Cambridge, MA- Felipe Salles presents The Ugandan Suite Album
Release Celebration on Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30 PM at The
Regattabar, located at 1 Bennett Street, Cambridge. Tickets are $20
and $15 for students and can be reserved online by visiting
www.regattabarjazz.com or by calling 617 661 5000.
Felipe Salles, born in Sao Paolo, Brazil, is an innovative saxophonist,
composer and arranger who has recorded and played with Randy
Brecker, Jerry Bergonzi, George Russell and Dave Liebman among
others. Salles is 2009-2010 winner of the French American Jazz
Exchange Grant from FACE and a 2005-2006 winner of the Chamber
Music America New Works: Creation and Presentation Grant
Program. He has also been awarded First Place in the Concurso
SGAE de Jazz “TETE MONTOLIO”, in 2001. He has also been
awarded the Boston Jazz Society Scholarship award in 1997. Salles
is now based in New York City and teaches at the University of
Massachusetts- Amherst.
In 2010 Salles was awarded a fellowship from the Whiting Foundation
for the financing of a research trip to the East African country of
Uganda. This 2011 trip was a life changing experience for the jazz
artist. “Although the specific influence of Ugandan music in jazz is
undocumented, the rhythmic similarities point to a great philosophical
affinity and great potential for dialogue between the two musical
cultures. Africa has always been part of the jazz evolution and
development,” says Salles. The unique opportunity to travel to
Uganda allowed Salles to bring back primary source knowledge about
African music and a clearer understanding of how such musical
concepts have been taught through generations by African
musicians. Inspired by this music and tradition, Felipe composed The
Ugandan Suite, which is now available on Tapestry Records.
The suite is inspired by Ugandan traditional music and the legend of
the five most powerful animals of the jungle: the lion, the elephant,
the Cape buffalo, the leopard and the rhinoceros. Each one of the five
movements will combine a specific Ugandan tribal rhythm and an
animal characteristic or personality.
Salles will be joined by saxophonist Tucker Antell, pianist Maxim
Lubarksy, bassist Keala Kaumeheiwa and drummer Bertram
Lehmann. Also accompanying Salles is Brazilian percussionist
Rogerio Boccato.
Felipe Salles is excited to present The Ugandan Suite Album Release
Celebration at the Regattabar on May 21 at 7:30 PM. The evening
promises to be full of unique and stimulating original music. The
Regattabar functions as a full service restaurant and bar.