Gabriel Alegria’s Afro-Peruvian Sextet to Perform at
the Vermont Jazz Center on January 24th at 8:00 PM

Gabriel Alegria, a brilliant trumpeter/composer from Perú will come to the Vermont Jazz Center on January 24th at 8:00 PM. He is touring with a hand-picked, working ensemble entitled the Afro-Peruvian Sextet; they will present an evening of exciting music that is both smart and gutsy, offering complex arrangements that rouse our curiosity, and primitive rhythms that connect us to the Source. This group plays jazz that is informed by the rich legacy of the black music of coastal Perú. In all of Alegria’s work, a crosscultural exchange between the Americas is always present, carefully defining Afro- Peruvian jazz music as the one of the newest voices to come from Latin America.

One of the most influential figures on the current jazz scene in Perú, Alegria has appeared in concert and/or on recordings with Maria Schneider, Placido Domingo, Kenny Werner, Ingrid Jensen, Tierney Sutton, Natalie Cole, The Peruvian National Symphony, Bill Watrous, John Thomas, Russ Ferrante and Alex Acuña. He has also performed concerts for the United Nations and various diplomatic missions from around the world. The Afro- Peruvian Sextet has appeared in over 300 concerts and master classes throughout North America. Alegria combines his experience playing jazz as it developed in the U.S. with a passionate interest and careful study of the black music of coastal Perú. By incorporating and exploring the common African roots found in both styles, he presents a unique musical concept supported by fieldwork and time spent in Perú learning from the art form’s greatest exponents

Indeed, one of the art form’s greatest percussionists will be performing as a member of this sextet: Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón is considered the world’s leading authority on Peruvian zapateo dancing and is also considered one of the great masters of the cajon. Huevito’s distinctive approach to the cajón, quijada (jawbone) and cajita (a small, church-collection box) in a jazz context has made him a pioneer among Afro-Peruvian percussionists. He has added an essential element to Gabriel Alegriá’s music since joining the ensemble in 2004.
Alegria will also be performing with drummer Hugo Alcázar, guitarist Yuri Juarez, saxophonist Laurandrea Leguía and South African bassist and vocalist Ramon de Bruyn.

Gabriel Alegria’s Afro-Pervian Sextet will perform their Vermont debut at the Vermont Jazz Center on Saturday, January 24th at 8:00 PM. This concert is being subsidized by many gracious sponsors, including Jazz Perú Internacional and Julian Gerstin. Others who have contributed to this event include the Colonial Inn, and the Brattleboro Food Co-op. The Vermont Jazz Center would especially like to thank the Vermont Council of the Arts for a generous grant that is helping to assist their efforts to provide high quality jazz programming to the community. This concert is handicap accessible, please call to discuss arrangements to facilitate your enjoyment of this concert: (802) 254 9088, extension 2.

Tickets to hear Gabriel Alegria’s Afro-Peruvian Sextet are $20 general admission, $15 for students with valid ID. To purchase using a credit card, visit the VJC website at www.vtjazz.org and order using their secure server. Tickets can also be purchased at In the Moment in downtown Brattleboro, or can be reserved by calling the VJC ticket-line at (802) 254 9088 (ext.1). A surcharge of $1 per ticket will be added to all tickets purchased with a credit card, online, or by phone.

To listen to examples of this group, please visit Gabriel’s website:
http://www.gabrielalegria.com/

Videos of the Afro-Peruvian Sextet can be found in the “Festival History” section at: http://www.jazzperu.org