...Spano will also conduct world premieres of two ASO commissions: a piano concerto by Iranian composer Behzad Ranjbaran, with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist, and a new work by Venezuelan composer Gonzalo Grau. The contemporary music lineup also includes John Adams's On the Transmigration of Souls and the Atlanta premiere of Osvaldo Golijov's The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, which marks the ASO debut of clarinetist Todd Palmer...
...The affable Strickland, who is comfortable with the
microphone, began the evening in a convivial manner, drawing
listeners in by introducing his working quintet. It
comprised his brother on tenor and soprano saxophone; Jaleel
Shaw, alto saxophone; pianist Luis Perdomo, and bassist Hans
Glawischnig.
For the opener, the challenging "New
Beginnings," in a rollicking 5/4 meter, the leader
added his first guest: conga drummer Pedro Martinez. The two
drummers created an effervescent, Latin-tinged rhythmic
babble that underpinned the number...
...The 25-year-old Zambrano watched as the Cubs
went on a major spending spree during the off-season, committing about
$296 million to acquire and retain free agents. Third baseman Aramis
Ramirez re-signed for five years and $75 million – a club record until
Alfonso Soriano signed an eight-year, $136 million deal.
Born in
Venezuela, Zambrano signed with the Cubs in July 1997 and made his
major league debut in 2001. He is 46-21 the past three seasons...
...This sense of back and forth clearly delights the festival's
three principals, each of whom has found in Filmoteca a connection
to their former lives or cultural heritage. Castro, for instance,
was born in Chile but has lived in Australian since the age of
three. Palacio was a TV editor in his native Argentina and didn't
arrive in Melbourne until 2001, while Morreo, the son of Venezuelan
diplomat parents, grew up in different postings around the world
before meeting his future partner in a transit lounge and following
her to Melbourne in 2002...
This 'Linares' Foley spoke of turned out to be one Jorge Linares, a young featherweight prospect born in Venezuela that is based in Tokyo, Japan. He was all of 20 years old then. In one of my next columns I would write a quick blurb about this talented boxer in my 'Final Flurries' and I would receive more than one email endorsing his talents from various boxing insiders.
"When he came in here, we had never seen him before," recalled Foley. "He had a Japanese trainer. I didn't think much of him but he got in there and of all the fighters that Pacquiao came in here with, he gave Pacquiao fits compared to everybody else."
...Ernst told USINFO that he arrived in the United States in 1983 to
pursue a doctoral degree. An engineer by training, he earned his
doctorate in operations management from the University of
Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “My original intention was to go back
home” afterward, he recalled. However, an adviser urged him to gain
experience teaching U.S. business logistics, so Ernst applied for a
position at Georgetown University. “I’ve been there ever since, for 20
years now,” he said...
Santa Mamba, an emerging world beat/Latin band, will perform at WaterStreet Café in Fall River at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Santa Mamba, based in Providence, is made up of six talented and
seasoned musicians who bring diverse influences and backgrounds to the
creation of their highly danceable music — combining the hot,
hip-shaking sounds of salsa with the power of rock 'n' roll, or fiery
flamenco rhythms with bass-driven funk.
Venezuelan-born lead vocalist Gio Murillo
grew up loving both classic rock 'n' roll and the vital musical styles
of Latin America. His skill as a showman and singer fuels the band and
excites crowds. Nick Wade brings funky bass lines and amazing stage
performance to the mix, while his brother Aaron Wade brings impressive,
inspired, dynamic keyboard talent...
In the night of February 8 at the House of Blues, Gerina Di Marco
plans to bear her original work: songs influenced by rock, country and
Latin, sung in both Spanish and English. It will be a free show, it
will no doubt be fun, and for Gerina it will be yet another step toward
realizing the vision she maintains for herself.
To perform her music before an arena packed with people singing her
songs back to her—the vision has been there since Di Marco was 9 years
old, just a little girl on the little Venezuelan island of Margarita,
already courting the spotlight (or vice versa) in star-search programs
and various TV commercials. At 16 Di Marco left behind mother and
father asnd home and followed her dream to America. "I didn't want to
be the best of the bad," she says. "I wanted to be the best of the
best...
...That is until Venezuelan-born chocolatier Michael Antonorsi opened
Chuao (pronounced chew-wow) Chocolate Cafe in Irvine, Calif. His
bonbons, truffles, spicy hot cocoa and chocolate bars team delectable
Venezuelan chocolate with intriguing flavor combinations.
“We have created an assortment that is very diverse; taste 25 pieces
and you will have 25 different experiences,” says Antonorsi, who opened
his first Chuao shop in Encinitas, Calif., in 2002....
...Tonight’s free drink is the Sweet and Sexy, which makes taste buds
dance with its mixture of raspberry liquor, honey, and chilled
Soyuz-Victan vodka. At 10:00, the ladies will swoon to Venezuelan
singer/guitarist Carlos Bertonatti as he performs catchy pop ditties.
Dinner begins at 6:00...
