Music Educator Archives - MiddlesexCreates.com

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Jeff Lopez

Lecturer; Music: Composition, Instrumentalist, Music Educator

“Lopez writes melodic songs that stay with you long after the recording has finished. That doesn’t happen every day. It’s one of those criticisms that pops up every time we compare Pop Music to Jazz. Surprisingly, for a debut album, Lopez’ debut belongs on this year’s top ten list.” – Cadence Magazine Jeff was born and raised in New York City, He has been playing bass for 40 years. Jeff is a bandleader, composer, and arranger. This is evident on his first two CD releases, Sun And The Rain 1998 and Jeff Lopez-Jazz Composer, as well as numerous US Army Jazz Ambassador recordings. Jeff’s compositions have appeared in various film and network TV productions. Jeff’s professional career has included performing and touring that have taken him around the globe, including a 20-year tenure as the bass player of the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, He has toured in 35 countries and all of 50 states in the USA. Some performance highlights were his two orchestral appearances at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall. Jeff has performed with Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, Jon Hendricks, Phil Woods as well as many other jazz luminaries. He has recorded with John Scofield, and Joe Lovano. Jeff Lopez’ debut solo recording,The Sun and the Rain, featured Joel Frahm, Craig Handy, Tom Guarna, Rodney Holmes and Uri Caine. Jeff Lopez-Jazz Composer is comprised of musicians from the Jazz Ambassadors. Jeff teaches jazz combos for aspiring adult musicians. More info at www.jerseyshorejazzworkshop.com

Pepe Santana

Music: Instrument Artisan, Instrumentalist, Music Educator; Storyteller

Pepe Santana – Music of the Andes A WINDOW TO ANDEAN TRADITIONS Music and Instruments from the Andes Mountains Presenter:PEPE SANTANA Pepe is an Ecuadorian-born musician who incessantly continues to spread his life long passion, which not only resides in the realm of architecture, but also in the sacred world of the musical traditions of the Andes Mountains. Pepe plays over two dozen of native wind instruments (flutes, pan-pipes and whistles) and a variety of string instruments (charangos, mandolins, bandurria, tiple, guitars). His emphasis in ancient sounds and rhythms has defined him as a true spokesperson of traditional Andean Music. He has participated in major folk festivals in the United States and Canada. Frequently lectures at Music Schools and Folk Societies in this country and abroad. In the New York Metropolitan Area, he is very active in the school system with his lecture-demonstrations. For twelve years, he participated as an artist in residence at the National Museum of the American Indian – Smithsonian Institution in New York, and has delivered numerous workshops on wind instrument making. These workshops have been well received at the New York Museum of Natural History and Hostos Community College. In addition, he has produced and directed several Andean Festivals at New York’s Lincoln Center, Town Hall and Symphony Space. In New Jersey, he performs regularly at correctional facilities and rehabilitation centers. These performances are organized by the organization “Music for All Seasons”. Pepe has also established and directed the Festival of the Andes at Waterloo Village in New Jersey. In 1995, he participated in the Apprenticeship Program of the NJSCA as a master folk musician. Pepe is the founder and director of Group INKHAY (Quechua verb meaning, “to tend the fire”). Its members are the interpreters of the traditional music from the Andes Mountains of Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. In the year 2000, Pepe Santana was the recipient of the National Merit and Title of Great Gentleman by the Ecuadorian Government. This recognition was for the outstanding and silent task of promulgating Andean Culture in the United States. In fact, he was also the first recipient out of his native country to have received the “Benjamin Carrión” medal. Pepe has also appeared in several Television shows such as the Shining Time Station (Ch. 13), Where in the World is Carmen San Diego (Ch. 13), Visiones (NBC TV), New York Ahora (Ch. 41), and many others. Radio shows such as New York Kids (WNYC-FM), Around New York (WNYC-FM), and several talk shows for radio and television. As a lover of his Culture and Folklore, investigator, architect, technical illustrator, and musical instrument-maker, Pepe works out of his home-studio in Stanhope, New Jersey.

Miguel "Miguelo" Valdes

Author; Educator; Music: Composition, Instrumentalist, Music Educator, Songwriter, Vocalist

Miguel Valdes (Miguelo) – Leader and Percussion and choirs. Was born in the Havana province of Cuba, comes from a highly musical family, including a father who was one of the top percussionists of the esteemed Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba. Is a percussionist graduate from the Havana National School of Art Instructors (ENIA). After extensive training, Valdes soon found himself with a flourishing career, and was performing all over Cuba with many great musicians of different styles Richard Egues, Tropicana, La Ley. Valdes has collaborated with many talented musicians and groups, including Orquesta Filarmonica de Mexico, Gonzalo Romeu, Grupo Bandula, Elvis Crespo, Celia Cruz Albita Rodriguez, Lena Burke, Emmanuel, Natalia Jimenez, Yomira John, Dennis D’ Kalaff, Ricardo Montaner, Miky Tavera, Yuri. He also toured and worked regularly with Juan De Marcos Afro Cuban All Stars (Buena Vista). In 2010 Valdes left Mexico to come to US where he now resides permanently, since his arrival he has collaborated with many American and Latino Artists like McCoy Tyner All Stars, Francisco Mela, Rachel Ferrer, Tony Perez, Kambalache, Steve Turre, Matt Dillon, Fellove, Patato Valdes, Elio Villafranca, Mac Gollehon, Vince Herring, Dion Person, Sexteto NY, Itai Kriss, Abdou M’boup, Alex Matos, Nachito Herrera, Michel RoosWomen & New Yoruba’s, Los Hacheros, Cotton Club Big Band, Willy Chirino, Sister Sledge-Debbie Sledge, Frank Owens, Ty Stephens, John Faddis, Terell Stafford. He has three of his own CD’s and has recorded in more than forty different artists.

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