Music
Press
Following is a sampling of information on Canadian and international airplay and acclaim; that speaks to the CD’s growing presence in the media and thus its potential in the marketplace. The most recent exciting news to share is that ‘Tales’ has reached #1 on the all-genre charts of CIUT 89.5 FM for the week of 2 February, 2007!
With the support of the Toronto Arts Council, the CD release was held at Hugh’s Room in Toronto on Tuesday, 5 December, 2006. Attendance was 105, with 55 copies of “Tales” sold plus another 10 of my prior CD “Seadance”. Testament to its cross-genre appeal was the support of Toronto’s leading world-music concert promoter Small World Music Society.
CBC Radio One 99.1 FM in particular has been hugely supportive; Here and Now, Fresh Air, Metro Morning and Big City, Small World all provided substantial airplay in advance of the release and continue to play tracks regularly. Mark Rheaume of CBC Music Resources informs that 30 copies of “Tales of La Juana” have just been distributed to programmers and producers at stations across Canada, which will increase the album’s national profile even more.
“I really love the CD. I'm putting it on my Best of 2006 list.
~ Fresh Air host Jeff Goodes
“The disc is lovely. Please keep me posted if you have any performances in the New Year and we'll try to have you on the show to play live.” ~ Here and Now host Matt Galloway
Airplay on Canada’s premier jazz station, JazzFM 91.1 to includes: Bill King’s Jazz Preview, Café Latino with Amanda Martinez, and Friday nights with Reiner Schwarz.
Toronto’s foremost major-media jazz reviewer Geoff Chapman had this to say in the November 30th, 2006 What’s On section of the Toronto Star:
“This colourful global jazz session comes courtesy of Venezuela-born, Canada-raised reedman Padron, who leads a starry Toronto band through nine original compositions. His ripe tenor sax tones, ranging from ebulient to mournful, are mindful of early Gato Barbieri minus the ferocity, but playing the soprano and flutes he’s more conventional. Insistent melodies underscore the leader’s melodies, some of which hew close to Venezuelan folk themes. His colleagues are bassist Andrew Downing, pianist Marilyn Lerner who also shines on accordion, percussionist Mark Duggan whose marimba work is attractive, guitarist Justin Haynes and drummer Alan Hetherington. Hard blowing cuts such as “Orinoco” and “Waiku” will appeal most to hard-core jazzers, but there’s usually a relaxed feel to this appealing outing with “El Jabillo” and “Quirpa” marking the extremities of Padron’s musical interests.”
“Tales of La Juana” has also been played on numerous jazz and open-format programs on Toronto community radio stations CIUT 89.5 FM (currently #1 on the station’s charts!) and CKLN 88.1 FM.
Through the RadioDirectX network, the CD has been requested by and played on over 70 stations around the world, including as far away as Melbourne, Australia.
“…We have just received your cd "Tales Of La Juana". Certainly a well crafted stylish cd oozing with passion. Your music has extremely beautiful sublime compositions and is subtle yet not saccharine, enjoyable to sit back and just feel the cool groove wash over you.” ~ Peter Merrett, Music Manager, PBS FM (Melbourne, Australia)
“In the main this is a well conceived and constructed recording. The tunes and the melodies are fresh and the playing is lively, pacey with no mean skills involved. ~ John Keith, Keith Community Radio 102.8 FM (Banffshire, Scotland)
“This Cd has been Consistent Medium airplay. The Week of January 30, it became Heavy, making it to our Top 10 Jazz! Thank You” ~Jennifer Isaacs, WGDR 91.1 FM (Plainfield, Vermont).
- Various
Discography
Tales of La Juana (Jan 2007)
Seadance (2001)
Photos
Bio
Bernardo Padrón (leader/composer/saxophone/flute/percussion)
…was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in Ottawa.
After graduating from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music Performance program in 1987, Bernardo moved to Caracas where played with Venezuela's top pop and jazz artists (Frank Quintero, Kara, Luz Marina, Biela DaCosta, and Martes 8:30, among others).
There, he recorded and his first CD of original compositions entitled “Seadance", released in 2001. The lyrical "Seadance", now in its second edition, has been very well received and continues to get airplay on National jazz radio stations.
Since his return to Toronto in 2003, Bernardo has led several groups, playing his original compositions at jazz clubs in Toronto and Ottawa. He has also played with Hawksley Workman, David Alexis Baro, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, David Buchbinder, Evaristo Machado, Rubén Vasquez and Friends, Guiomar Campbell and Parabólica, The Alchemistas, Marc Sepic, Dominicanada, Tumbao, Luis Mario Ochoa, and others.
As well as his jazz pursuits, bernardo also leads the group “Orinoco” which specializes in the study and performance of Venezuelan traditional folk music. Orinoco has performed in several world music venues and Festivals in Toronto. His explorations into this genre have since led to formal studies in ethnomusicology at York university where he is currently pursuing his Master’s degree.
With the support of the Canada Arts Council, Bernardo is currently completing the production of his latest CD, “Tales of la Juana”, due to be commercially released in January, 2007.
Marilyn Lerner (piano/accordion)
Winner of Western Canadian Music Awards, best jazz recording, (Special Angel) 2004, Marilyn is currently with Improvisational: Queen Mab Trio (Marilyn Lerner/Lori Freedman)Ig Henneman, Peggy Lee/M. Lerner, Jazz Hilario Duran M. Lerner, Sonny Greenwich Duo, new Jewish music: From Both Ends of The Earth, Flying Klezmer Bulgar Band, Marilyn Lerner/ Dave Wall duo, Adrienne Cooper, audio art: Ken Gregory/Marilyn Lerner spoken word Marilyn Lerner/Patrick Friesen.
In the past she has performed with Jane Bunnett, Paquito D’Rivera, Jean Derome, Michel Donato, Christian Escoudé, Jon Faddis, Vinny Golia, Gerry Hemingway, Ig Henneman, Bobby Hutcherson, Steve Lacy, Thomas Lehn, Joelle Leandre, David Mott, Torsten Muller, Tito Puente, Claude Ranger, Danielle Roger, Arturo Sandoval, Don Thompson, Dave Young, Bill Watrous.
Some recording highlights: Luminance-(solo piano), Special Angel (duo with Sonny Greenwich C.B.C), Sweet Return (Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band), Struck (Peggy Lee, Marilyn Lerner), Close (duos and trios), Queen Mab (Marilyn Lerner/Lori Freedman), Birds Are Returning (Marilyn Lerner in Cuba), Broken Bowl (with poet Patrick Friesen C.B.C.), Quarter To Three (Roy/Lerner Group), among many others.
Andrew Downing (acoustic bass)
As the leader of “The Great Uncles of the Revolution”, he was nominated for a Juno Award in 2004 for Best Contemporary Jazz Recording. The group also garnered him a West Coast Music Award, Best Non-Classical Instrumental Album for their 2001 record Stand Up! (Black Hen/Festival), and the prestigious Grand Prix de Jazz for their performance at the 2002 edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The quartet has toured Canada extensively, and has travelled abroad to play the Manchester Jazz Festival in England in 2002.
As a freelance bassist he has performed with jazz greats such as Don Byron, Ed Bickert, P.J. Perry, Marty Morrel, Ingrid Jensen, Phil Dwyer, Mike Murley, Bernie Senensky, Bob Moses, Leon Parker, Louie Bellson, Craig Handey, Pat Labarbara, Moe Koffman’s, Mernie!, Patricia O’Callaghan, Jenny Whiteley, Kelly Jo Phelps, Bruce Cockburn, Stephen Fearing, John Reishman, Emory Lester, Eugene Chadbourne, Debashish Battacharya, Jane Bunnett and classical trio Amici.
Justin Haynes (guitar)
Justin's early musical training began with the classical guitar. He later went on to study jazz guitar and composition with Rod Ellias, Ralph Towner, and Gary Peacock. He has performed across Canada, the US, and Scandinavia, at Jazz, Folk, New Music, and Chamber Music festivals with the likes of Kevin Turcotte, Nexus, Tena Palmer, Rebecca Campbell, Ian Tamblyn, Andy Stochansky, Cate Friesen, Hilmar Jensson, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
As a leader he has recorded Not Drowning... Waving, and Show, both on Unity/Page. Tug with Rebecca Campbell and as a side man has participated on recordings by Jean Martin, Andrew Downing, Oliver Schroer, Nick Fraser, Snailhouse, Jordan O'Connor, among many others.
Mark Duggan (marimba/congas/percussion)
Percussionist Mark Duggan is a versatile performer and composer comfortable in many genres. His passionate blend of classical and world percussion has impressed audiences from the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and Tongyeong Music Festival in Korea, to the Lincoln Center in New York.
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