerto Rico

With a modern, restorative and very representative style, the talented Puerto Rican Omar Lugo arrived to reinforce Latin music, offering a trend with a youthful and urban touch; who in addition to being a singer and performer of various musical instruments, is a composer.

Lugo, is a native of the beautiful Caribbean municipality of Arroyo, belonging to the free state of Isla del Encanto, Puerto Rico. This promise of salsa, was born on November 23, 1993 and tells us that, from a very young age, he showed interest and ability to vocalize from the age of 15, when he began to educate himself and train musically in the band of his beloved town of Arroyo and later in adolescence, he accompanied artists of various musical genres in Borinquen.

Let’s see Omar, since when did you start in composition?

“Friend, that was the product of compiling various experiences that I had in love and coincidentally gave me the opportunity to compose my first song “Si supieras”, which I recorded when I was 15 years old, under the arrangement and production of my older brother. Jayson Lugo; serving all this experience to start my artistic career at the age of 17.

That song is a declaration of love, and many identify with it by being able to gather the feelings that a person inspires in you, If you knew, it had, by the way, a lot of radio success, it is a letter that I wrote from the heart”-. This is how he told us for International Salsa Magazine.

The young Puerto Rican, Omar, is characterized by fusing urban and electronic sounds that identify his style for “la salsa”.

Omar Lugo - Mexico Salsa Sabor — Omar Lugo – Mexico Salsa Sabor

In addition, he has shared stages with artists from his country as main singer and musician, such as: Fabián, Juan Vélez, Three Son Salsa, Kimary Carrero, Ricky Luis, Barreto y su Plena, Víctor Manuelle, N’Klabe, Tito Nieves, NG2 , Charlie Cruz, Ken-Y, Keykon, Pirulo, Frankie Negrón, Boni & Kelly, Planéalo, Oscarito, Aníbal de Gracia and many more.

It is noteworthy that Omar has a number 1 on the Billboard Charts (Tropical Charts), with the single “Amor de Verdad” by Charlie Cruz, being Omar Lugo, one of the youngest salseros in history to reach that position. in the musical genre “salsa”.

He adds that, in 2017, he performed at the “El Aniversario de la Salsa” event, at the Paquito Montaner stadium, in Ponce, before more than 15,000 spectators, receiving a standing ovation for his performance. Finally, he told us that he is currently recording his first record production under the direction of his brother Jay, a fundamental and key piece in his musical growth, by the way, winner of the 2018 Latin Grammy.

It was an honor to have in International Salsa Magazine, as a special guest, this talented Puerto Rican Omar Lugo, who has been demonstrating with his music, the interest of attracting young people to salsa with modern touches in his songs.

Takafumi Nikaido

Asia / Sapporo / Japan

Takafumi Nikaido, In his time in Cuba he studied with prominent percussionists Jose Luis Quintana “Changuito”

Takafumi Nikaido born in Sapporo Japan in the year 1993 started playing the saxophone at the age of 6 and at the age of 7, after watching a live performance by Earth Wind & Fire he was inspired to pick up the percussion and studied under the Fujio Saito.

At the age of 12 he traveled to Cuba to take classes on dancing and percussion where collaborated with the Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.

Upon graduating high school he attended Berklee college of music as a scholarship student.

He studied theory and performance from people such as Eguie Castrillo, Tiger Okoshi, Mark Walker, Oscar Stagnaro and Jim Odgren.

In 2014, he traveled to Cuba again to attend the Fiesta del Tambor Percussion Competition where he received the “Best Foreign Entrant Award”.

In his time in Cuba he studied with prominent percussionists Jose Luis Quintana “Changuito”, Adel Gonzalez, Adonis Panter Calderon, Osain Del Monte.

During his time in Berklee he performed with artists such as Oscar Feldman,Terence Blanchard, Jon Secada, FANTINE, Sivamani, Ruben Rada, Totó la Momposina and Mane De La Parra.

In the summer of the same year, he became involved with the “The Untied East Jazz Quintet” and played at 9 venues all over Japan and South Korea.

Alongside musicians Zahili Gonzalez Zamora and Gerson Lazo, they formed the musical group “MIXCLA” and perform regularly mainly within the Boston.

In 2015, he performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival as a member of the Zahili Gonzalez Zamora Project.

He is currently studying in Berklee College of Music and have been participating in musical projects other than Latin music like pop, jazz.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takafumi.nikaido
Website: http://www.takafuminikaido.com/

Rosario Jermano

Europa / Italia / Napoles

Rosario Jermano is probably the best known Italian percussionist, open to all types of traditional and worldwide ethnic music.

Jermano’s Neapolitan origin together with his extraordinary intuitive interpretations have given birth to a music with a genuine Mediterranean sound with colours from World music and pop influences.
His world is not conned to the Neapolitan area, but is open to the sound and cultures of the entire Mediterranean area, mixed in a truly exciting blend.

The exotic Middle East as well as tribal Africa are united by the sound of his percussions to create what he himself calls “The breath of life”.

Jermano has played with played with: Zucchero Fornaciari, Eros Ramazzotti, Fabrizio De Andre, Pino Daniele, Renato Zero, Rai Orchestra, Loredana Berte, Mia Martini, Ornella Vanoni, Gino Paoli, Fiorella Mannoia, Ana Belen, Edoardo Bennato, Eduardo De Crescenzo, Luca Barbarossa, Corrado Rustici, Raf, Riccardo Cocciante, New Perigeo, Toots Thielemans, David Foster, Gigi D’Alessio, Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, Enzo Gragnaniello, Natascia Bonacci, Patch Stewart, Sting & Zucchero, Toquino, Luca De Filippo, Yaire, Jose Miguel Diez, Lorca, Tishubi y Giorgina, Andrea Bocelli, Tyromancino, Del Newman Orchestra.

For more information:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R.Jermano/