Tijuana has long been a haven for punk and electronica, plus the top-40 and hip-hop blaring from clubs along Avenida Revolucion. Latin Jazz pianist Turiya Mareya hopes to diversify the city's musical portfolio.
In August 2009 Turiya Mareya returned to her home base in Tijuana, Mexico after an extended tour in Canada and Israel to begin a new weekly concert series at El Dragon Rojo Bar. The program will include jam sessions, composer-driven performances and spoken word.
“We are going to attempt to combine traditional Mexican folkloric music with an improvisational Jazz approach and Afro-Cuban influences" said Mareya. 'There is a great appreciation for Jazz and Cuban Music [in Mexico]. However the aspect of combining the Mexican elements is new and hitting home in the community. Mareya chose Dragon Rojo because of the young, passionate crowd. The venue is often a meeting place for activists, university students and the Cultural Community of Tijuana.
The historic bar is in the heart of the Zona Rosa an area filled with Cantinas , Marichi bands and Girlie Bars. El Dragon Rojo has passed into the hands of young cultural activists who opening it for new cutting edge art projects in Tijuana “
It is a fascinating time in Tijuana now, “ Mareya says, “ with lots of young, intelligent, dedicated people who have a strong sense of culture, what it means to be Mexican and what the new political and social reality is. The border creates intense contrast, and generates a creative energy that is unique and exciting" Mareya added ' We want the music to reflect the artistic and cultural spirit that is the best of Tijuana. “
The project includes some of Tijuana's most important and well known players including Alex “Chino" Perales on Guitar who also heads the Tijuana Groove Project and has perfomed at every major venue and festival in Baja and Mexico City. Also Felipe Garcia who is a member of the hugely popular Vera Cruz group Astro Rumberos .
On Bass is Julian Placencia who has recently toured Israel with the International Ensemble and has performed at the Baja Jazz Fest, Puerto Penasco Jazz Festival, Ensenada and Rosarito Jazz Festivals. There will also be “invitados" artists from the USA and Mexico who will join the group for special collaborations.
Turiya Mareya Mareya was raised in the vibrant border of Tijuana and San Diego. She started playing with Mexican dance bands at a young age and later studied Jazz under the direction of Mr. Daniel Jackson, one of the West Coast Jazz Legends. She studied also at the Creative Music School in Woodstock but most of her musical instruction came from the streets, the clubs and fellow musicians.
She began playing Latin Jazz with the Tambu International Ensemble, moving to Vera Cruz and living later in Mexico City. Returning to the border she was active in the jazz and latin music scenes. She became the musical director and pianist for the Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble and for 10 years worked major venues and festivals in the south west.
In 2003 Turiya began working as a solo artist going first to Juneau Alaska where she performed with Afro-Peruvian Percussionist Antonio Diaz and to Anchorage where she performed with Hector Diaz y su Orchesta Tropical. She moved to Madrid in 2004 and was active in the incredible music scene there. In 2005 she toured Canada based in Toronto. She also toured British Columbia working with Adonis Puentes and Gilberto Moroeax on Vancouver Island.
She returned to Tijuana in 2008 where she was Artist in Residence at Arte Sana in Playas de Tijuana.She headlined at the Ensendada Jazz Festival and the Rocky Point Jazz Festival in Sonora Mexico She also headed the Binacional Jazz Descarga in Tijuana. In Spring of 2008 she toured the Yucatan Mayan Riviera in Mexico performing in Festivals and Jazz venues there. She returned to Tijuana and was featured at the Afro-Carribbean Festival , the Baja Jazz Festival and the M-Fest Jazz Festival. She performed in October of 2008 for the 2nd year at the Puerto Penasco Jazz Festival in Sonora Mexico.
She returned to Canada's Vancouver Island in fall of 2008 touring with the Adonis Puentes band and performing in the Victoria Latin Jazz Festival. She was the producer and Hostess of the weekly Latin Jam Session and Women's Showcase performing weekly recently toured in the summer of 2009 Israel performing sold out shows at Jazz clubs and festivals.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=43742
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