For Immediate Release:
Contact: Paulina Phillips, 514-816-8423
or Liz Fixsen, 301-802-6896
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 28, 2018, 8:00 p.m.
Debora Galan, West Coast Queen of Smooth Latin Jazz with
Seven-string bassist Leonardo Lucini, pianist Todd Simon,
and drummer Julian Berkowitz
Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, Maryland
301-377-7800 or http://www.arts.pgparks.com, $25
LATIN JAZZ VOCALIST DEBORA GALAN BRINGS ARDOR AND ELÁN
TO A HOMECOMING PERFORMANCE IN LAUREL
“With a powerful voice and soul in spades, Debora Galan is a true talent.”--The San Diego Troubadour.
“Debora Galan brings passion, style, charm and equally energetic and delicate tones to this seamless work of art.” - Jazz Quarterly
Smooth Latin jazz vocalist and song-writer Debora Galan will delight music lovers in the Baltimore-Washington region in a concert on Friday, September 28 at Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, Maryland. A San Diego resident since 1987, the bilingual songstress performs widely on the West Coast and her music is played on radio stations in many countries. This is a special homecoming performance for Galan whose professional singing career began in Washington, D.C. (On the following evening, she plays the Avalon in Easton, Maryland.)
Galan’s 2016 album All About Love features original compositions sung in English and Spanish, brought to life by a team of notable California instrumentalists and singers. Critics have praised her stirring vocal renditions and the rich and rhythmic arrangements that frame them. DJ Doc Hardy of FOSR says, “Deborah Galan’s breakout CD All About Love is a welcome breath of fresh air... her fire, her passion, and her vocal range shine through, providing an authentic Latin Jazz listening experience.” Jay Michaels of Magic 92.5 praises her "beautiful angelic voice" and Ron Hamilton of WRJR calls her music "A marriage of jazz and pop, but so much more."
The Montpelier show will feature beloved Latin jazz and pop selections and showcase the Galan compositions inspired by her Spanish/Cuban ancestry. Hear perennial favorites such as “Somos Novios (It's Impossible)," composed by Mexican songwriter Armando Manzanero and a salsa version of “What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life.” Fans will enjoy Galan originals such as “Arms of Love” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3flbBE3-jQ), and the lovely ballad “Through the Eyes of a Child.” (To hear the new video visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkt2VHOq5no.)
Born in Brussels and raised in Madrid, Galan inherited her love of music from her grandfather and mother who sang flamenco at house parties, weddings and baptisms. Her mother was especially fond of Concha Piquer (1908-1990) whose singing left a lasting impression on the child. The family moved to Washington, D.C. where Galan began singing professionally at age 19. At the time she was attending college and working as a waitress at Cafe de Ipanema. Her unplanned debut took place in a contest similar to “Star Search” when her boss handed her a glass of Courvoisier and told her to take off her apron and get on stage. She complied, and soon found herself as the lead singer in the house band, going on to play many D.C. Latin jazz and salsa gigs with top-ranked bands in the nation’s capital.
Marriage took her to the West Coast and she devoted some years to home and family before returning to the stage. She increased her vocal range and strengthened her spectacular pipes singing gospel and R&B before gradually shifting to the jazz genre. While she was tremendously. busy as a recording and performing artist, it wasn’t until 2016 that her superb songwriting skills surfaced with the release of All About Love, her first album as a leader. (See her popular “Take Five” interview for more: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/take-five-with-debora-galan-by-debora-galan.php.)
The Band
A talented trio will accompany Galan at Montpelier. A virtuoso performer, composer/arranger and beloved educator, Leonardo Lucini is trained in classical and jazz styles and holds a master’s degree in music performance from University of Maryland. A native of Rio de Janeiro, he has toured extensively in Europe, Asia and Australia and worked with international artists such as flutist Nestor Torres; saxophonists Alex Han, Raul Mascarenhas, Leo Gandelman and Michel Nirenberg; pianists Arturo O’Farrill, Benito Gonzalez, Federico Pena, Cesar Orozco and Alex Brown; harmonica player Gregoir Mauret, vocalist Debora Galan and trumpet sensation Sean Jones. He performs in Origem with brother Alejandro Lucini, with Brazilian guitarist Rogerio Souza and with Nanny Assis and Arthur Lipner in Brazilian Vibes Trio.
Delaware native Todd Simon is much in demand. He graduated from the Peabody Conservatory in 2007, then served in the U.S. Naval Academy Band. He has performed/recorded with such names as Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, Gary Bartz, Tim Warfield, Antonio Hart, Ralph Peterson, Mike Pope, Warren Wolf, Alex Norris, Oliver Nelson Jr., Stephanie Jordan, Sean Rickman, and Daryl Davis. He has played with the Chesapeake Orchestra, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, the Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, Rumba Club, Afrobop Alliance and the Donvonte McCoy Quintet.
Exploring the Brazilian side of his ancestry, drummer Julian Berkowitz grew in his knowledge of Brazilian music while studying at George Washington University with Alejandro Lucini. Since graduation he has performed at many of the DMV's top music venues, including the John F. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Smithsonian Museum of American History, The Avalon Theatre, and the Arts Club of Washington. He plays weekly at Columbia Station with the Peter Edelman Trio and works with leading area musicians, such as Mike Pope, Herman Burney, Alison Crockett, Peter Fraize and Thad Wilson and Brazilian. saxophonist Michel Nirenberg.
Montpelier Arts Center is located at 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Admission is $25 with discounts for members and seniors. Reservations are strongly advised. Call 301-377-7800 or visit https://culturecapital.com/organization/128/montpelier-arts-center.
Jazz Beyond Borders is a Cultural Diversity Project of The Phillips Agency
P. O. Box 172 Davidsonville, MD 21035 USA www.jazzbeyondborders.com
P. O. Box 172 Davidsonville, MD 21035 USA www.jazzbeyondborders.com