The odd couple will perform at the National Theatre

The odd couple will perform at the National Theatre
Santo Domingo, September 16, 2013

With a journey through tango and jazz, floating with new age music, or recovering themes from soundtracks, the duo formed by harmonica player Antonio Serrano and pianist Federico Lechner, offers a unique opportunity to listen to new sounds in a fresh, direct, and suitable-for-all audiences musical performance.

The duo began its career in 2003 experimenting with very personal soundtrack versions from films. Throughout these years, they have performed at numerous festivals and theatres around the world, expanding and diversifying their repertoire, incorporating original songs and standards from other rhythms such as Tango and Copla.

With a spirit that is innovative yet close to the public, La extraña pareja (The Odd Couple) is performing in the Dominican Republic, with the support of the Spanish Cultural Center. The event takes place in the framework of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the arrival in the country of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). There will be only two presentations, one on Tuesday, September 17, and the other on Wednesday, September 18, at 8:00 pm, in the Aida Bonnelly hall of the National Theatre.

Antonio Serrano

Antonio Serrano was born in Madrid. He began his musical studies with his father and continued through self-teaching.

After listening to Louis Armstrong and Toots Thielemans, he decided to devote himself to jazz. Since then, he has continued working as a soloist, session musician or sideman.

His has four solo albums. One was recorded in a duet with accordionist Mario Torres (Más que Dos [More than Two]). The second was recorded with the Joshua Edelman trio (En el Central [At Central]). The third one was recorded with José Reinoso, Horacio Fumero, and Oscar Giunta (Corazón al Sur [Heart to the South]) for New Mood Jazz, and the last one with Federico Lechner for New Media where they interpreted film soundtracks (Sesión Continua [Continuous Session]).

Federico Lechner

Born in Buenos Aires, he began his musical studies at the age of three. In 1984 he moved to Spain.

During his jazz beginnings, he studied piano with Horacio Icasto, harmony with Rafael Reina, and auditory training with Hebe Onesti. Later, he studied with Fred Hersch, Bruce Barth, and Eliane Elias.

Currently, as an artist, he has five albums: “A Primera Vista (At First Sight),” best jazz album finalist at the 2003 music awards, in a duet with Jerry Gonzalez (Ingo Music); “Sesión Continua (Continuous Session)”, a duet with Antonio Serrano (New Media), among others.

He also has worked as a teacher of improvisation in Spain, the United States, and Belgium.