Afro-Dominican Ensemble of the National Conservatory of Music

Afro-Dominican Ensemble of the National Conservatory of Music
Santo Domingo, November 17 2015

Having already successfully launched the Javier Vargas Ensembles project on September 25, for its third installment, the Afro-Dominican Ensemble shall perform on Friday, November 20, at the Fiesta Sunset Jazz. The Ensembles were born of the agreement between the Fiesta Sunset Jazz and musician and educator Javier Vargas to support the National Conservatory of Music (CNM for its acronym in Spanish). Meritorious students of the institution make up the Ensembles and performances will take place one Friday per month.

What are the Javier Vargas Ensembles? It is a project that offers new musical talents an opportunity to perform in a real situation. Performers are Jazz students at the National Conservatory of Music. As part of their training, students must be part of a group or ensemble during each of the 8 semesters that their studies last. These groups are led by teachers, and each one develops a specific area. For example, the Jazz Standards ensembles go from the basic to the advanced level. Last year, the CNM had the honor of having prestigious musician Pengbian Sang lead two of these groups, one at the basic level and another at the advanced level. Other groups dedicate themselves to developing repertoires of different eras and subgenres. The Folk-Fusion ensemble, directed by Professor Gioel Martin, develops a repertoire of root-fusion Dominican music. The Nu-Jazz Ensemble, led by Professor Maireni Morel, is developing a fully contemporary repertoire, and so do several other groups that are forming the students and providing them with the necessary opportunities to put into practice what they have learned.

How important is this project? Javier Vargas says: It is like opening the door to the oncoming generation; this will provide them with a clear vision of the world of music at the professional level. This will represent a necessary push for them to always give their best. The experience at the professional level while they get their education is extremely important; this opportunity will provide this.

In this third installment, the Afro-Dominican Ensemble of the National Conservatory of Music will take the stage.

An Octet that recreates the representative compositions of the Dominican Fusion genre, arranged by Gioel Martín (professor in charge) for compositions by: José Duluc, Xiomara Fortuna, Toño Abreu, Ernest Ranglin, Toné Vicioso, Buyumba Landestoy, Yasser Tejeda and Juan Luis Guerra, among others. This constitutes an approach to Dominican Jazz, this time not from merengue but from folk roots.

The Octet is made of Ángelo Cordero and Richardson Figueroa (Trombone); Rocío Damirón (Bass); Diego Ureña and Emmanuel Roque (Guitar); Oscar Rodríguez (Drums); Carlos Silverio (Percussion); and, Nicolás Mondragón (Saxophone).

You can already start to envisage the future of our Jazz and other genres. A simply first-rate evening!!!

THE JAVIER VARGAS ENSEMBLES – AFRO-DOMINICAN ENSEMBLE
FRIDAY, November 20, starting at 8:30 pm.
Location: Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Casino – 8th floor
Address: Ave. Anacaona 101 – Mirador Sur
Price: No Cover
Reservations: 809-562-8222

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