Nina Simone

Note to self - check out Nina Simone (per recommendation from Colleen). But, my dear, where should I start?

Ding Ding -- new Mara tunes!

Check out new tunes on Mara's myspace. Tus Manos Son De Viento is from the same concert as the clip of Taita Guaranguito posted below and recorded in April at the Jazz Peru festival in Lima where Mara played with Gabriel Alegria's group featuring vocalist Eva Ayllon. -not Mara's tune but she did the arrangement. Next you'll find Ellipsis, a tune Mara wrote and performed with her group The Arrival Quartet at her senior recital just a couple of weeks ago. The quartet also performed her tune Departure. Unfortunately her tune Subtle Pressure is no longer available.

New York JVC Jazz Festival

What is the JVC Jazz Festival? It runs from Jun 15 to 28th in NYC with "main stage" performances in Carnegie Hall as well as many others in clubs and venues around town. Here's an NYTimes article about the festival and its original organizer Mike Wein, who also started the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954. This article on worldmusicentral.com provides more about the line up.

Arrival

The family attended Mara's recital this past weekend in NYC. What can I say... we're so proud of you Mara. Much gratitude for your teachers and fellow musicians, students and friends. and the music...wow. Pictured here is Mara at piano and the Arrival Quartet: Darius Jones on alto, Nick Anderson on drums (hidden) and Isaac Jaffe on bass. Mara has some samples of her work on her myspace though nothing from this performance yet... soon I hope.