14 march 2007
Leo Blanco World Jazz Ensemble
(Piano, Saxophone, Double Bass and Percussion)
Time: 19:30
Location: Bolívar Hall of the Venezuelan Embassy, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL
Free Entrance: Booking 020 7388 57 88 or ccm@venezlon.co.uk
Information: www.venezlon.co.uk or tel. 0207 3885788
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Leo Blanco is a Venezuelan pianist, arranger and composer. He grew up in Mérida, where from early age he was surrounded by venezuelan folk music - a blend of African and Spanish traditions - as well as jazz, classical music and pop. At the age of ten, he began his studies of classical piano and violin at the Conservatorio de Música de la Universidad de los Andes, and a year later was a member of the Mérida Youth Orchestra. In 1988, Leo moved to Caracas where he performed and recorded with his own Jazz trio, while studying improvisation, jazz harmony and piano at the musical institute "Ars Nova" and the University of Musical Studies. During his 8 years in Caracas, Leo obtained vast experience as a |
composer, arranger, and musical producer while working as musical director at the oldest Jazz Club Juan Sebastian Bar. There, with the Leo blanco trio, he shared the stage with major international jazz artist such as Terence Blanchard, Danilo Pérez, Pat Metheny, Chucho Valdez and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. His interest in world music and jazz brought him to Berklee College of Music in 1996, where he obtained a full bachelor's degree in composition and improvisation.
In august 2006, Leo Blanco won The Bank of Scotland Herald Angel in Edinburgh, as Best Music Performance in the Fringe Festival.
Recordings: Fin del Primer Capitulo - Leo Blanco Jazz Trio - 1994, produced by Leo Blanco and Roots & Effect - Leo Blanco World Jazz Ensemble - october 2003.
Produced by Jamey Haddad and Leo Blanco.
Programme |
All original compositions by Leo Blanco:
- Azul de Manicuare
- Roots & Effect
- Walz #5
- Long Term
- Peru Lando
- El Negro y el Blanco
- Poconos
- Africa Latina
- Light over Dark
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Press Commentaries |
"Blanco is a massive talent. His compositions teem with melodies, rhythms and counter-rhythms and his piano playing just explodes with creative impulses. And when Blanco jangled the venue's piano on his rhapsodic reworking of Venezuelan composer Aldemaro Romero's El Negro José, we knew were witnessing something truly special."
Arts Edinburgh:Leo Blanco and Laura Macdonald: Reinvention Quartet
By Rob Adams, Music Critic
August 2006 |
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