ALBARE & INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DIARY (iTD)

Jazz guitarist and composer Albare – Albert Dadon – is back in Australia promoting his latest album, recorded in New York with a dazzling new sextet. International Travel Diary (iTD), his sixth CD and the first in his new project LONG WAY, is, says Albare, 'a tribute to the human spirit of adventure.' The title might also describe the five internationally acclaimed musicians playing alongside him- Triple Grammy Award drummer Antonio Sanchez; Saxophonist George Garzone, a member of the Grammy winner, the Joe Lovano Nonet; Leo Genovese, the avant-garde pianist who has toured with Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding; Hendrick Muerkens, the most important jazz harmonica player since Toots Thieleman; and Albare's musical collaborator, bassist and composer, Evri (Evripedes Evripidou], his inventive and electrifying use of six and seven string basses and a variety of electronic effects takes bass playing to the extreme.

“This is music that echoes and explores my varied background and that of Evri, who came to Australia from Cyprus at 15,” Albare says. “There are African, Middle Eastern and Southern European flavours here, diverse sounds, melodies and rhythms. All interwoven and fused with the heritage of U.S Jazz.” Born in Morocco, Albert Dadon took up guitar at the age of eight. He grew up in Israel and France and at 27, like Evripidou, immigrated to Australia where he first made his name as a pioneer of Acid Jazz. Today he performs around the nation and internationally under the name Albare (the phonetic spelling of his given name.) Albare, with his wide musical roots, has re-imagined and freshly invented his sound over the past two decades, sparking international critical praise for his innovations and creativity. In 2011 German record Producer and ENJA label owner Matthias Winckelmann met Albare to ask him to record a new project with world-renowned musicians. Evri and Albare wrote the compositions, the fourth album in which they have collaborated. Produced in New York in January by Winckelmann himself for the ENJA label, the sextet's playing, says Winckelmann, is 'a rewarding, gratifying surprise: an exciting new musical direction.' Albare's new sextet will go on tour with him to promote ‘LONG WAY.’

 

THE LINE-UP

EVRIPEDES EVRIPIDOU – BASS:

Evri was born in Cyprus and migrated to Australia when he was 15. By then he had already spent nine years playing and later studying mandolin, piano, clarinet, saxophone, guitar and bass. He completed courses in Classical and Jazz guitar.

Influenced by the Mediterranean culture's strong rhythms and melodies, the freedom of Jazz, the discipline and elegance of Classical and Flamenco music, and meditation, Evri has found his 'sound' through his compositions and performance on a wide selection of bass guitars.

ANTONIO SANCHEZ – DRUMS

A three time Grammy Award winner, Antonio Sanchez was born in Mexico City in 1971, the grandson of Mexican film star Ignacio Lopez Tarso Sanchez.

One of the most in-demand drummers on the international jazz scene, Sanchez records and tours alongside such stars as Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Kenny Werner, Charlie Haden, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, and Toots Thielmans.

He has collaborated with the new generation of players that includes Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, John Patitucci, David Sanchez, Marcus Roberts, Avishai Cohen, Miguel Zenon, Scott Colley, Dave Samuels, Luciana Souza, Billy Childs, and Claudia Acuña.

LEO GENOVESE – PIANO

The Argentina-born child of the 70s embraces experimental forms, having studied classical and contemporary music in his homeland, before moving to Boston.

From performances at Carnegie Hall to touring with the Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding, Leo’s musical prowess transforms and takes on many guises. He can be caught in Boston’s underground clubs in his band The Chromatic Gauchos, a powerful avant-garde ensemble. His underground roots saw him form The Sewer Ratz, a band that chases the non-playing music practice.

HENDRIK MEURKENS – HARMONICA

Hendrik Meurkens, a virtuoso on both the chromatic harmonica and the vibraphone, is repeatedly voted into the top spots of reader and critics’ polls in leading jazz magazines around the world.

Born in Germany and based in New York, the transcendent beauty of Meurkens’ music has universal appeal earning him worldwide acclaim. His own compositions are steadily becoming part of the Samba Jazz language, bringing together his unique background, his early interest in classical and traditional European music, decades of experience as a jazz musician and expertise in Brazilian styles.

Hendrik has released 18 albums, the most recent Live At Bird’s Eye and A Night In Jakarta.

As a featured artist, he has recorded and performed with the Ray Brown Trio, Paguito D’Rivera, Oscar Casto-Neves, Herb Ellis, Herbie Mann, James Moody, Charlie Byrd, Jimmy Cobb, Ivan Lins, Monty Alexander, Claudio Roditi, Manfredo Fest, Dori Caymmi, Toninho Horta, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Buddy Tate, Mundell Lowe and Astrud Gilberto.

GEORGE GARZONE – SAXOPHONE

George Garzone has performed, recorded and toured with many prominent artists, including Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Danilo Perez, Jack DeJohnette, Rachel Z John Patitucci.

In 1995, with compatriat Joe Lovano he recorded a fine tribute to Stan Getz on NYC called “Alone: Fours and Twos” which earned him four stars in Downbeat magazine. With Joe Lovano Nonet he performed and recorded at the Village Vanguard in September 2002.

Other artists of note with whom Garzone has worked include saxophonists Michael Brecker, Kenny Garrett and Joshua Redman; guitarists John Abercrombie and Chuck Loeb; Bassist Christian McBride; drummers/ percussionists Dennis Chambers, Roy Haynes, John Patitucci and Lenny White; pianists Kenny Baron and Chic Corea; and the Gil Evans Orchestra and The Woody Herman Band.

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