A World Tango fusion concert and dance celebration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month by Argentine singer/guitarist Maria Volonte and Kevin Footer on harmonica.
Friday, September 10, 2010
8pm - midnight
$15/$10 (students/seniors)
Community Music Center – Concert Hall
544 Capp St. (between 20th&21st Streets, Mission&So.Van Ness)
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.647.6015 - www.sfcmc.org
Event Schedule
8-8:30pm World Tango Fusion Concert with Maria Volonte (vocals, guitar) and Kevin Footer (harmonica)
8:45-9:30pm Introductory Tango dance lesson with Sonja Riket (no partner or dance experience necessary)
9:30pm Tango dance party (Milonga) starts
10:15-11pm Live music set for Tango social dancing by Maria Volonte and Kevin Footer with guest Darren Morgan on cajon.
11pm Milonga continues till 12 am.
For more info, please call: Sonja Riket 415.661.1852 – intimate_embrace_tango@earthlink.net www.IntimateEmbraceTango.com
Argentine singer/songwriter Maria Volonte is a Latin Grammy nominee, Gardel Prize winner (Argentina’s Grammy) and member of the Tango Hall of Fame who combines a love of her Argentine roots with an absolutely personal approach to making music – result of a life lived intensely as a woman and as an artist – that has fascinated critics and audiences around the world.
Maria returns to the US following her recent tours of Argentina and Europe bringing with her all the passion and sensuality of her native Buenos Aires. Her new music explores the fusion of tango with the blues – two musical traditions born on the margins of society, which went on to seduce the entire world.
In tonight’s concert Maria will perform uniquely original compositions, deeply rooted in the Argentine tango with elements of blues and jazz. She will be accompanied by Kevin Footer on harmonica.
After an introductory dance lesson by award winning tango teacher Sonja Riket, the Milonga will feature a more traditional Live Tango music set for social dancing by Maria, Kevin and guest Darren Morgan on cajon. Come listen, watch the social Tango dancers or join in the dance!
More info about the artists:
MARIA VOLONTE (vocals & guitar):
Maria Volonte is an Argentine artist celebrated for the intense emotional universe that fires her music. Filling theaters and fascinating audiences and critics around the world, Maria turns each concert into a celebration of life, art and music.
Winner of the Gardel Prize (Argentina’s Grammy award) and a Latin Grammy nominee, Maria is a singer, guitarist and songwriter who takes the music of Latin America to unexpected places by crossing musical boundaries and honing a deeply personal approach.
As the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Volonte is a good example of an artist who is respectful of her roots yet not afraid to go beyond musty old formulas… Her musical concept is refreshingly broad.”
Jazz Perspectives wrote: Maria Volonte combines the earthiness of Edith Piaff with the sassiness of Eartha Kit.
Maria’s love of the musical life and her passion for experimentation have lead to far-reaching projects, from an exploration of the sassy roots of tango to tango fusion to collaborations with revered icons of jazz such as Horacio Larumbe (a project which lead to her 2003 Latin Grammy nomination). She has performed the title role in the Astor Piazzolla opera “Maria of Buenos Aires”, opened for jazz pianist Brad Mehldau, played at the famed jazz club Yoshi’s in California and thrilled audiences at music festivals from Punto de l’Este to Helsinki.
Maria has released six albums. Her latest, “Sudestada” (2007) features four of Maria’s own compositions and was produced by famed singer-songwriter Raul Carnota. “Yo soy Maria” (2006), explores the fusion of tango with jazz and bossa nova and was nominated for the 2007 Gardel Prize. “Tangos” (2004), brought together a classic collection of tangos from her repertoire and was nominated for the 2005 Gardel Prize. “Fuimos” (2003), a duo project with the legendary pianist Horacio Larumbe, won Maria the 2004 Gardel Prize and was nominated for a Latin Grammy. “Cornisas del Corazon” (1999), was recorded live at the historic Tortoni Cafe in Buenos Aires while her first, “Tango y Otras Pasiones” (1996) was chosen by the “La Nacion” newspaper as one of the “Top 100 Tango Recordings of All Time.”
In 2007, Maria was inducted into the Tango Hall of Fame.
Maria says: “For me singing is a celebration of life itself. It is the ecstasy and pain at childbirth, the mystery of the long voyage, the thrill of chance encounters, the surrender in love and the slow revelation on one’s true self. In singing I renew the force of life within me. I am never more myself than when I sing.”
Please visit: www.mariavolonte.com and Artist Video Link: http://vimeo.com/12754767
KEVIN FOOTER (harmonica)
Kevin Carrel Footer is a writer, photographer and harmonica player deeply inspired by the intense passions of tango. Since 2001, his writings are featured in the “Buenos Aires Herald.” His photographs, writings and music focus on the intimate, glimpsed world of the spirit. He plays harmonica professionally and tours the world performing with the celebrated Argentine tango diva Maria Volonte.
His writings, photographs and music can be read, viewed and listened to at: www.kevincarrelfooter.com
SONJA RIKET (Tango dance)
7x7 Magazine “Best Tango Teacher” Award winner and movement therapist Sonja Riket teaches dance and movement classes and organizes cultural-, social and fundraising events around critical issues of our time. After a long professional modern dance career in Europe, USA, Mexico and Africa, performing with such luminaries as Jose Limon and Lar Lubovitch dance cies.in NYC, she moved to SF where Tango found her in 1998. At a very early age her father, who was a music teacher in Belgium, instilled in her a deep love of music which always inspired her to dance. As faculty member of the SF Community Music Center she teaches Creative Expression and Injury Prevention for musicians. Sonja is a humble student of the bandoneon instrument. In 2005 she created Tango Revolution, a free weekly Tango music and dance event open to the public, held in an accessible café to encourage the spontaneous inclusion of music and dance in our everyday life as a communal experience. Youth from high schools, conservatories and universities are given the opportunity to learn about the music, dance and history of Argentine Tango and to perform as Tango Revolution Orchestra under the guidance of expert coaches. For more information visit: www.IntimateEmbraceTango.com
