Rogerio Boccato Quarteto

3910 West Custer Drive,Spokane WA 99224

03 June, 2022

Description

Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Boccato performes with Dan Blake, Jay Anderson and Nando Michelin in a jazz and creative format. Dan Blake - tenor, soprano saxophones Nando Michelin - piano Jay Anderson - bass Rogério Boccato - drums, percussion _______________________________ Our goal is to make the experience of a so-called “jazz concert” something everyone can relate to and enjoy; to bring the listeners into this open-ended adventure of discovery and exploration, beauty and depth which is being created right in front of their eyes and ears. We want to show that this is not music meant to be "consumed" by some cultural elite but instead created on the spot to engage all the people wherever and whomever they may be. Although we are an instrumental ensemble with no vocalist, we pay close attention to the lyrics of the music we present. The range of subjects is vast and always deep in meaning. For instance, Milton Nascimento’s “Morro Velho” tells the story of two boys growing up on a farm; one white, the other black. It depicts with cinematic imagery the two chasing birds, playing in the fields and brooks, always together. Time passes, and the white boy must now go to school in the big city. “Do not forget me, my friend; I will come back,” he says as his friend watches the train grow smaller and smaller in the distance. Years later, now a respected doctor, the young man returns home to run things at the farm. The song ends with the line: “and his old friend no longer plays; only works [for his new boss].” To express this kind of lyrical content instrumentally, we usually share some of the lyrics’ main subject and ideas with the audience to further engage them in the musical journey we want to share. We will also explore the many common roots between Brazil and the USA in terms of their history of colonization. As was the case throughout the Americas, the blend of European, African, and Native American cultures laid the groundwork for each country’s many musical expressions; Thus, intrinsically diverse music is what we play and share. We want to explore these common denominators, each with unique facets, coming together to move and engage the audience in this musical adventure. BIOS Brazilian percussionist and educator Rogério Boccato plays/recorded in projects led by some of today’s leading jazz artists, Maria Schneider, John Patitucci, Fred Hersch, Brian Blade, Kurt Elling, Danilo Perez, Renee Rosnes, and many others. He has also collaborated with top-ranking Brazilian artists, such as Toninho Horta, Moacir Santos, Zé Renato, and Vinicius Cantuária. He is featured on three Grammy-award-winning albums: Kurt Elling & Danilo Perez‘s “Secrets Are The Best Stories, “The Thompson Fields” with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and Billy Childs’ “Rebirth.” He is also featured on multiple Grammy-nominated albums, among them: Kenny Garrett’s “Beyond The Wall,” John Patitucci‘s “Remembrance“ (alongside Joe Lovano and Brian Blade), and Alan Ferber’s “Jigsaw.“ As a longtime member of the “Orquestra Jazz Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo,” Rogério Boccato has played with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal, Milton Nascimento, Egberto Gismonti, João Bosco, Joe Zawinul, among many others. He has been a faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music, NYU, and The Hartt School, teaching Brazilian Music and Ritmica. Uruguayan-born pianist, composer, and educator Nando Michelin has more than 15 albums as a leader in his discography. As a sideman, he has performed with Jerry Bergonzi, Randy Brecker, Esperanza Spalding, George Garzone, Antonio Sanchez, and with Brazilian icons Jair Rodrigues, Jamelao, Lo Borges, Geraldo Azevedo, Flavio Venturini, and Maucha Adnet. He has been a guest lecturer at several colleges in the US, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil. Nando currently teaches at Berklee College of Music and Tufts University. Bassist/composer Jay Anderson is among the most versatile and respected jazz artists performing today. He has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz artists, including Woody Herman, Carmen McRae, Michael Brecker, Paul Bley, Dave Liebman, Joe Sample, Maria Schneider, John Scofield, Lee Konitz, Mike Stern, Anat Cohen, Toots Thielemans, Kenny Wheeler, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Chaka Khan, Michel Legrand, and Celine Dion. He has been featured on over 400 recordings, seven of which have received the Grammy Award. He has conducted clinics worldwide and is a Professor of Jazz Bass Studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Since moving to New York City in 2006, saxophonist, composer, and educator Dan Blake has developed a wide-ranging career as a contemporary composer and performer. Dubbed a “virtuoso” by The New York Times, Blake has released four critically acclaimed albums and has recorded and toured with leading jazz artists Esperanza Spalding, Anthony Braxton, Kenny Werner, and Danilo Pérez. He has also written chamber and orchestral works for leading ensembles in contemporary music. Dan Blake holds a Ph.D. in composition from the City University of New York and is currently on faculty at The New School and Brooklyn College.