05/29 - Saturday :: Marta Topferova

Web Site: Marta Topferova

Featuring:: Marta Topferova (vocals). Aaron Halva (tres & accordion) Pedro Giraudo (bass & vocals) Neil Ochoa (percussion).

Marta Topferova's new album illustrates why The London Times has called her "one of the most graceful interpreters of Latin American folk music". Her spirited original songs are rooted in rhythms such as the Cuban son and Puerto Rican bomba, yet this multilingual artist offers a fresh take on these traditions through her rich background and a diverse range of influences. Marta sings with a striking, deep timbre, accompanies herself on Venezuelan cuatro and maracas, and her all-acoustic ensemble features New York’s finest musicians and improvisers on Cuban tres, violin, bass, and percussion. She has toured extensively, appearing at the most prestigious venues in the world including The Blue Note, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Jazz Festival Royale in Thailand. To date, Topferova has released five albums as a leader, collaborating with players such as violinist Jenny Scheinman, bassist Pedro Giraudo and harpist Edmar Castañeda. Join Marta as she celebrates her new album, "Trova" (The Troubadour Tradition), just released on the World Village/Harmonia Mundi label.

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Enter The Rhodes: Derek Daunicht, Nick Imperial, Rob Sciortino, David Laviola. Rather than emulate later-day, post-Sgt. Pepper Beatles, the Rhodes aim for the first few fab-four albums, with impressive results. They’ve certainly done their homework, from the sparkling “When Your Baby’s Gone,” with fabulous harmonies; the yearning “She Had To Leave,” with clever vocal call-backs; the bright “Shady Lady,” featuring a killer drum part; to the back-beat driven “Shakedown,” where the Rhodes go for the throat. Catchy melodies, sharp, concise arrangements, glimmering guitars and, above all, stellar harmonies, The Rhodes can sure barrel down the highway.