Gabriel Alegria

Artist Description

Smoldering jazz is kicked up with the intoxicating polyrhythms of coastal Perú as trumpeter and composer Gabriel Alegría continues to chart a fresh new idiom combining his own distinctive approach to the jazz trumpet with the rich heritage of Afro-Peruvian music. Alegría is joined by saxophonist Laurandrea Leguía, guitarist Yuri Juárez, bassist Joscha Oetz, drummer Hugo Alcázar and master percussionist Freddy Huevito Lobatón, who plays traditional Afro-Peruvian instruments such as cajón (box drum) and quijada (jaw bone) and adds spectacular passages of zapateo dancing.

The 2008 tour features music from Alegría's latest recording Nuevo Mundo scheduled for release on January 13, 2008. This landmark recording features guest appearances by some of today's jazz luminaries such as vocalist Tierney Sutton, multi-grammy award winning Russell Ferrante, and jazz legends Bill Watrous and Bobby Shew.