Drummer/Composer Dafnis Prieto launched own label, Dafnison Music,in 2008,
with new Sextet Album, Taking the Soul for a Walk
With the release of Taking the Soul For A Walk, Cuban-born Dafnis Prieto, recognized by his elders and peers as a singular force on the drums since he arrived in New York in 1999, brings his already luminous career to another level. For one thing, his third album is exceptionally cohesive and varied, featuring a suite of original compositions performed by a like-minded group of outstanding musicians. Saxophonists Yosvany Terry and Peter Apfelbaum, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, pianist Manuel Valera,
and bassist Yunior Terry are all exemplary team players and, like Prieto, expert at crafting musical narrative from pan-American source material. For another, the band leader and composer on the much acclaimed Zoho releases About the Monks (2005) and Absolute Quintet (2006), takes control of the means of production, launching his own label, Dafnison Music.
Extending his previous quintets to a sextet, Prieto gives himself a larger canvas and palette for his compositional strokes and penchant for beautiful counterpoint melodies over a multitude of polyrhythms. He wrote seven of the twelve pieces in response to a 2005 commission from Chamber Music America and titled them The Emotion Series.
For Dafnis Prieto, Taking The Soul For a Walk represents a significant step towards seizing more control of his artistic life. “I have a lot of music that I want to put out – music for dance, for film, and other projects,” he says. “I no longer want to ask permission to release it from other people who might be interested. I am trying to represent in my music what I am living now and I want the music to sound the way I walk, the way I breathe, the way all of us are living today – with all the emotions, all the questions and answers that we have.”
Dafnis Prieto, 2008.
NEW ALBUM
TAKING THE SOUL FOR A WALK...
buy it here
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dafnisprietosextet
Saxophone Yosvany Terry and Peter Apfelbaum
trumpet Avishai Cohen
piano Manuel Valera
Bass Yunior Terry
“This music has a very emotional a Walk" is a journey to all of the emotions evoked by the Titles of the 12 tracks. I have experienced these emotions as most of us probably have, and this music is flying through our ears before it touches infinity and disappears.”
–Dafnis Prieto, February 2008
Musicians:
Peter Apfelbaum- Sop sax, Tenor sax & Melodica.
Avishai Cohen - Trumpet.
Yosvany Terry - Sop sax, Alto sax.
Manuel Valera - Piano.
Yunior Terry - Bass.
Dafnis Prieto - Drums.
Itai Kriss - Flute on track 10.
All compositions by Dafnis Prieto
Published by Dafnison Music BMI
The New York Times has compared the arrival of Dafnis Prieto in the U.S. to the landing of an asteroid. Indeed, within a short period his groundbreaking drumming techniques have had a powerful impact on both the Latin and jazz music scene, locally and internationally. Having studied at the school of Fine Arts in Santa Clara and later at the National School of Music in Havana, Prieto obtained a thorough classical education while broadening his knowledge of Afro-Cuban music, jazz and world music outside of the academy.
He first toured Europe with pianists Carlos Maza and Ramon Valle and the pioneering group “Columna B.” In the seven years that he has lived in New York, he has played in bands led by Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O'Farrill, Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, Peter Apfelbaum, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdez, Claudia Acuna, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, Andrew Hill and Jerry Gonzalez, among others. He has performed at many national and international music festivals as a sideman and as bandleader.
As a composer, he has created highly distinctive music for dance, film, chamber groups and for his own band projects which have ranged from duets to a “Small Big Band.” He has received commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America, Jazz at Lincoln Center, East Carolina University, and Meet the Composer, as well as from various new music ensembles. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops. Since 2005, he has been teaching as a visiting professor at NYU (New York University.)
Dafnis currently leads three groups – the Latin jazz ensemble heard on his 2005 debut CD “About The Monks,” the band featured on his second album, “Absolute Quintet,” which includes violin, cello, and Hammond organ and this Sextet new Album "Taking the Soul for a Walk" released for Dafnison Music (CDs released on Zoho Music.) “Absolute Quintet” is nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2006. Dafnis Prieto is nominated for Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist, 2007.
“Dafnis Prieto is easily the most impressive young drummer to come on the jazz scene during the past decade. Possessing awesome virtuosity and astonishing versatility, Prieto has made important contributions to the music of a broad range of leaders… His compositions are elaborate composites melding Afro-Cuban rhythms and modern jazz harmonies into music that is ecstatic and intelligent.” - All About Jazz
The essence of Mr. Prieto’s style is his collation of various Afro-Cuban percussion sounds - from old religious music to modern music - within one set of trap drums. His playing is infernally complicated, and infernally precise; the blizzard of accents he throws into any pattern have their place as surely as pixels in a computer image.”
- The New York Times
“He is extraordinary, a rhythmic stimulus. He comprehends the two most incredibly difficult rhythmic genres - being Cuban and being an extremely talented jazz drummer.” - Eddie Palmieri
“Dafnis Prieto has what makes a great musician stand out from the pack: highly creative and improvisational instinct, an awareness of how much drama the music demands, interactive skills and a commitment to keep on growing as an artist. I am sure Dafnis will be regarded by jazz historians and musicians alike as one of the most influential and groundbreaking instrumentalists of the 21st century.” - Michel Camilo
also available DAFNIS PRIETO ABSOLUTE QUINTET, Zoho Music, 2006 :
Dafnis Prieto - drums
Christian Howes - violin
Dana Leong - Cello
Yosvany Terry - Sax
Jason Lindner - Hammond Organ & Keys
Special Guest - Henry Threadgill - alto sax
All compositions by Dafnis Prieto
Publishing by DAFNISON Music (BMI).
DAFNIS PRIETO ABOUT THE MONKS, Zoho Music, 2005 :
Dafnis Prieto - Drums
Brian Lynch - Trumpet
Yosvany Terry - Sax
Luis Perdomo - Piano
Hans Glawishnig - Bass
Ilmar Gavilan - Violin
All compositions by Dafnis Prieto
Publishing by DAFNISON Music (BMI).
Influences
DAFNIS PRIETO's DRUM SET:
Dafnis Prieto endorse Yamaha Maple Custom Drum,
(LP) Latin Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks
Drum set as follows:
One (1) 10-inch Rack Tom,
One (1) 12-inch Rack Tom,
One (1)14-inch Floor Tom,
One (1) 14-inch by 5-inch, Maple Snare drum,
One (1) 18-inch Bass drum,
Yamaha hardware for Drums as follows:
One (1) tom stand mounted for two toms,
Five (5) boom cymbal stand,
Two (2) straight cymbal stands,
One (1) hi hat stand with clutch,
One (1) bass drum pedal,
One (1 single braced snare drum stand and One (1) set (3 in a set) of floor Tom legs,
Drum heads must be Evans drumhead, new or in good shape.
Sounds Like
Projects & Compositions, Grants & Commissions:
Dafnis Prieto has created the music for several dance projects:
Un Lugar (Havana 1996)
A mouth in a sleeping shell (NYC PS 122, Winter 2000)
Time in Circles (NYC Joyce Soho, Spring 2002)
Forms and Sounds (NYC Jazz Gallery 2002)
Puzzle/Rompecabezas (NYC The Kitchen, Fall 2002)
Music selection of Sang (Danspace Project, Spring 2002)
">Descending Matter (Judson Church, Fall 2002), a work by choreographer Osmany Tellez.
Since 1996 Dafnis has been collaborating with choreographer Judith Sanchez-Ruiz in interactive dance/music/visual media experimental works that use life improvisation as the central component.
Music for the film Fighting Illiteracy, by Pedro Arizti and Fernando Casado, (Providing Primary Education in Rural Honduras)
Music for Dance Piece: Citizens and individuals by Judith Sanchez-Ruiz.
He composed music for the Grammy Winner Album "The Gathering"by The Caribbean Jazz Project & the Album "Birds of a Feathers"also by the Caribbean Jazz Project.
Prieto was commissioned by the CBC in Toronto Canada to write a piece "On and On" for the True North Brass Quintet/2004
Commissionned by East Carolina University at Greenville NC to write a piece "Echo Dimensions" for the Meridian Arts Ensemble (Brass Quintet & Percussion, 2005)
Chamber Music America New Worksaward, 2005.
Dafnis Prieto is a recipient of Meet the Composers'Van Lier Fellowship, 2005.
Prieto is a Faculty Member in NYU since September 2005.
Commissioned by the Ethos Percussion Group under auspices of the Jerome Foundation "The Guiros Talk"a piece for 4 guiros (1 mov) and 4 percussion sets "Claveteando"(2 mov), 2006.
Dafnis Prieto is AWARD WINNER in the JAZZ JOURNALIST WARD, Up & Coming Musician of the Year 2006!
His second Album: 2006 DAFNIS PRIETO "ABSOLUTE QUINTET" has been NOMINATED in the Latin Jazz category.
Dafnis talks about the Album, "Absolute Quintet "
European concert music has had a great impact on Cuban culture, along with African and popular music from Spain, France and Italy.
By the19th century, an authentic and original Cuban music began to evolve, with many traces of European chamber music traditions.
I always remember the sound of strings in early Cuban music, in styles such as Danzon, Danza, Contradanza, as well as in the popular Charanga bands. You can find it in the music of Esteban Salas, Jos White, Alejandro Garcia Caturla, Amadeo Roldan and other prominent Cuban composers.
The sound of my Absolute Quintet is a reflection of these many styles that have influenced my musical development. While I always liked the sounds of the Hammond organ and of all string instruments individually, I never thought that I was going to have so much fun writing for and conceiving an ensemble sound that includes cello, violin, organ and other keyboards, as well as saxophones and drums.
I am grateful to the great musicians in my band who have infused my compositions with so much individual talent, creative energy, and spirited interplay.
The Coolest is inspired by a duet collaboration with vocalist Carl Walker (Kokay) and reflects the emotion I felt about meeting and performing with him.
Sensaciones: Life is full of sensations and feelings; I wanted to write something that somehow expresses what we can?t express with words, a feeling of existence, the breathing of the body, or maybe just infinity.
The Stutterer is a very percussive piece, as when a person who stutters speaks. It creates a rhythmic pattern that repeats one after the other, going back and forth to the same melodies or rhythms.
Afrotango is dedicated to my wife Judith. A sentimental and a romantic melody line on top of a 6/8 rhythmic pattern is the basis of this tune. Henry Threadgill's playing gives the song its essence.
One Day Suite: Morning, Afternoon and Night are the three movements of this piece that recreate the motion and energy of a 24-hour period.
The Morning is about the sunrise, the start of the day, the beginning of opportunities.
The Afternoon reflects on the consistence of ideas, the continuation of the day.
The Night describes the day after sunset - the calm, the glory, the end.
New Elephant: the sound coming from the image of an elephant woke me up one day, it was like thunder in slow motion, in darkness, but I could hear the sound from far away, coming like an elephant with slow, rumbling steps towards me.
Renew the Elephant: once more the image of the elephant came to me, but this time in a different way. The colors and the sound were a reincarnation of the elephant, and I renewed the image in my mind so that it became a different animal.
Innocent Bird: I wrote this tune a week before my son Lucian was born. It reflects how I feel about him ? he was coming into this world like an innocent bird.
Dafnis Prieto Produced by Roberto Occhipinti and Dafnis Prieto.
Recorded by Joe Marciano at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY in Summer 2005.
Mixed by Jeff Wolpert at Desert Fish, Inc., Toronto, Ontario. Mastered by Peter J. Moore at The E Room, Toronto, Ontario.
Photos: CD cover by Ben Long. Henry & Dafnis, and musicians outdoors by Judith Sanchez Ruiz. Musicians performing by Hans Wendl. Dafnis sitting with black background by Bill King.
Dafnis Prieto's Absolute Quintet record pictures, from left : Yosvany Terry, Christian Howes, Dafnis Prieto, Dana Leong, Jason Lindner. Photo by Sergio Royzen, October 2005.
Package Design: 3+Co. (www.threeandco.com) Executive Producer: Joachim Becker.
Dafnis Prieto is a recipient of a Meet the Composer Vanlier Fellowship 2005.
Dafnis Prieto plays Yamaha Drums, Latin Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads. Christian Howes plays Yamaha violins.
“This music has a very emotional meaning. "Taking the Soul for a Walk" is a journey to all of the emotions evoked by the Titles of the 12 tracks. I have experienced these emotions as most of us probably have, and this music is flying through our ears before it touches infinity and disappears.”
–Dafnis Prieto, February 2008
Musicians:
Peter Apfelbaum- Sop sax, Tenor sax & Melodica.
Avishai Cohen - Trumpet.
Yosvany Terry - Sop sax, Alto sax.
Manuel Valera - Piano.
Yunior Terry - Bass.
Dafnis Prieto - Drums.
Itai Kriss - Flute on track
10.
All compositions by Dafnis Prieto
Published by Dafnison Music
Dafnis Prieto (Short Biography)
His arrival in the U.S has been compared by to that of an asteroid hitting New York. Indeed, within a short period of time Dafnis Prieto's revolutionary drumming techniques had a powerful impact on both the Latin and Jazz music scene, locally and internationally. Having studied at the school of Fine Arts in Santa Clara as a youngster and later at the National School of Music in Havana, Prieto obtained a thorough classical education while broadening his knowledge of Afro-Cuban music, jazz and world music outside of the academy.
He first toured Europe with pianist Carlos Maza and Ramon Valle and the groundbreaking group "Columna B" together with pianist Roberto Carcassés. A resident of New York since only 1999, he has already played in bands led by Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O'Farrill Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, Peter Apfelbaum, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdés, Bobby Carcassés, Claudia Anuña, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, Andrew Hill, among others. He has performed at many national and international music festivals as a sideman and as bandleader.
As a composer, he has created music for dance, film, chamber ensembles, and most notably for his own bands, ranging from duets to his "Small Big Band" and including the distinctively different groups featured on his two acclaimed recordings as a leader. "About the Monks"and "Absolute Quintet" . ”
He has received new works commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America, Jazz at Lincoln Center, East Carolina University, Meet the Composer, Award as Up & Coming Musician of the Year by JJA, 2006. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops. Since 2005, he has been a member of the NYU Music Faculty.
A native of Santa Clara, Cuba, studied there as a youngster School of Fine Arts and later at the National School of Music in Havana, receiving a thorough classical education and ever broadening knowledge of Afrocuban music, Jazz and world music from no academic sources. Dafnis Prieto has behind him more than ten years of profesional work, going back to his first European tours with a succession of talented pianist including Carlos Maza, Ramon Valle and the "Columna B" Group. He has been performing with some of the world greates jazz artists such as:
Jane Bunnett & Spirit of Havana.
Steve Coleman & Five Elements.
Henry Threadgill, Zooid and Make a Move.
Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Orchestra.
Chico O'Farril & The Afro-Cuban Big Band.
Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project.
Peter Apfelbaum & The New York Hieroglyphics.
DD Jackson Trio & Octet.
Ed Simon Trio
Michel Camilo Trio
Chucho Valdez Quartet
Bobby Carcassés
Andrew Hill
John Benitez
Jorge Sylvester
Claudia Acuña
Don Byron
Kip Hanrahan
Roy Hargroves Havana Crisol.
World Economic Forum with Branford Marsalis,
Herbie Hancock
Arturo Sandoval
He has played in several venues, touring in the United States and throughout the world. Article taken from drummerworld.com.
2007 Grammy Nominee: Dafnis Prieto The Absolute Quintet, featuring: Dafnis Prieto, drums & percussion, Yosvany Terry, alto & tenor sax, Christian Howes, violin, Dana Leong, cello, Jason Lindner, piano and Hammond organ, Special guest Henry Threadgill, alto sax.”
Article from All About Jazz: ”
“Dafnis Prieto is not an ordinary drummer and Absolute Quintet is not a typical Latin jazz recording. Prieto knows the Cuban clave rhythms and is aware of the music's heritage. Yes, he plays fiercely, with an array of tools from his kit. Sure, he's got the juice, with quickness, precision and inventiveness.
But if you listen closely, there are many other elements brewing on this, his second release as a leader. Like 2005's About The Monks, the new music has quirky rhythms and snaking patterns, matched with Prieto's everlively playing. But now he brushes his compositions with wider and more thoughtful strokes, making use of a dynamic new quintet featuring Jason Lindner (keyboards), Yosvany Terry (saxophones), Christian Howes (violin), Dana Leong (cello) and special guest artist Henry Threadgill (alto saxophone) on 'Afrotango.
“Prieto navigates his bass-less ensemble through a variety of waters. On 'The Stutterer,' the drums and strings hold down a pulsing groove through wicked patterns. On the poignant, soulful “Afrotango,” Threadgill's earthy alto and Lindner's peculiar keyboards enhance a gypsy-like aura. Prieto's writing on “One Day Suite” has sweeping overtones and vivid sections, each depicting the moods of morning, afternoon or night-- all different but musically appealing. ”
Each instrument plays an integral role in the music. Howes and Leong are clearly versed in classical and freemodes; the violin and cello not only provide ambience, but also individuality on “One Day Suite: Afternoon,” with a chamber music sophistication. “New Elephant” and”Renew Elephant” bring touches of icy impressionism, yet Prieto and Terry's rapid solos add heat. “Innocent Bird” ends this colorful menagerie of sounds, drawing from many influences and also incorporating tinges of gospel organ, blues, and soul. The result is definitely something out of the ordinary”-Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz .”
Reviews "ABSOLUTE QUINTET" The Album: ”
1. The Coolest”
2. Sencasiones ”
3. The Stutterer ”
4. Afrotango ”
5. One Day Suite: Morning ”
6. One Day Suite: Afternoon ”
7. One Day Suite: Night ”
8. New Elephant
9. Renew The Elephant
10. Innocent Bird
Notes about the Album: Dafnis Prieto (vocals, drums, bells); Jason Lindner (vocals, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Christian Howes (violin, bass violin); Dana Leong (cello); Yosvany Terry (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone). Additional personnel: Henry Threadgill (alto saxophone).
Drummer Dafnis Prieto breathes fresh life into the relatively bland world of contemporary jazz on ABSOLUTE QUINTET. To begin with, Prieto assembles an unusual instrumental line-up, including saxophone, violin, cello, and keyboards, while the music blends categories by marrying funky fusion to avant-minded juxtapositions and soloing.
Yet, as befits a session featuring a drummer as leader, ABSOLUTE QUINTET is intensely rhythmic, with polyrhythms scattered in every direction, and Prieto's octopus-limbed kit work shining throughout.
Dafnis un placer averte conocido compare, te cuentoq eu tu cd lo escucho todo el dia esta buenisimo lo recomiendo bastante por aqui en brasil, un abrazo grande espero poder encontrarnos denuevo.
“This music has a very emotional meaning. "Taking the Soul for a Walk" is a journey to all of the emotions evoked by the Titles of the 12 tracks. I have experienced these emotions as most of us probably have, and this music is flying through our ears before it touches infinity and disappears.”
hi dafnis, thank you for the add. i hope to see you in hamburg one day! for the meantime i would like you to know, that your work is just great, and for me it really means a lot........ jörg
HOLA, DEBO AGRADECER EL HABER CONOCIDO .GRANDES MÚSICOS COMO TÚ, GRANDES PERSONAS ADEMÁS Y SERES HUMANOS SENSIBLES Y DE LOS CUÁLES SIENTO UN INMENSO ORGULLO. EN FIN, TE RECUERDO CON MUCHO CARIÑO Y ESPERO MI ESPACIO SEA DE AHORA EN ADELANTE TAMBIÉN EL TUYO. UN ABRAZO.
Mi hermano muchas gracias por add es un placer y un honor tenerte aqui tu musica como siempre excelente y estas sonando muy bien espero noticias tuyas y me encantaria que me hicieras llegar un CD de tu proyecto aqui estamos chamaco
Dafnis,muchas gracias. Creo definitivamente que este es mi lugar favorito, eres un SUPER maestro.Bendiciones para ti siempre...ojala vengas pronto a miami.
que boletin compadre, entrando en esta onda cibernetica, olle el otro dia se armo la cagastrofe telefonica y no pudimos terminar de hablar, bueno my hermano cuidate y un abrazo como siempre,te llamo en estos dias
hola maestro. El otro dia me pasaron un concierto de columnaB en alguna ciudad de USA, te importaria si pongo el concierto en youtube, esta increibleeee!!!!!
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