Bangkok--4 Oct--The Conrad Bangkok
Electronic Dutch Jazz Jam Saskia Laroo & Warren Byrd At the Diplomat Bar, The Conrad Bangkok Wednesday, 6th October 2010
Saskia Laroo Warren Byrd
Saskia Laroo: The Trumpet player as Lady Miles Davis of Europe
Genre: Jazz funk, electronic, Hip Hop, World
Saskia Laroo, hailed by American public and press at large as "Lady Miles of Europe", is one of the few women trumpet stylists, blowing for more than three decades. She began on trumpet at age 8, never dreaming of becoming a professional musician. That all changed when Saskia, turned 18, after briefly majoring in Mathematics at University of Amsterdam of theday: at the Muziekpedagogische Academie of Alkmaar, the Sweelinck Conservatorium (with Boy Saskia Laroo Raaymakers) in Amsterdam and the Academie of Hilversum (with Ack van Rooyen).
Saskia Laroo combines today's music by uncontrived romps into new styles, eagerly limned as "nu jazz" or "swingin' body-music"—a vivacious blend of hip-hop, jazz, salsa, funk reggae, and world, that many other artists dare not venture. Her artistry and her groove ring vibrantly and free on her four albums journeying us through the music she has absorbed and plays from heart and soul.
Press Attention / CD Critics
“One of the few women trumpet stylists in the world, Laroo from the Netherlands has created her own edgy combination of jazz with rap and hiphop”
Audrey Perera, the Straits Times
"Saskia mixes styles of music and culture as if they had always meant to be together
J. Lyon Layden, in Creative Loafing
"Her harmon mute playing on Blackbird managed to suggest [Miles] Davis without attempting to imitate him." Don Heckman, in LA Times
"Her tasteful solos have their subtle surprises and she is obvious an expert improviser." Scott Yanow, in LA Jazz Weekly
"Her muted trumpet may remind you of Miles, but the style and improve are strictly that of a rising star in the jazz world." Arthur C. Bourassa, in Jazz Now
Warren Byrd: The flawless pianist with rare, classic soul voice in today's
Jazz circuit
Genre: Composer, Pianist, Vocalist
Warren Byrd is a Hartford native with an international touring schedule after many fruitful years playing Jazz throughout Connecticut, Southern New England, and New York. Born in 1965 the youngest in a family of sixteen, he grew up in a musically fecund world. His experiences with performing began with singing in the church choir with his older siblings and lead to rich performing adventures in during his teen years, exposing him also to the vast treasures past and present of musical ideas.
By the time he’d been awarded a full scholarship for Classical Vocal Studies at Hartt College of Music, he’d decided he wanted to be a Jazz artist. Through the listening, absorbing, Warren Byrd practicing, and synthesizing of legacies of not only Jazz, but also Classical, Folk, and Popular music past and present, he formulated his approach to improvisation and composition.
In the last twenty years, he has lended his musicianship to many groups and performers in Jazz, R&B, World, Latin, Pop, etc., as well as Dance and Theatre. A short list of performers would include Archie Shepp, Eddie Henderson, Frank Lacy, Saskia Laroo, Steve Davis, David Chevan, Mixashawn, Kenny Hamber, Alvin Carter, Nita Zarif, and many more.
In 2000, he released Truth Raised Twice, his only album as a leader with many of his own compositions as well as standards from the Jazz repetorie.
The last several years include many international tours and an album release with Saskia Laroo and two duo albums, four ensemble albums, and considerable press exposure with David Chevan and the Afro-Semitic Experience. He touts composition as the cornerstone of his development as an artist and the springboard of his career direction.
For more information and reservations, call 0 2690 9299 or email to:
[email protected]