On October 26th acclaimed Cuban percussionist Roman Justo Pelladito Hernandez will take to the stage to introduce Sydney audiences to traditional Cuban music styles including rumba, danzon and bolero. For his first visit to Australia he will be performing with big band Palacio de la Rumba, a group especially put together by Gai Bryant for this event.
A musical partnership was formed when Gai Bryant visited Havana in 2012 to research rumba styles. Justo is an expert in Cuban rumba and is a founding member of the Conjunto Folclorico Nacional de Cuba as both a percussionist and dancer. He created the Cuban Percussion Department at the Higher Arts Institute (ISA) and was awarded a Diploma of Artistic Worth by ISA for his contributions to teaching and performing Cuban percussion. His desire to bring this music to new audiences prompted this visit.
Gai’s task has been to successfully adapt these styles for big band which entailed determining the music and dance elements that are specific and inherent in each style and to orchestrate that information across the ensemble. Justo has stated, ”This music needs to be constantly evolving to stay alive. Gai’s big band interpretations will help to achieve this.”
Palacio de la Rumba merges the cream of Sydney’s Latin and jazz music communities. The combination has allowed Gai to combine complex rhythmic layering with the excitement of strong jazz solos.
Pelladito is a founding member of the Conjunto Folclorico Nacional de Cuba as both a percussionist and dancer. He created the Cuban Percussion Department at the Higher Arts Institute (ISA) and was awarded a Diploma of Artistic Worth by ISA for his contributions to teaching and performing Cuban percussion.
He is an honorary member of the National Association of Cuban Artists and Writers (UNEAC) and in 1996 was awarded Best Rumbero Mi Salsa TV.
Pelladito has been a featured artist with the National Symphonic Orchestra and continues to perform with his group Africa America playing traditional Cuban music styles.
Widely travelled he has performed and conducted workshops in Mexico, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Japan, Russia and China.
Videos of rehearsals and interviews can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpmvE-XT1jE
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Palacio-de-la-Rumba/162382727276246?ref=br_tf"It is important to see and hear rumba live. It exemplifies the way Cuban people walk, how they behave, how they live."
– Roman Justo Pelladito Hernandez
• Pelladito – percussion, Fabian Hevia – percussion, Jess Ciampa – percussion, Alister Spence – piano, Brendan Clarke – bass, Jeremy Sawkins – guitar.
• Saxophones – Paul Cutlan, Craig Walters, Gai Bryant, Peter Farrar, Mark Ginsburg
• Trumpets – Cam McAllister, Chris Ellis, Angus Gomm, Tom McElvogue
• Trombones – Martin Taylor, Colin Philpott, Danny Carmichael, Mike Rapp er
For this performance only they will be joined by acclaimed Cuban percussionist Roman Justo Pelladito Hernandez from Havana. He has stated, “This music needs to be constantly evolving to stay alive. Gai’s big band interpretations will help to achieve this.”
the Independent Theatre on Saturday 26th October
BOOKINGS
www.theindependent.org.au/whats-on
Sunday 27 October 7pm
VJs – 28 Chatswood Avenue, Chatswood
www.vjs.org.au
VJs present Gai Bryant Quintet with Roman Justo Pelladito Hernandez
An intimate night of Latin/jazz and Cuban inspired pieces with Pelladito joining Sydney-based alto/ soprano saxophonist Gai Bryant’s quintet along with Danny Carmichael (trombone), Jeremy Sawkins (guitar), Brendan Clarke (bass) and Paul Derricott (drums). From contemporary modal grooves to Cuban influenced songs, Gai’s arrangements reflect her ongoing interest in composition and orchestration.
Brisbane date on Thursday 24th October with a smaller band – www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au
Tickets: $25/22/20
