Celia Cruz, Los Van Van, Steely Dan, Machete, Stevie Wonder, Sonora Dinamita, Juan Gabriel, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles, Ledisi, Carmen Miranda, k.d. lang, Sarah Vaughan, Randy Newman, Cole Porter, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Ricky Lee Jones, Etta James, Norah Jones, Herbie Hancock, Erik Satie, Frederic Chopin, Scott Joplin, Janis Joplin, Mahalia Jackson, Michael Jackson, Edith Piaf, Milton Nascimento, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Rosa Passos, Lila Downs, Sara Ramirez, Madeline Eastman, Kitty Margolis, Frank Sinatra, Manolito Simonet, Dianne Reeves
Sounds Like
Gal Costa, Linda Ronstadt, Cassandra Wilson, Amel Larrieux, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Eva Cassidy
Vagabundeo/Wanderings, the second album from Alexa Weber Morales, and her first for producer Wayne Wallace's Patois label, follows the groundbreaking footsteps of her 2004 debut release, Jazzmérica. This vibrantly imagined collection melds warm acoustic jazz with flavors from across the vast spectrum of Latin, Cuban, Brazilian, and African music for a mix that's at once rootsy and cosmopolitan, street-wise and sophisticated. The singer's dynamic vocals, innovative rhythmic sense, and emotive phrasing bring a sizzling, soulful power to every note she sings. Her multi-octave range and command of four languages lends authenticity to songs as diverse as the haunting “Calling You,” from the Bagdad Café soundtrack, and the seldom-heard Brazilian gem, “Ave Rara.” Like Ella Fitzgerald, one of her first inspirations, Weber Morales uses her warm mid-range tone as a foundation, effortlessly leaping into a dulcet higher register or swooping down to deliver earthy, purring lows.
Vagabundeo is a rich album that highlights the striking sound of Weber Morales, the arranging and trombone skills of three-time Grammy nominee Wayne Wallace, and a who's who of the San Francisco Bay Area's top Latin and jazz players, including percussionists John Santos and Michael Spiro, bassist David Belove, montuno maestro Murray Low, drummer Paul van Wageningen, soneros Edgardo Cambon and Orlando Torriente, sax men Ron Stallings and Melecio Magdaluyo, and pianist/synth player Frank Martin. The arrangements combine Latin jazz, Afro-funk, gospel, salsa, samba-canção, and pop, but they're delivered in a seamless blend of sparkling musicianship and understated virtuosity.
“Ave Rara” is a s amba-canção written by composer Edu Lobo and Aldir Blanc, longtime lyricist for João Bosco and Guinga. The tranquil vocal track is complemented by Rick Vandivier 's guitar solo and Frank Martin 's lush piano excursion. Weber Morales's overdubbed harmonies intensify the feeling of saudades , the dreamy wistfulness that makes Brazilian music so poignant, while the outro has a Middle Eastern feel. “Calling You,” from the film Bagdad Café , is an a cappella tour de force. Bryan Dyer 's bass vocal and Kenny Washington 's baritone/tenor provide a foundation for Weber Morales's aching lead vocal.
“Angelitos Negros,” a poem by Venezuelan poet Andrés Eloy Blanco, was set to music by Manuel Alvarez Maciste and made popular by Mexico's Pedro Infante in the 1948 movie of the same name. Wallace's vocal arrangement for the choir— One Voice (Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir members Patricia Bahia, Kimiko Joy, Vernon Staggers and Helen Bernard Gray ), Sandy Cressman , Ron Stallings , and Weber Morales—gives the song a soaring, soulful aura. “Agua de Beber/Aguas de Março” combines two familiar tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim, likening water to love, essential for life. The straightforward bossa arrangement keeps the focus on Weber Morales; vocals and percussion intertwine to produce a giddy, percolating outro.
“The Goddess of War,” a Weber Morales original, is the album's funkiest track. John Santos and Michael Spiro lay down a diabolic Afro/Latin/funk groove accented by Frank Martin 's sinister synthesizer and David Belove 's driving bass. Weber Morales's growling vocals convey the terror and fascination we all feel in the face of uncontrolled violence. There's also “Habanera,” the famous aria from Bizet's Carmen , recast as a pilón-salsa with Melecio Magdaluyo 's rumbling baritone sax; “El Cantante” a Ruben Blades tune (famously recorded by salsa bad boy Hector Lavoe) with a Wallace horn arrangement that tweaks the original Fania track; and the Weber Morales original “Her Ways Wander,” a smoky cha-cha ballad that tells the story of a mysterious femme fatale.
Overall, Vagabundeo mirrors the gumbo of global influences currently simmering in the Bay Area, a Latin sound as unique as anything coming out of Miami, New York, and San Juan. With Vagabundeo and the exceptional singing she contributed to Wayne Wallace 's recent The Reckless Search for Beauty project, Weber Morales is ready to step out and take her place in the first rank of the Bay Area's—and the nation's—jazz singers.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
* Vagabundeo makes KCSM FM 91.1 TOP 100 SPINS of 2007!
* Vagabundeo named to multiple DJ top 10 lists for 2007, including El Leon (KVMR in Nevada City, CA), Johnny Conga (KBCS 91.3FM in Seattle, WA) and Saul Zavarce (106.7 PBS FM in Melbourne, Australia).
* Alexa nominated for Best Latin Jazz Vocalist of 2007 and Best Album of 2007 by The Latin Jazz Corner.
* Vagabundeo reaches 13 on the July 23, 2007 JazzWeek World Music Albums chart--in only its third week of radio play! Alexa cited as the second Most Added artist overall.
* Wayne Wallace: The Reckless Search for Beauty, which features Alexa as lead singer and contributing lyricist, is at 11 after 22 weeks of airplay.
* Interview on BBC News' "Have Your Say" radio program about artists living their dreams
* International song placement of Alexa's original salsa romantica "Tu Amor," arranged for Korea's Orquesta Cobana
* Alexa's original ballad Down in the Everglades honored in the 2006 West Coast Songwriters International Song Competition
* Alexa and Wayne Wallace selected as 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival Latin Jazz Clinicians
* Alexa featured on the opening segment of the Chicago-based syndicated radio program Listen Here with Neil Tesser and Mark Ruffin as one of the most exciting new artists to emerge from the January 2005 IAJE conference.
SALSALEXA! 6/19/09 CLUB ANTON OAKLAND's Friend Space (Top 30)
SALSALEXA! 6/19/09 CLUB ANTON OAKLAND has 2718 friends.
CountryHome Forum, http://groups.myspace.com/CountryHomeMagazine , is one of the biggest Forum for country music in Europe and part of CountryHome, www.countryhome.de , Germany's Premier Online Country Music Magazine.
CountryHome Forum have more than 5,000 members. Each news you submit to CountryHome Forum will released to my weekly Newsletter with more than 50,000 readers.
Please submit your artist news and events to CountryHome Forum to help your artists to get well known better in Europe. If you do not have the time to submit your artist news and events by yourself, please send it me to: Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de and I will submit them by myself to CountryHome Forum.
I know that many artists from North America don't have their music videos uploaded to German video websites. The most popular websites are MyVideo.de and ClipFish.de. That means your European audience does not have the chance to find them.
I understand that most of you don't speak German and are not able to upload videos because of the language barrier. If you would like me to upload your videos to the German video websites, please let me know.
Thanks
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de
Just stopping by to show your page some love. If you get a chance check out the site at www.thesearchtv.com and enter into our contest for "The Search for America's Most Beautiful Woman" its free to enter. Guys we need you too, Become one of our scouts and help us find Beautiful Ladies to be in our competition!!!!
Are You One of 'America’s MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN?GET PAID to find out! Everyone that enters will get paid whenever a Text Vote is made for them. It’s FREE to enter! Winners are chosen by your Friends, Family and Fans.
Yoga monk-musician Dada Nabhaniilananda of Los Altos and songwriter Steve Taylor-Ramírez of Berkeley will do a concert together next week. Nabhaniilananda, who plays spiritual eco-folk in a style evoking Cat Stevens and Donovan, and Taylor-Ramírez, who describes his musical style as socially conscious, Latin-infused neo-folk, will play at 7 p.m. June 7 at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley.
The center is located at 3105 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $14 in advance, $16 at the door. For tickets and information go to www.lapena.org/event/1113 or call 510-849-2568.
Thank you for sharing your piece with me Alexa. What is your youtube channel? Mine is www.youtube.com/user/AAORoLLEmUp Drop by sometime and listen to my work. Be sure to read my Bio. Thanx and have a good day. Take care.
Hi Thanks for the add! Be sure to come by and check out our video blogs, we will be adding a new one later this week. We are also on Facebook under Kaura,and on Twitter at Kauraband. Thanks Benjamin Jones KAURA
Hey! ALEXA WEBER MORALES! Greetings from New York City. Thanks for the ADD which I value. We're from different spectrums but its great to connect... You have great stuff going on. Have to go back again and check it out in more detail. Lots of luck with your on-going work and the journey ahead. Madooo.. The guy with the "BEATLES TRIBUTE ALBUM FROM INDIA"
Hey Alex,<br /><br />Felix Samuel will be singing with Los Boleros this Friday night at Rasselas Jazz Club, 1534 Fillmore St, SF 94115.<br />$10 admission 9pm<br /><br />-Rudy
Thanks for the add, the friendship and the music....very nice!!!!
<br />Please check out our songs and videos...let us know what you think.
<br />Saludos de Honduras!!!!!!!!
Muito grato! Maravilha de som. A música faz com que as pessoas experimentem um pouquinho do mundo divino. Neste espaço, pude perceber que são habitados por anjos - e você é um deles - não importa sua legião. Penso que a música está acima do bem e do mal. Portanto desejo uma ótima existêcia e agradeço por existir no seu tempo. Um grande beijo!!!
<br />Paulo Djorge
Hi Princess!thanks for your support!your music sounds great very cool and tasty!I am alsohonored by your add and so much fairness!from Argentina!best wishes and keep in touch!
Online Now!
