Alexa Weber Morales Band at Jazz at Pearls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2008

SINGER/SONGWRITER ALEXA WEBER MORALES
TO APPEAR WITH HER BAND AT
JAZZ @ PEARL’S, SAN FRANCISCO,
FEBRUARY 8-10

SHOWS TO FOCUS ON BRAZILIAN MUSIC,
FEATURING MATERIAL FROM HER SECOND CD “VAGABUNDEO”
AS WELL AS NEW ORIGINALS, IVAN LINS COMPOSITIONS

Oakland singer/songwriter Alexa Weber Morales returns to Jazz at Pearl’s, San Francisco, with an exceptional new band Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 10 for two shows nightly. The multilingual Weber Morales plans to emphasize the Brazilian and Portuguese-language segment of her repertoire, with selections from her latest Patois CD Vagabundeo (Wanderings); songs by Edu Lobo (“Ave Rara,” “Ponteio”) and Guinga (“Orassamba”); new originals by Weber Morales; and songs by the great Brazilian composer Ivan Lins (“Sambadouro,” “Lua Soberana”).

Alexa also intends to expand on the new CD’s stunning vocal interplay and a cappella work (“Morning,” “Calling You”) with the able assistance of backup singers Bryan Dyer, Zareen, and David Chaidez.

“Fans of my songs in French and Spanish won’t be disappointed,” she assured, noting that each night will offer her trademark spectrum of world music including salsa, Caribbean, funk, and a jazz ballad or two.

Her instrumental accompanists will be Murray Low, piano; Scott Thompson, bass; David Flores, drums; and Emiliano Benevides, percussion.

“All eight of us have eclectic taste, an addiction to rhythm, and a love of great songs from around the world. I’m especially looking forward to recreating some of the vocal complexities of my two albums with singers who bring so much heart and soul to the stage,” said Weber Morales. “I’m also eagerly awaiting that irrepressible Brazilian groove that Emiliano and Scott will bring home, since they both have so much experience in the genre.”

At Pearl’s, named one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world by DownBeat magazine, there are two shows: 8:00 ($20) and 10:00 pm ($20). Doors open 30 minutes prior to each show. Jazz at Pearl’s is located at 256 Columbus Avenue (at Pacific), San Francisco. For ticket information, call 415-291-8255 or log on to www.jazzatpearls.com.

THE ALEXA WEBER MORALES BAND



Since 2004, Alexa Weber Morales has made five studio recordings, including her two solo albums, Jazzmérica and Vagabundeo. The latter, named “one of the greatest Bay Area recordings in recent times" by Latin Beat magazine, made top-20 airplay nationwide and received acclaim from around the world. Rio de Janeiro–based producer Arnaldo DeSouteiro (João Gilberto, Luiz Bonfá) calls her performances “bewitching” and praises her original compositions as “rhythmically captivating and entrancing.”



Murray Low is a 30-year veteran pianist on the Bay Area jazz scene. Though he is a tireless performer, recording artist, and arranger, he is best known for his work with Pete Escovedo (since 1994); Grammy-nominated John Santos and the Machete Ensemble (since 2000); and Andy Narell, the pioneering steel pan player. His multifaceted career has also included international performances with Tito Puente, Bob Mintzer, Sheila E, Benny Golson, John Patitucci, George Duke, and many others.



Bassist Scott Thompson has been teaching, performing, and recording since he was only 15 years old, showing a gift for heartfelt American funk as well as the rhythms of Brazil. Now 22, he has already shared the stage with such world-class musicians as Chico Pinheiro, Marcos Silva, Omar Sosa, Flora Purim and Airto Moreira, Jovino Santos Neto, John Mayer, Anthony Coleman (Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill), and Steve Wyreman (Keyshia Cole, Goapele, Missy Elliott, Lyrics Born, Keak da Sneak).



Although Bay Area native David Flores is a drum-set player at heart, he is also a skilled hand-percussionist. As a performer he’s worked with such artists as Lauryn Hill (2007 world tour), Orestes Vilató, Donna Summer, Francisco Aguabella, Pete Escovedo, John Santos, Michael Spiro, Steve Turre, Peter Erskine, Bobi Céspedes, Mark Levine, Ray Vega, John Calloway, John Benitez, Rebecca Mauleon-Santana, Mickey Hart, Melvin Seals, and Mary Wilson of the Supremes.



Percussionist Emiliano Benevides, from Goiânia, Brazil, was a member of the São Paulo-based theater and music troupe Marombar. He has played with Brazilian stars Margareth Menezes and Velha Guarda da Mangueira. Since moving to San Francisco in 1995, he has appeared in four San Francisco Opera productions: Carmen, Harvey Milk, Rigoletto, and Salome. He is currently working as artistic director for the Aguas da Bahia dance company and performing with his own band, Bat Makumba.



Vocalist and keyboardist David Chaidez, a San Jose native, has been working in the Bay Area as a professional musician for several years. He has also performed as a featured soloist at prestigious venues such as the 2000 Nice Jazz Festival in France and the 2002 Monterey Jazz Festival. In 2002, he formed the Brazilian trio Agua Na Boca which performed around the South Bay regularly for three years. David is currently working with his new group, the David Chaidez Quintet.



Vocalist Zareen grew up in a small town outside of Boston. She has studied with Madeline Eastman, Kurt Elling, and Raz Kennedy; writes her own songs; and will soon release an album of trip-hop tunes. Her repertoire also includes Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and Latin American music. Zareen has performed all over the Bay Area, with several different bands including Los Boleros, Simply Jazz, and the Befores, but she especially values her performances with her 3rd-grade students.



Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Bryan Dyer is a professional musician with almost 20 years of experience who has performed many styles of music from classical and avant-garde to rock, jazz, and blues. Music has taken Bryan around the world to countries including Japan, Switzerland, and Jamaica, alongside such artists as Al Green, Michael McDonald, and Bonnie Raitt. He currently performs with SoVoSo, Slammin All-Body Band, and Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir.

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http://www.alexawebermorales.com / http://www.patoisrecords.com

Media Contact:
Terri Hinte
510-234-8781
hudba@sbcglobal.net