Music
Press
“It’s not very common to listen to these black-inspired acid jazz sounds in Spain, and less common if they’re so well produced and performed…” - El Mundo, Spain
“…an outstanding band in the Spanish soul-funk scene” - Enlace Funk
Best album of 2008 - Acid Jazz Hispano, Spain
"Incredible music...fantastic new album...quality is just superb..." - Paul Miller Soul Show, BBC, UK
This a breezy, confident and self assured album proving the messages and music they deliver to be truly universal with strong songwriting skills and excellent playing and arranging come from the heart of Spain - Blues & Soul, UK
“VenueConnection has topped itself with its biggest pride and joy to date – Fire It Up – which delivers sizzling funk, tasteful slow jams and passionate vocals … VenueConnection nails all the groove pockets with sheer precision. Highly recommended album. One of the best of 2011” - Soultracks, US
Discography
Fire It Up! - 2011 Keepin' The Groove
Madrid Boogie - 2008 Phazz-a-delic
Strawberry Swan Lake - 2005 Self-released
Photos
Bio
When VenueConnection formed in 2002, their mission was to “sail the uncharted waters of Afro-American music in Spain”. Original members Javier del Aguila and Fara Alvarez started their exhaustive journey with the slightly unconventional lineup of guitar, sitar and computer programming on their internet-only release, Orange Light in the Panton Room.
For their 2005 debut disc, the Madrid-based duo decided to recruit a vocalist who added a warm soulful dimension to their electronically enhanced grooves. Strawberry Swan Lake, featuring current lead vocalist Angeles Dorrio, was greeted with positive responses on a few internet sites. Yet del Aguila and Alvarez expressed disappointment with the final product. This perfectionist attitude furthered their cause to sharpen their musicality and redefine their groove niche.
With only six years under their belt, VenueConnection had evolved from an electronic jazz soul trio to a culture-bending funk ensemble on the 2008 follow-up, Madrid Boogie. Three years removed from Madrid Boogie, the VenueConnection members have topped themselves with their biggest pride and joy to date, Fire It Up!, that delivers sizzling funk, tasteful slow jams and passionate vocals by Angeles Dorrio and Karl Frierson.
Fire It Up! from del Aguila and Alvarez’s label, Keepin’ The Groove, beckons jazz funk’s golden era, the late ‘70s age of Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen and dozens more. Thanks to the crisp foundations from drummer/percussionist Miguel Cabana and del Aguila’s swift bass guitar lines, VenueConnection nails all the groove pockets with shear precision.
The groove-filled party on Fire It Up! is inviting in every way and is by far the best work from VenueConnection. With this project, VenueConnection has also their place in Spain’s soul/funk market and effectively extended their brand to the rest of the world.
Highly recommended album, one of the best of 2011
By Peggy Oliver – Soultracks.com
Links
