February

Ayumi Azucar Suzuki

Asia / Tokio / Japón

Ayumi Azúcar Suzuki, plays Latin percussion, Classic percussion, Marimba & Vibraphone.

Ayumi "Azúcar" Suzuki and her drums — Ayumi “Azúcar” Suzuki and her drums

Ayumi Azúcar Suzuki was born in Japan. She plays Latin percussion, Classic percussion, Marimba & Vibraphone.

She graduated from the Faculty of Percussion, Tokyo College of Music. At the college; she began to study percussion in earnest mainly with classic music and gained experience of ensemble in orchestras, brass bands, musicals, operas, etc.

At the same time, she started to organize concerts and participate as percussionist, keyboard percussionist or drummer.

She has been also teaching eurythmics at a nursery school.

In 2015, she started her own band, “Ayumania” that features mostly her original compositions and arrangements, where she fuses Japanese atmosphere into Latin rhythm.

Inviting both Japanese and foreign guests, she has been organizing live concerts in various places in Tokyo.

In July 2017, she released her first album “Oukagekka” in Japan. It has been promoted in overseas radio programs in Colombia, Puerto Rico and New York.

Takashi Nakazato

Asia / Japan / Tokyo

Takashi Nakazato, Multi- percussionist specializing in various musical genres.

Takashi Nakazato born in Asakusa, Tokyo is a multi-percussionist specializing in various musical genres.

He has performed with numerous well-known artists throughout his career, as well as performing with “The Lion King, The Musical” for five years.

Nakazato has toured most of Europe and Asia with the Jaribu Afrobeat Orchestra, Jazztronik, Fried Pride (Tokyo Jazz Festival etc) Kyoto Jazz Massive (North Sea Jazz Festival, Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival etc) and toured China with the Online Game Orchestra (Ro Legend 2016)

Takashi has also toured Japan with famed pianist, Yukie Nishimura and toured Mala in Cuba.

He was the only Japanese percussionist to be hired for the gig. Takashi studied for a long while in Cuban, learning Cuban folklore and Bata under the wing of greats like Adonis Panter Calderon, Barbaro Yordany Crespo Richard (Osain Del Monte) and Angel Boraño.

He studied the Conga drum under Tomas “El Panga” Ramos, Edger Martinez and Joaquin Pozo.

His timbal mentor was Juan Carlos Rojas. He made Santo, Obatala, while in Cuba.

Nakazato has his own fusion band, Piecework, and is also a member of 10 piece percussion group, Orquesta Nadge! Nadge! And Ayumigos (Japanese and Cuban members of Latin Jazz).

Nakazato released his first album “Clandestina,” which included guests Luisito Quintero, Robert Quintero, Calixto Oviedo, Karl Vanden Bossche and Olí Savill. His percussion instruction book & DVD was published in 2014.

He is currently a member of the orchestra of maestro Jimmy Bosch ¨The Trombon Criollo de La Salsa ¨ and at the same time is an exclusive artist of the percussion instrument brand Gon Bops in Los Angeles California.

https://www.facebook.com/takashi.nakazato.75

Maxima 79 Salsa Orchestra

Europe - Milano - Italy

Maxima 79 Salsa Orquestra was born in Milano – Italy in the year 2010 of the idea of the DJ and Musical Producer Fabrizio Zoro.

Maxima 79 Salsa Orchestra

Fabrizio Zoro had the magnificent idea of making music, returning to the sound of the 70’s for dancers with a modern sound and, at the same, time of the golden age of salsa in New York.

With two productions made with high quality and an original and rich sound in Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

The two titled albums, Returning to Guaguanco in 2013 and Joseito in 2016, have given him a seat in the best dance halls across the European continent and thanks to all his successes, the orchestra is recognized worldwide as one of the best Salsa groupings for the dancer.

The original compositions by the hand of Fabrizio Zoro founder, director and performer of the bongo, bell and guiro, carrying Afro-Caribbean Rhythms in the soul, at the same time, Fabrizio tells us that Cuba is the most important musical novelty in the whole basin from the Caribbean and the world and for this reason they returned to the origins of the Traditional Salsa with a musical work entitled “Cuban Session” dedicated to typical rhythms of the Big Island such as Timba, the Cuban Son and the Traditional Changüí.

The musical arrangements of the productions were prepared by Fabrizio and Marco Puma, the official pianist of the orchestra and, also, known as the best-known Italian bachatero in the world, but with this album he has shown that his first passion stays within the key that beats in his immense salsa soul.

In their ten years of experience, they have been awarded the Honorable Mention USA and Songwriting Competition awards in 2014.

Musicians

Fabrizio Zoro: Director, founder, director and performer of bongo, campana and güiro

Marco Puma: Piano, Arrangements, Chorus

Jose Luis “Lalo” Brea: Mixing, Sound Engineer, Guitar on “Seventy-Nine Boogaloo”

Thorben Schütt: Trombone

Samuele Davìd: Trumpet

Efren Iriarte: Timbales and Drums

Umberto Nocita: Congas

Juan Carlos Avila: Bass

El Guille: Singer, Lead Voice, Chorus

Yoris El Trinitario: Singer, Lead Voice; Chorus

Dairo Todd Andino: General Chorus, Trombon

Ernesto “El Puro” Perez: Three

Mauro Brunini: Trumpet in “Rumbera Church”

Guest

Angel Luis Justiniano: Lead Voice on “Seventy Nine Boogaloo”

Isaia Leoni Dj The Prophet: Producer on “El Propeta Del Guaguanco”

Jeremy Suarez “J- Style”: Chorus on “One More Day”

Daniele Roveda: Vibes on “El Pasillito”

Inwoo Choi, Ilario Cali, ’Sara Spazzini, Francesca“ Alysea ”Carbone: Chorus on“ Seventy Nine Boogaloo ”

Samoel Scotton: Congas on “Rumbera Church”

Yannior Farre : Piano On“ El Bele Bele ”

They currently belong to the Record Label:

Smayra Publishing – www.smayrapublishing.com

RESILIENZA

Resilience is the ability of an individual to face a negative event by transforming and reorganizing their life in a positive way, including improving the previous situation.

The title is deliberately left in Italian to indicate the country of origin of La Maxima 79 and to indicate that Salsa today has become something Global with orchestras and dancers from all over the world under one family.

A special thanks goes to all the DJs and dancers of the World who help from the beginning La Maxima 79 to grow and spread their music and keep doing it.

Thanks to the entire iLatin Music Ilario Cali ‘Seal family, Sara Spazzini, Laura Fossati, Dj Alexio Grossi and Massimiliano Pioli for always supporting the production.

Thanks from my heart.

Milan, Italy

lamaxima79.com

+393398158230 (WhatsApp)

https://www.facebook.com/lamaxima79/

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