Jazz Canarias Hits Right Note in Lanzarote
Tourists enjoying their holidays in Lanzarote can check out a great free concert this weekend. Now in its eighteenth year, the annual Canarias Jazz Festival arrives on 3rd July. Organised by the regional Government of the Canaries, there will be concerts on five of the seven islands, with many of them free to attend.
Lanzarote’s share of this musical feast will be two concerts, on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July. With the second of these events featuring an acclaimed musician who was born on the island, Diego Barber.
The guitarist began his musical training in Lanzarote, but completed his graduate and postgraduate studies in mainland Spain. A fluent interpreter of classical guitar, there are elements of flamenco as well as jazz in his own compositions. The musician is now based in New York, which is where he composed ‘Calima’, the first album to be released. Featuring a passage entitled ‘Lanzarote’, it is clear that the musician has taken inspiration from his birthplace.
The Diego Barber Quartet will be performing at 21.00 in the Municipal Theatre of San Bartolomé. Accompanying Diego will be Ari Hoenig on drums, Johannes Weidenmueller on the bass and Seamus Blake on sax. Also appearing on Saturday will be the Patricia Kraus Quartet.
During the 1980’s and 90’s, Patricia Kraus made various forays into the world of pop music. However, in recent years she has moved into the area of soul, blues and jazz, styles which complement her vocal skills. Such is her pre-eminence that she tutors other singers, including hopeful opera performers and entrants on Spain’s X-Factor show, ‘Operación Triunfo’.
The Quartet is made up of Gherardo Catanzaro on keyboard, Enrico Barbaro on the bass and Daniel Assante on drums and obviously features the voice of Patricia Kraus. Entrance to this concert is free.
The first concert will be on Friday 3rd July in Teguise. This will see the Icelandic band Mezzoforte take to the stage at 21.00. The group have an international following, thanks to over thirty years of performing and writing music. Formed in 1977, they have cited influences as diverse as Earth, Wind and Fire and Miles Davis.
Stylistically, Mezzoforte are exponents of jazz-funk fusion and have already notched up eleven albums and over 1,000 appearances. Their best known release was ‘Garden Party’ in 1983.
Following Mezzoforte on stage is the duo Okou. Comprised of a singer-songwriter, Tatiana Heintz, and a guitarist, Gilbert Trefzger, Okou formed in Paris, although neither artist is French. Tatiana hails from the Ivory Coast, whilst Gilbert is a Swiss born Egyptian. Together they compose tracks with a strong rhythm and blues influence and often featuring acoustic guitar. This concert is also free and will be taking place in the historic centre of Teguise.
