2 different events on Saturday-Sunday February 20-21, 2010!
On September 30, 2009 UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization declared Argentine Tango a part of the world’s cultural heritage. "Tango conquered a long time ago a universal transcendence," UNESCO declared in a statement and added that the dance "embodies and encourages diversity and cultural dialogue."
After last Augusts’ sold out SF event, international Tango harmonica/piano duo Joe Powers and Naoko Aoki returns to the Bay Area for a celebration in style!
Their week-end performances will feature a traditional Argentine Tango concert and Milonga and a Tango/blues fusion happening in honour of Black History Month and the common roots of these musical genres.
For more information contact Sonja Riket at 415.661.1852
intimate_embrace_tango@earthlink.net, www.IntimateEmbraceTango.com
Joe Powers, a Portland based harmonica phenomenon, is well known for his unique and soulful blend of jazz, tango and blues. When travelling to Buenos Aires, to record his first Tango CD, he met Japan’s top Tango pianist Naoko Aoki. Together, the international duo has exhilarated audiences from Argentina to USA and Japan with performances of this seductive dance music. Join them for their return duo appearance in San Francisco!
Joe Powers: www.joepowers.com – Naoko Aoki: http://celeste.coplan.jp
View Joe and Naoko on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-D12Uag3rs
Details about each event follow below.
I) TANGO HARMONY
Saturday February 20, 2010
8pm-12:30am
$15 /$10 (students/seniors)
SF Community Music Center - Concert Hall
544 Capp Street, SF 94110
415.647.6015 www.sfcmc.org
Event Schedule
8-8:30pm Argentine Tango Concert with Joe Powers (harmonica) and Naoko Aoki (piano)
8:45-9:30pm Introductory Tango dance lesson
9:30pm Tango dance party (Milonga) starts
10:15-11pm Live music set for Tango social dancing by Joe and Naoko.
11pm Milonga continues till 12:30 am
Listen to a selection of traditional Argentine Tangos, Waltzes and Milongas as well as original compositions by Joe Powers (harmonica) and Naoko Aoki (piano). Take an introductory dance lesson (no partner or dance experience necessary). Come listen, watch the social Tango dancers or join in the dance!
II) TANGO & BLUES
A Tribute to Black History Month
Sunday February 22, 2010
6-10pm
FREE with purchase of food/drink at cafe- Donations encouraged!
Caffe Trieste Downtown
1667 Market Street, SF 94103
415.551.1000
www.caffetriestedowntown.com
Event Schedule
6-7pm Introductory Tango Lesson
7:30-8pm: Tango Revolution Youth Orchestra opens Milonga with a traditional Tango set.
8:30-9:15pm Tango/Blues fusion set by Joe Powers and Naoko Aoki.
Milonga continues till 10pm..
Since 2005 Tango Revolution, a free weekly Tango music and dance event is held in an accessible café to encourage the spontaneous inclusion of music and dance in our everyday life as a communal experience. To honour Black History Month Joe Powers (harmonica) and Naoko Aoki (piano) will play a Tango/Blues fusion set and highlight the common roots of these musical genres. Come listen, watch the social Tango dancers or join in the dance!
More info about the artists:
Joe Powers:
Harmonica virtuoso, Joe Powers is one of the few Harmonica players in the world to specialize in Tango Music. He was winner of the Belgian Crystal Harmonica Award in the Classical Division (2008) and received 4th place in Jazz Diatonic, at the World Harmonica Championship in Germany (2005). Since then he has performed at Tango festivals and events throughout North and South America, Europe, and Japan collaborating with top Tango maestros including: Emilio de la Peña, Raul Luzzi, and Koji Kyotani. He has shared the stage with top Tango artists such as: NarcoTango, ColorTango, and "Gotan Project" singer, Veronika Silva and has performed with groups as diverse as Pink Martini, British Pop Icon Jamie Cullum, and Smooth Jazz Pioneer Tom Grant. His CD, "Amor de Tango" was recorded in Buenos Aires in 2007 and features members of the famed Leopoldo Federico Tango Orchestra, including Latin Grammy Nominee, Nicolas Ledesma on Piano. His newest CD, "Melancolie" (Summer 2009) is a collaboration with Grammy Nominated, British Composer/Pianist, Michael Hoppé, featuring classically inspired, New-Age melodies.
This January 2010 Joe has been nominated for an Portland Music Award for "Outstanding Achievement in World Music".
For more information please visit http://www.joepowers.com.
Listen to Joe's music here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joepowers
Naoko Aoki:
Naoko Aoki began her piano studies at the age of 4. After graduating from the prestigious Musashino Conservatory in Tokyo, she lived in Argentina and studied Tango with such Tango masters as Nicolas Ledesma and the late Emilio de la Peña. In addition she served as the principal pianist for over two years at the only Tango Orchestra School in the world, "La Orquesta Escuela", in Buenos Aires, under the direction of famed Tango maestro, Emilio Balcarce. Today she is considered by many to be the top Tango pianist living in Japan. Her Tango Ensemble, "Orquesta Aurora", which she composes and arranges for features some of the country's finest Tango talents. She travels nearly every year to Argentina and beyond for performances. Naoko made 3 CD´s..: Tierra Querida, Buenos Aires; Mi Refugio; and Puerto a Puerto. Visit http://celeste.coplan.jp/
