A Celebration of Latin Culture

Annual event features concerts and clinics November 6–8.

October 25, 2007

Berklee presents its eighth annual Latin Culture Celebration, an event organized by students to showcase the wealth of talented musicians from Latin America. Public events take place November 6 through 8. The event features concerts and clinics presented by distinguished faculty, alumni, staff, and guest artists. Highlights include a local Latin all-star concert dedicated to the memory of TV producer Natatcha Estébanez; Casa Mendoza, directed by renowned faculty member Victor Mendoza; and a rare area performance by Brazilian singer/songwriter Rosa Passos. Concerts at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, are $10 for general admission and $5 for seniors, unless otherwise noted. Events in the David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston Street, are free. Visit berklee.edu/events for more information.

Concert/Clinic: Sly and the Latin Bars Present Merengue Music
Tuesday, November 6, 4:00 p.m., David Friend Recital Hall

Silvestre José de Moya Castillo (Sly) is a Berklee alumnus and native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His passion for music began at the age of 3, and he quickly developed his percussion playing on his own. As a young adult, Sly continued to perfect his abilities and technique, taking influence and inspiration from drummers like Dave Weckl, Stewart Copeland, Buddy Rich, and others. Sly performs with artists including Fernando Capeans, Ramon Alnos, Esar Simo, Track One, Claudio Piantini, and Nini Caffaro, and has appeared in more than 800 live performances since 2002.

Press: to inquire about photo availability and usage, please email us. Silvestre José de Moya Castillo (Sly) Photo provided by the artist.

Berklee Faculty Celebrates Latin Culture — A Concert Dedicated to the Memory of Natatcha Estébanez, Directed by Fernando Brandao
Tuesday, November 6, 8:15 p.m., Berklee Performance Center

Berklee Latin faculty members and guests will perform music from several South American and Caribbean countries in a tribute to the work and life of producer/writer/director Natatcha Estébanez. Estébanez was the producer of La Plaza, a WGBH-TV series about Latino culture, for which she won four New England Emmy Awards. She also produced movies, documentaries, and cultural programs about the Latino community. Performers include Leo Blanco, Jamey Haddad, Rick DiMuzio, Gilson Schachnik, Fernando Brandão, Bertram Lehman, Alex Alvear, Consuelo Candelaria, Victor Mendoza, Dave Samuels, Oscar Stagnaro, Mark Walker, Eugene Friesen, Mili Bermejo, Dan Greenspan, Alon Yavnai, Claudio Ragazzi, Rebecca Cline, Manolo, Ernesto Diaz, and Daryl Lowery.

Marimba Music From Guatemala, Presented by Ricardo Monzon
Wednesday, November 7, 7:30 p.m., David Friend Recital Hall

Ricardo Monzon, assistant professor of percussion, is a drummer, percussionist, and in-demand studio musician who has performed or recorded with the Boston Pops, Orquesta Sinfonica de Guatemala, Walter Beasley, and the Dan Moretti Epic Brass Quintet. He is also a member of the Brian Walkley Band, the Zaitchik Brothers, and Myanna, and played on tracks for the Mary Tyler Moore HBO special, Squeeze, Montages on Copan, Mayan Passages, and other documentary films.

Casa Mendoza, with Special Guest Oscar Feldman, Directed by Victor Mendoza
Wednesday, November 7, 8:15 p.m.. Berklee Performance Center

Considered to be one of today’s finest Latin jazz artists, Mexican-born vibraphonist and composer Victor Mendoza’s career includes performances with his own group, and as a guest soloist at events around the world. Recordings and performances with his own group, as well as with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Danilo Pérez, Michel Camilo, Claudio Roditi, Giovanni Hidalgo, Horacio "El Negro" Hernández, and Antonio Sánchez, have earned him the respect of critics and jazz fans around the globe. Mendoza, a percussion professor, has released CDs including Victor Mendoza, If Only You Knew, and This Is Why

Victor Mendoza Photo by Phil Farnsworth.

Clinic: Tango 101 - A Beginner's Guide to Tango Music with Oscar Feldman
Thursday, November 8, 1:00 p.m., David Friend Recital Hall

	Oscar Feldman
	Photo provided by the artist.

Argentinean alumnus saxophonist Oscar Feldman gives a clinic to help beginners understand tango music. Feldman gained recognition in 1999 with his impressive recording debut as a leader, El Angel. Known for his splendid tonalities and melodically outstanding charts, he demonstrates superb skill on alto, tenor, and soprano saxophone, while employing a wide range of Pan-American references, from straight ahead and tango, to candomble, samba, and mambo. Feldman has extensive experience performing and recording as a leader, and with artists including Paquito D'Rivera, Al Di Meola, and Eumir Deodato.

Afro Brazilian Music: Presented by Marcus Santos
Thursday, November 8, 4:00 p.m., David Friend Recital Hall

Marcus Santos, Daniel D’Errico, and Sandro Scoccia, director of performance technology at Berklee, present a clinic on the sacred rhythms of Candomble and how they made their way into folkloric music. All Brazilian music can trace its origins to the melding of European, African, and Native American traditions. This event focuses on the African tradition rooted in West African religions [Candomble], and how this tradition, still very present in Brazil, continues to influence the general development of Brazilian music.

Rosa por Berklee, Directed by Oscar Stagnaro
Thursday, November 8, 8:15 p.m., Berklee Performance Center. Tickets for this concert are $30, $22.50 seniors.

The 2007–2008 Sovereign Bank Music Series at Berklee opens with the great Brazilian singer and songwriter Rosa Passos, known for keeping alive traditional Brazilian jazz with all of its mystery, rhythm, and romance intact. She'll perform songs from her internationally renowned catalog along with the music of other Brazilian ambassadors such as Gilberto Gil, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Djavan, and João Bosco. A group of Berklee students, faculty, and alumni, under the direction of bass professor Oscar Stagnaro, will provide the musical backing for an amazing night surveying 50 years of Brazilian popular music.

For editorial information or digital photos, the media may contact:

Margot Edwards
Office of Public Information
617 747-2004
medwards@berklee.edu