Afro Peruvian Jazz Press Kit with HiRes JPGS and PDF Document [ Download ZIP File ]

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Biography

A sophisticated jazz and contemporary world singer from Peru? -Yes, Peru. In the last 100 years jazz has spread to every section of the globe, bringing forth fine Latin jazz musicians from New York, Cuba and Brazil. And if you haven't already heard about her, Corina Bartra from Peru.... Corina was the first vocalist to blend Afro Peruvian and criolla music & Jazz. She also pioneered subtle and exciting instrumental textures in her compositions and her arrangements. She writes extensive intros, interludes, and solos filled with inventive rhythms and beautiful harmonies. She also guides her musicians to do so. With this approach, she adds an instrumental section to her unique & historic projects. Corina Bartra has degrees in jazz percussion from (name schools) and a Master in vocal performance. Like so many jazz masters before her, Corina Bartra resides in the New York area (when she is not in Peru) where she not only plays but can study the works of all those artists who came before her, building the international sound of jazz to what it is today. And making her award - Corina was the recipient of the prestigious Queens Council on the Arts award in 2008. Her vocal winner Bambu Sun stand apart from the crowd. Her music has frequent airplay nationwide and topped the charts in some radio stations. She also got ear play in Europe and Peru were she is an influential artist. In her new BAMBU SUN she once again dives into the Afro Peruvian sonorities and other Latin undercurrents. She has pioneered a ground-breaking fusion of jazz and afro Latin music with her releases: CORINA BARTRA QUARTET, Son Zumbon, and Travelog, when for the first time one could hear the incorporation of the cajon (Peruvian percussive box) and the festejo groove blended with jazz.

Special Honors

A Grant from the American Embassy for Corina Bartra & Azu to perform in Peru
A Grant from the Carnegie Foundation to perform in public libraries throughout New York City
Special guest performer for the Peruvian Ambassador to United Nations
Dean's Listed (Mannes College) and Honors Graduate (L.I. University)
A Music Performance Grant from the Queen's Council of the Arts Foundation

Education

Masters of Arts in Vocal Performance - Queens College, New York City
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drums) - Long Island University in New York
Jazz Diploma - Mannes College of Music, New York City
North Indian Classical Music with (bansuri & vocals)
North Indian Classical Music Pargat Singh (vocals)

Reviews

"Her vocals are not simply a voice; they serve as bridge to another world musically and spiritually. With the unique combination of Afro Peruvian sounds and Jazz, this fusion of cultures, beliefs, music and spiritualism all come together to form the Azu Project."

Fox News (Afro Peruvian Jazz Celebration)

"Corina Bartra is one of the great pioneers of Afro-Peruvian jazz, combining the exciting rhythms of her native Peru with the brilliant jazz of her adopted American homeland. So it’s no surprise that when she turns her ever-questing mind towards spiritual music, she achieves another wonderful combination, this time chanting that combines Indian, Andean and American strains. It also marries music from defined traditions with others that are spiritual in nature but don’t conform to any particular orthodoxy. I went to see the Gypsy."

Fan

Corina Bartra, pioneer & Afro Peruvian Jazz World Ambassador

El Comercio, Lima, Peru 2009

"There is a slight resemblance to Flora Purim but Bartra's work is tighter and has more melody. This is excellent Afro-Latin music."

-Jerome Wilson, Cadence Magazine

"Bartra is influenced by Afro-Peruvian music, American Jazz, and the scatting of Tania Maria"

-Marcela Breton, Jazz Times

"Finding an Hispanic-American singer who is worthwhile in these apocalyptic times is like finding a needle in a haystack. This is why we are grateful for Corina Bartra, an exceptional singer from Peru."

-Latin Beat

"Bartra's expressive voice flirts with avant-garde techniques while she fashions an adventurous program built on exotic, seldom heard Afro-Peruvian rhythms."

- Mark Holstein , Latina Style

" Travelog , Bartra's most recent musical journey, is a valuable contribution."

- El Diario, New York City

"This new album by singer Corina Bartra is far-out, even among jazz aficionados. Bartra seems to have captured virtually every avant-garde style imaginable and put them to the test ... the music here has a commanding, cohesive sound ... the cuts are noteworthy for their inventiveness.

-New York Daily News

"Corina Bartra is a very intriguing singer. On Son Zumbon ... the music utilizes tricky rhythms, the leader's haunting voice, and plenty of short solos. There is no lack on intensity in this program."

- Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

"Corina Bartra's voice travels all over the map: sliding and gliding, skimming over shimmering surfaces; then diving deep down into the depths, bouncing and rolling, hesitating and galloping - at all kinds of speed ... in all kinds of moods."

-Rob Baker, Editor of Parabola

"Spanish and English, Latin and American, African and Peruvian with blues and jazz thrown in. These songs are a potent and poignant mix of heart and mind and soul."

-Mark Fogarty, Editor and journalist

"Son Zumbon" that's intellectually stimulating but still keeps the toes tapping most of the time".

"Her interpretation of Jimmy Hendrix's Little Wing is celestial."

-World Discoveries.net

On "Bambu Sun": " Rhythmically and texturally speaking,each song is completely unique Bartra has much to be proud of with this new release.The arrangements are all intelligent,the players are top-notch and her six original compositions show her to be a mature musician with much to say".

-Joe Knipes,Jazz Improv

On "Bambu Sun": "Corina Bartra is an expert at blending together Afro-Peruvian music and post-bop jazz. Actually when she sings,it does not sound like a mixture of idioms but a very natural style."

-Scott Yanow,L.A.Jazz Scene

On "Bambu Sun",Corina aligns herself with those Blues and Country singers who prefer natural roots. Bartra sings wordless roles and interprests lyrics in Spanish and English. She is unique.

-Jim Santella,Cadence Magazine

On" Bambu Sun" Mostly original repertoire that is based,for the most part, on the rarely utilization of Afro-Peruvian rhythms within a subtle "Latin jazz context.

-Luis Tamargo,Latin Beat

Corina Bartra &Azu (Bambu Sun) Peruvian vocalist Bartra returns to her Latin jazz groove after a couple of meditation releases.She opens with "Guajira Son" a refreshed original that is timeless.The balance of the program includes a few covers like Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" and several new originals.Whe also liked "Magia y Ritmo Ancestral".We welcome Bartra back.

-O' Place Features

Vocalist/composer and current New Yorker Corina Bartra has successfully melded the bop sensibilities of jazz with the Afro/Peruvian tones and textures on Bambu Sun, her fifth release. Bartra's earthy voice is succulent on the multi-layered "Afro Peruvian Folk Song," which blends her voice with soprano saxophonist Jay Rodriquez to perfection. Her own composition "Guajira Son," supported by Rufus Reid's supple bass, has a lilting cha cha that is infectious. Another highlight on her wonderful record is Bartra's "Peace Loving People Are On the Rise." Indeed they are and they require theme music and Bartra's ode to hope is as sound as any. Bartra's also adept at taking disparate tunes like Wayne Shorter's familiar "Footprints" and John Lennon/Paul McCartney's "Black Bird" and giving them an Andean flavor. The Peruvian spice in these tunes is a flavor worth savoring, and Bartra's voice is as soothing as coco tea. Bambu Sun works to fill the void in much of music these days, it is more hope than hype, more purity than pizzazz, and is one of the most original vocal recordings to be released in some time.

All About Jazz Magazine

Selected Performance History

The United Nations, New York City
Birdland, New York City
Capitol Jazz Festival, Jefferson City, Mo
Alice Tully Hall - Lincoln Center, New York City
The Women In Jazz Festival, New York City
Brooks Museum, Memphis
Nuyorican's Poet's Cafe, New York City
Club El Coco Drilo Verde - Peru
Several Outdoor Park Performances, New York City
Passaic College, New Jersey
Temple Bar, L.A., California
Town Hall Auditorium, New York
Special Kirtans (Workshops Of Sacred Indian Music)
Selected Yoga Centers In Manhattan
Runawasi - Peru
Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
"Guajira Son"By Corina Bartra Featured At Www.Cavemancrib.Com (Non-Exclusive Licensing)

"No Valentin" with Chico O'Farrill Orchestra led by his son Arturo at the Symphony Space

"Yambambo" Original Piece by Corina Bartra adapted for the Chico O'Farrill Orchestra, one of the first pieces that marked the birth of Afro Peruvian music

Promo Video

Corina Bartra and her Azú Project

Corina Bartra and her Afro Latin Sextet

Corina Bartra's Trio Puente de los Suspiros