Putting the World into Victoria’s Jazz Beat

Latin Jazz Pianist Turiya Mareya Launches a New Weekly Jam Session at Hermann’s

Latin jazz pianist Turiya Mareya, who hails from Mexico but has spent a good chunk of time in Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria, is on a mission to bring, as she puts it, “a new community” to Hermann’s Jazz Club in Victoria.

Mareya, who first came to Canada in 2005 in search of another female Latin jazz pianist (Vancouver’s Kathy Kidd, who, unbeknownst to Mareya, had passed away five years earlier), found instead a whole country that has embraced her. “Victoria and Canada have been so good to me and I just wanted to give back to the city,” she says.

Giving back means creating a gift that will keep on giving in the form of an established worldbeat and Latin jazz jam session every Sunday night that Mareya hopes will draw younger players and a more ethnically diverse audience into the club and get them interested in jazz.

“It’s a fantastic venue,” she says of Hermann’s, noting that club owner Hermann Nieweler is incredibly open to new ideas. “He’s really young at heart,” she notes, adding that he is fully supportive of the sessions that begin Sunday, May 3 at 8pm.

Mareya thinks a lot of younger people who might otherwise come to the club are intimidated by the seriousness and complexity of mainstream jazz. “A lot of kids would like to get into jazz, would like to improvise, but they feel intimidated because they don’t know the tunes.” To counter this, she plans to set up a descarga (a Latin jam session) each night, that is far less formal than a traditional jam, and won’t require that players already know certain standards.

Players will find a rhythm section already in place that will create the jazz equivalent of hip hop “beats”, something Mareya points out young people really understand. “The youth can relate to this because they are all into hip hop…actually we’re going to be setting up beats with live musicians,” adding that the kids (largely university students) can then come and try improvising to these rhythms.

Mareya, who has a lot of respect for traditional jam sessions such as the one that has been run by Tom Vickery for years, says the descarga produces “more of a body music” that emphasizes danceable rhythms that are as important in world music as melody and harmony are in mainstream jazz. As such, it’s less intellectual and more approachable for people unfamiliar with the jazz idiom.

At the same time she emphasizes, “we’re going to play the tunes,” specifically standards like Night in Tunisia and others that can be performed in a Latin jazz format.

Mareya, who organized the recent Latin Jazz Festival at Hermann’s that featured Canadian jazz great Jane Bunnett and did an earlier show back in the winter with Adonis Puentes, also plans to draw more attention to local women players by including a women’s showcase. “I really think it’s so important that women’s voices are heard, and I really love empowering women and giving them an opportunity on an equal basis.”

During May and June, each evening will open with a set by one of these players, followed by the open jam session. The event has attracted some powerful performers including Maureen Washington, Louise Rose and Anna Lyman who will appear in May along with other performers.

Mareya says that her main goals are to “enlarge our palate in Victoria” and “build community,” although she does confess to a certain selfish motivation as well in that she really wants to enjoy her last two months in Victoria before she heads off on a major tour of Israel, Egypt, and Europe before returning to Mexico for a time.

Fortunately for the local jazz scene, she does plan to return to Victoria next year and guitarist David Harding will continue organizing the descargas while she is away.

Check out the Hermann’s calendar at www.hermannsjazz.com for more information. As well, you can learn more about Turiya Mareya and hear some of her music at http://www.myspace.com/mareya

– Rick Gibbs

© 2009 Rick Gibbs and Island Jazz

Turiya Mareya Live at Herman’s

Mareya’s Music

Turiya Mareya Live at Herman’s

 

Latin Sizzle

Posted By: Rick Gibbs Monday Magazine 01/07/2009 8:00 AM

Pianist Turiya Mareya melts what’s left of the snow

The way Mexican jazz pianist Turiya Mareya tells the story, Victoria saxophonist Noah Becker wasn’t too keen to play with her when she first tried to hire him for a gig last year. “He was so mean and awful and just gave me the freeze,” says Mareya, laughing. Later, when she telephoned him to try again, the reason for the cold reception emerged: he thought she was a singer. Learning that she was a pianist, Becker suddenly warmed up. “Ever since then he’s been my best friend . . . I guess he just doesn’t like singers,” she says, with obvious delight and affection.

Becker can be forgiven for his false assumption, since female Latin jazz pianists are a rare breed. So rare, in fact, that the Tijuana-based Mareya first came to Canada in 2005 to find another one-Vancouver’s Kathy Kidd-who, unbeknownst to her, had died five years earlier. She did manage to meet Kidd’s husband, who connected her with other Canadian players, and she ended up living here for a time, working out of Toronto and Vancouver with a number of top Cuban musicians.

Mareya eventually returned to Mexico, and in the past year has been playing various festivals and jazz venues throughout the country, but she’s back on the Island for two months (she first came here about 18 months ago “on a whim”) and is looking forward to kicking off 2009 with a gig at Hermann’s, featuring not only Becker on saxophone but also Humberto Mendoza on congas, Sean Drabitt on bass and special guest Adonis Puentes on vocals and percussion.

She’s particularly pleased to be sharing the stage with Puentes and is delighted by his recent success in Los Angeles, where he has been appearing with his own band and the Los Angeles Latin Jazz All Stars. “I’m really proud of him-he’s just done great,” says Mareya, who has fond memories of playing here with the whole Puentes family.

Becker, who got his Cuban music chops working with Adonis and his brother Alexis (now performing as Alex Cuba), clearly thinks very highly of Mareya. “She’s a very spiritual, very focused musician . . . very much involved in Cuban music,” he says. “That’s her interest, that’s her dedication, so her music is specifically written with those kinds of musicians in mind.”

The Hermann’s gig will feature a lot of that original writing and will be “really Latin,” according to Mareya, because they won’t have a jazz drummer backing them as originally planned. But for those of us still thawing out after our recent Siberian holiday, that’s a good thing. In fact, turn it up-that Latin heat can’t come soon enough.

—————–
Turiya Mareya Latin Jazz Ensemble
(with special guest Adonis Puentes)
8:30 pm Friday, January 9
Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View
Tickets $10 • 250-388-9166

WorldBeat/Latin Jazz Jam Session and Women’s Showcase Hosted by Turiya Mareya

Sunday, May 17th, 2009
8:00 PM to 11:00 PM

 

WorldBeat Jam Session and Women’s Showcase
In May 2009 Hermann’s Jazz Club will begin an ongoing Sunday night WorldBeat Jam Session In May and June the first hour of every Sunday will be a Women’s Jazz Showcase hosted by Pianist Turiya Mareya featuring some of of Victoria’s Women Jazz artists,including vocalists and instrumentalists, performing in the WorldBeat and Latin Jazz genres.

Cost $10 (Jam Session Participants Free)

This provides an opportunity for the Youth and world music communities of Victoria to have an opportunity to experience playing with a Latin band as well as experimenting with African and world music influences.

Jazz has been influenced greatly by the cultures of Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean all reflecting the African diaspora. Jazz has been one of the major sources of global unity and there is a continuous exciting fusion of world cultures keeping the music alive and constantly growing.

Adonis Puentes Band featuring Gilberto Moreaux and Turiya Mareya

Saturday, February 21st, 2009
8:00 PM to 11:00 PM

 

Adonis Puentes is a key personality in the ever expanding Latin music scene. He opens up the marvelous world of Cuban music to his audiences the second they hear his rich voice.
Adonis has shared stages with illustrious Latin music legends like Celia Cruz, Oscar De Leon, Juan De Marcos and The Afro Cuban All Stars, Orlando Valle ‘Maraca,’ Cuban Timba All Stars, Pianist Hilario Duran, Jane Bunnett and Pancho Quinto.

Gilberto, or “Gilbertónn,” has performed as a drummer/timbaleros with nearly every major group in Cuba in virtually every musical genre: from straight ahead jazz to traditional Cuban styles; from funk to rock, to Latin fusion. He is best known internationally for the “funk-in-clave” style of Afro-Cuban ‘Salsa’ known as Timba.

Pianist Turiya Mareya has performed internationally in Festivals and Venues in Canada, Europe, Mexico and the US. Her Compositions and playing reflects her deep love of Cuban music.

Victoria Latin Jazz Festival

Turiya Mareya Live at Herman’s

 

Latin Sizzle

Posted By: Rick Gibbs Monday Magazine 01/07/2009 8:00 AM

Pianist Turiya Mareya melts what’s left of the snow

The way Mexican jazz pianist Turiya Mareya tells the story, Victoria saxophonist Noah Becker wasn’t too keen to play with her when she first tried to hire him for a gig last year. “He was so mean and awful and just gave me the freeze,” says Mareya, laughing. Later, when she telephoned him to try again, the reason for the cold reception emerged: he thought she was a singer. Learning that she was a pianist, Becker suddenly warmed up. “Ever since then he’s been my best friend . . . I guess he just doesn’t like singers,” she says, with obvious delight and affection.

Becker can be forgiven for his false assumption, since female Latin jazz pianists are a rare breed. So rare, in fact, that the Tijuana-based Mareya first came to Canada in 2005 to find another one-Vancouver’s Kathy Kidd-who, unbeknownst to her, had died five years earlier. She did manage to meet Kidd’s husband, who connected her with other Canadian players, and she ended up living here for a time, working out of Toronto and Vancouver with a number of top Cuban musicians.

Mareya eventually returned to Mexico, and in the past year has been playing various festivals and jazz venues throughout the country, but she’s back on the Island for two months (she first came here about 18 months ago “on a whim”) and is looking forward to kicking off 2009 with a gig at Hermann’s, featuring not only Becker on saxophone but also Humberto Mendoza on congas, Sean Drabitt on bass and special guest Adonis Puentes on vocals and percussion.

She’s particularly pleased to be sharing the stage with Puentes and is delighted by his recent success in Los Angeles, where he has been appearing with his own band and the Los Angeles Latin Jazz All Stars. “I’m really proud of him-he’s just done great,” says Mareya, who has fond memories of playing here with the whole Puentes family.

Becker, who got his Cuban music chops working with Adonis and his brother Alexis (now performing as Alex Cuba), clearly thinks very highly of Mareya. “She’s a very spiritual, very focused musician . . . very much involved in Cuban music,” he says. “That’s her interest, that’s her dedication, so her music is specifically written with those kinds of musicians in mind.”

The Hermann’s gig will feature a lot of that original writing and will be “really Latin,” according to Mareya, because they won’t have a jazz drummer backing them as originally planned. But for those of us still thawing out after our recent Siberian holiday, that’s a good thing. In fact, turn it up-that Latin heat can’t come soon enough.

—————–
Turiya Mareya Latin Jazz Ensemble
(with special guest Adonis Puentes)
8:30 pm Friday, January 9
Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View
Tickets $10 • 250-388-9166

TURIYA MAREYA LIVE AT HERMAN’S

TURIYA MAREYA LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE LIVE AT HERMAN’S JAN 19TH AT 8:30 PM $10 Students and Seniors $5 Children Free Herman’s Jazz Club 753 View Street Victoria BC (250) 388-9166 info@hermannsjazz.com MAREYA MYSPACE FEATURING NOAH BECKER ON SAXOPHONE Years of international travel have seasoned the Victoria-raised tenor saxophone player, Noah Becker, who, this year won the Monday Magazine Award for “Favourite Jazz Artist” in the Victoria area. This outrageously talented musician has gigged with the likes of Wynton Marsalis and Roy Hargrove, SPECIAL GUEST ADONIS PUENTES – VOICE AND BONGOSAdonis Puentes is a key personality in the ever expanding latin music scene. He opens up the marvelous world of Cuban music to his audiences the second they hear his rich voice. A major star and Juno Winner in Canada Adonis is currently burning it up with his band in Los Angeles, recently completed a tour with Maraca and is performing also with the Los Angeles Latin Jazz All Stars. He appeared with Turiya Mareya at the Puerto Penasco Jazz Festival in 2007. Adonis Puentes My Space SEAN DRABBITT- BASSOne of the most in demand bassist in BC , this talented artist has performed in over 40 countries with top Jazz artists such as Nicolas Payton. Sean Drabbit My Space HUMBERTO MENDOZA – CONGASOne of the Island’s favorite performer, Panemanian percussionist Humberto has performed with Adonis Puentes and is on of the Mainstays of the Latin scene in BC. TURIYA MAREYA Mareya was raised in the vibrant border of Tijuana and San Diego. She started playing with Mexican dance bands at a young age and later studied Jazz under the direction of Mr. Daniel Jackson, one of the West Coast Jazz Legends. She studied also at the Creative Music School in Woodstock but most of her musical instruction came from the streets, the clubs and fellow musicians. She began playing Latin Jazz with the Tambu International Ensemble, moving to Vera Cruz and living later in Mexico City. Returning to the border she was active in the jazz and latin music scenes. She became the musical director and pianist for the Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble. In 2003 Turiya began working as a solo artist going first to Juneau Alaska where she performed with Afro-Cuban Percussionist Antonio Diaz and to Anchorage where she performed with Hector Diaz y su Orchesta Tropical. She moved to Madrid in 2004 and was active in the music scene there. In 2005 she toured Canada working in Toronto with her band which featured some of the top Toronto Cuban artists. She also toured British Columbia and where she worked Cuban Artists with Adonis Puentes and Gilberto Moroeax on Vancouver Island. She returned to Tijuana in 2008 where she was Artist in Residence at Arte Sana in Playas de Tijuana.She headlined at the Ensendada Jazz Festival and the Rocky Point Jazz Festival in Sonora Mexico She also headed the Binacional Jazz Descarga in Tijuana. In Spring of 2008 she toured the Yucatan Mexico performing in Festivals and Jazz venues there. She was featured at the Afro-Carribbean Festival , the Baja Jazz Festival and the M-Fest Jazz Festival. She performed in October for the 2nd year at the Puerto Penasco Jazz Festival in Sonora Mexico and is currently performing in Canada. TUIRYA MAREYA PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Turiya Mareya in Victoria Canada

The Turiya Mareya Latin Jazz Ensemble Performs at Herman’s -Los Munequitos de Mantanzas After Party!! On July 18th at 9 pm Latin Jazz Pianist Turiya Mareya will perform with special guest Adonis Puentes on Vocals and Percussion and his father Valentin Puentes on Bass. Also appearing Noah Becker on Tenor and Alto Sax. Live Jazz Reservations: (250) 388-9166 753 View Street, Victoria BC Email: info@hermannsjazz.com   Turiya Mareya Website

Adonis Puentes One of Canada’s best known World Music Artists, Adonis Puentes is originally from Havana, Cuba and has made a life and career in Canada basing out of Vancouver Island. His Debut CD Vida shows his command of his Cuban musical heritage and his exploration of contemporary Funk Grooves. Blessed with a powerful, authentic Cuban voice he takes command of of the stage with a passionate energy.He is joined by his father Valentin Puentes, on bass. He is one of Cuba’s best loved Son Guitarists. Adonis Puentes Myspace

Los Munequitos de Mantanzas live in Victoria – July 18th 8 pm at the Salsa Palace The group is primarily known for its exquisite and authentic interpretation of rumba and its three variants (yambú, guaguancó and Columbia), and includes a repertoire spanning numerous Afro-Cuban folkloric genres, including the abakuá music and dance of the Calabar tribe of Nigeria to Yoruban religious music of the santería tradition. Under the direction of Diosdado Ramos, the group includes three generations of musicians and dancers with an array of instruments including tumbadoras and batá drums.

August 1st – Turiya Mareya performs at Herman’s with Cuban Drummer – Gilberto Moreaux Gilberto, or “Gilbertónn,” has performed as a drummer/timbaleros with nearly every major group in Cuba in virtually every musical genre: from straight ahead jazz to traditional Cuban styles; from funk to rock, to Latin fusion. He is best known internationally for the “funk-in-clave” style of Afro-Cuban ‘Salsa’ known as Timba.He has been a featured member of many of Cuba’s most popular groups, including Atempo, Medico de la Salsa, Bamboleo, The Power Generation, Charanga Habanera, and Charanga Forever. Gilbertónn is now living in Vancouver, quickly making a name for himself locally. One of the groups he plays with regularly is the great Cuban band D’Talle, as well as La Candela, Zapato Negro, Edgar Muenala, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Henry Brown.   Gilberto Moreaux Website

Turiya Mareya- Latin Jazz Pianist, Composer and Arranger Turiya began studying Jazz at 15 years of age. She was Originally mentored by San Diego Jazz legend Daniel Jackson, Mareya followed his example by becoming proficient on both piano and reeds and focusing on playing her original compositions. She grew up in the Tijuana- San Diego border area playing with local latin groups. She continued her work in New York, studying at the Creative School of Music. Later she toured Mexico with the Taumbu International Ensemble. All of those experiences help mold her unique approach based on World Music influences and drawing on the trance inducing and spirit calling focus of African and Indigenous approaches to music.She honed her abilities in Latin Jazz heading the Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble where she had the privilege to work with drummer Skip Howlett known for his work with Mongo Santamaria and Tito Puente, as well as Cuban Bassist Ignacio Arango part of the legendary Cuban family Los Hermanos Arango who include Feliciano and Eugenio Arango. For 6 years The Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble held a Sunday nightspot at Croce’s Jazz Bar in San Diego and performed at Jazz Festivals opening for artists such as Arturo Sandoval, David Murray, Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sanchez and Jane Bunnet. Since 2003, Mareya has been touring Europe, Canada. Alaska and Mexico. She is currently in Victoria British Columbia and this fall with start a tour with her new Cuban Jazz group featuring Ignacio Arango, Felix Bentencourt and Lazaro Poey. They will be featured in October in Tijuana for WorldBeat Center’s Day of the Drum Celebration and at the Puerto Penasco Jazz Festival in Sonora Mareya Myspace

Turya Mareya performs every Sat and Sun through August with Vocalist Anna Lyman Brazilian Classics and JazzGloEuro Pub in Victoria 12 to 3 pm Glo Europub in Victoria

Turiya Mareya Latin Jazz Ensemble Live at Anthology June 3rd

 THE TURIYA MAREYA LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE at Anthology in San Diego 

 

Featuring 

TURIYA MAREYA  - PIANO

 

Gene Perry on Congas

 

Charlie Chavez  – Timbales

David Millard- Flute, Soprano Sax, Alto Violen

 

 

Igancio Arango- Guitar

 

Ramon Casas- Bass

 

 

JUNE 3RD

7:30 PM

 

ANTHOLOGY

 1337 India Street
San Diego, CA 92101, United States
+1 619-595-0300

 

>

 

Turiya live in Merida

JAZZIN´ MERIDA PRESENTS

TURIYA MAREYA JAZZ LATIN ENSEMBLE EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT

JAZZIN MERIDA

CALLE 56 NO. 465 ENTRE 53 Y 55

924 5628