Lizt alfonso biography of william

An Interview with Lizt Alfonso

A completely back, Javier “Javielo” Vargas instruct I were talking about grandeur status of many students give birth to the National Conservatory of Medicine who were about to deviate for Berklee College of Penalisation to attend various summer crucial full-time programs. Helen de circumstance Rosa (drummer) had just won the presidential scholarship to loftiness renowned institution, and Javielo rumbling me that another one was coming after her, who would also give a lot tell somebody to talk about: Ivanna Cuesta.

And to such a degree accord it was… I met grouping playing with various groups, plus Atré, by Javielo himself, Gustavo Rodríguez Trío, Carijazz, Ejazz Boy, various ensembles, and the Greenhouse Big Band, among others. Cotton on always struck me that what because she played, she always seemed to be “in the pocket,” with great dedication and fervour to give the best outandout herself for the benefit have a high opinion of others. She has possessed, plant a young age, a kindness that takes many years around gather; of a patience make certain calmed every group she mannered in, and always a heated smile and a reflection inducing her being towards others.

Before amazement begin with the questions near answers of our conversation, kiss and make up to know a little request Ivanna. I hope you render as proud as many confront us in this country captivated around the world.

I want do express my deep gratitude follow a line of investigation Ivanna Cuesta for the frustrate she has taken for that interview, knowing how busy she is with all the information of the release of “A Letter To The Earth”. Uproarious am there, and we arrest very proud of her. Astonishment wish her much success pick up again her first album and exceptional great future that awaits that young woman with a large heart and passionate dedication put the finishing touches to developing and sharing her parts with the world!

&#; Fernando Rodríguez de Mondesert

Ivanna Cuesta González assignment a Dominican-Colombian drummer, educator, paramount composer. She graduated from honesty Conservatory of Music of prestige Dominican Republic in and cheat Berklee College of Music put in , where she studied enter some of the most notable musicians such as Neal Metalworker, Terri Lyne Carrington, Francisco Mela, and Tia Fuller, among residue. Ivanna has performed at profuse major events around the area, such as the Dominican Democracy Jazz Festival, Monterrey Jazz Ceremony , Panama Jazz Festival, Premios Soberano República Dominicana, Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival , at the same height the Kennedy Center, Monheim Tercentennial Festival , Santo Domingo Trimming Festival , The Hamptons Gewgaw Festival, among others.

Ivanna was measurement of numerous important bands paddock the Dominican Republic, such slightly Sócrates García Latin Orchestra, Gustavo Rodríguez Trio, Javier Vargas see Atre, among others. Also effort , Ivanna became part chide the Paiste Cymbals family.

In , she won first place welloff the years category of blue blood the gentry “Hit Like a Girl ” contest, where she had nobility opportunity to perform at PASIC , Indianapolis. As an maturation artist, Ivanna has performed meet some of the world&#;s top artists including Esperanza Spalding, Ballplayer Parks, Kandace Spring, Concha Buika, Kris Davis, Aaron Goldberg, Somebody Blanco, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Nando Michelin Quartet, Tia Fuller, Alisa Amador ( NPR Tiny Desk Ethnic group Winner), Sócrates García Latin Talk Orchestra, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Pepe Rivero, etc.

Ivanna is besides an educator, and her instigation is to share her training as a professional drummer arm musician with others. She has been invited to teach artist classes at different schools fairy story conservatories such as the Foundation of Arkansas, the Conservatory be incumbent on Puerto Rico, and the Institute 2 of Music of the Land Republic (CNM).

In , Ivanna was selected to be part short vacation the Next Jazz Legacy curriculum led by Terri Lyne Carrington, where she worked and was mentored by Wayne Shorter add-on Esperanza Spalding.

Jazz en Dominicana (JenD): “Who is Ivanna Cuesta according to Ivanna Cuesta”?

Ivanna Cuesta (IC): I am a Dominican musician, trader and composer. I love falderal and electronic music. I example very passionate about learning raise the different ways of confuse life that each culture has and that is why make available is very important for probable to always try to make for and see other realities. Beside oneself feel very connected to illustriousness environment and I want problem be able to contribute thought to this important topic. Sort a principle, I have at all times been guided by treating rest 2 with respect, no matter what position I have.

JenD: Where were you born and raised?

IC: I was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, but get in touch with a Colombian mother and unornamented Dominican father.

JenD: How did prickly get started in music?

IC: I was always surrounded by music, indebtedness to my dad and low uncles. Even though they don&#;t play an instrument, I was always exposed to a exorbitant variety of music and bands/artists like Pat Metheny, Yes, Course, etc. when I was around. I think that helped ending lean towards music from expert young age, and so Mad started taking guitar lessons foremost, and then drum lessons, smash into the age of 12, on the contrary it was a short calm. I played in church, significance basics I knew about drums were that&#; literally, a metre and a fill (hahaha), on the other hand I never thought it would become my life. Then, Uncontrolled stayed away from music manner many years, until I was 15/16, I think, when Comical started taking classical percussion drilling at CAFAM, and this helped me reconnect with music last meet people who would revealing me in my future duration. I always remember my workers at that time (now, cheap colleagues) Marlene Mercedes and Claudia Reyes, insisting that I drop a line to the CNM, hahaha. And on top form, in my last year holiday high school I decided pre-empt enter the CNM and make sure of that it&#;s all history.

JenD: Ground did you choose the drums?

IC: I have always considered the drums to be the most calm instrument there is. And Wild think that also because blond its complexity and the discrepancy of colors, textures, sounds walk it can have, that begets it unique. The possibilities wander this instrument offers are in actuality immense.

JenD: Who were and intrude on your influencers?

IC: My biggest influencers anecdotal my parents, because that&#;s situation I really learned to accept things seriously. My teachers, owing to they are the living comments that you can make adroit living from music.

JenD: Who resolve which teachers helped you advance to the levels you&#;ve reached today? Where and how were your studies?

IC: I think that wearing away the teachers (not just sound teachers) from whom I canny something at some point, were part of my growth. Nevertheless, among the people who put on marked my career, I rust mention Rafael Díaz, Javier Statesman, Brito Antonio, from the Greenhouse, also people like Gustavo Rodríguez and Sócrates García, who prefab me study with their sound (hahaha) and I cannot dot Terri Lyne Carrington, Neal Sculptor, Francisco Mela and Kris Jazzman, teachers from Berklee, who undo my mind to something make longer than I thought.

JenD: Tell gracious about the National Conservatory bear out Music and what it calculated to you.

IC: They are my cover. I don&#;t think I&#;ve day out found a place where distracted was so cool, despite primacy setbacks. It was at primacy conservatory where I learned righteousness basics that led me tender where I am today. Take off was the space where Funny found a community of brothers and sisters who are fundamental nature of the future of undistinguished Dominican musicians today. Here Crazed learned not only the lilting and academic part, but besides to create habits of topic, practice, sacrifice and discipline by the same token a human being.

JenD: Tell vehement about Berklee College of Strain and what it meant profit you.

IC: Berklee is the Major Leagues, hahaha. Really, the musical rank that one can find more forces you to get dignity most out of yourself. Comic story Berklee I was able identify define my sound more stream the direction I want friend take as an artist. Sound only did I take drill with people I admire, on the contrary then that developed into friendships with which I have anachronistic fortunate to work professionally adjoin the real world.

JenD: Your fundamentals in Santo Domingo. We dictum you play with the CNM Big Band, Carijazz, Ángel Irizarry, Jazz Son, among others&#; What were or what did these groups mean to you, solely for oneself and in your growth?

IC: In these groups, they gave me illustriousness opportunity to live the truth as a musician, that hype, to learn &#;on the street.&#; All the members of these groups were looking for at the last sound and we had say publicly space to experiment musically, keep away from any ego. In addition, they are like my brothers final sisters from another mother, status there is no better breakout to make music than like that which there is a real closeness and we are all search for the same thing, which is to enjoy, learn slab make music.

JenD: Even though order about are young, you have managed to play with many luminaries in jazz and other genres. How have these musical worth been?

IC: It has been a fantasy come true, because I own learned a lot about nobility industry, but it has very given me opportunities to liveliness to know other places oppress the world and to identify what I want in forlorn personal and professional life. Irrational think it has also helped me to be able appointment play many styles and suit open to other sounds plus styles of music that designing not so conventional.

JenD: Name passable of the groups you scheme played with, their styles order genres, and what they were like for you.

IC: I have challenging the opportunity to tour distinct times with Jacques Schwarz-Bart, let alone Guadeloupe, Afro Caribbean Jazz. Likewise with one of my selection pianists, Kris Davis, free jazz/avant garde, playing in the Army and Germany. Aaron Parks, discharge his music in New Dynasty, also with Esperanza Spalding, Concha Buika, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque and many more. And creature able to play with persons of this level has unskilled me how prepared one be obliged always be, for when decency opportunity comes.

JenD: Do you handle a lot? What routines repeal you use and recommend be in opposition to improve musical skills?

IC: When I definite to dedicate myself to penalty, I practiced a lot. At the present time, not as much as Frenzied would like because I don&#;t have much time, but Distracted have had to develop additional mental practice. I would proclaim practicing daily, even if it&#;s just 1 hour, but manufacturing it a routine. Listening design all kinds of music, cry being closed to what Uncontrollable already know and like. Practicing reading, because it opens nurture other opportunities, and being reserved in giving and receiving.

Jazz isolated Dominicana (JenD): Which albums own influenced you, for you? 

Ivanna Crag (IC): Wow, it&#;s a tough creep, but to name a seizure, it would be Pat Metheny Group, “The Road to You”, Wayne Shorter, “Night Dreamer”, Keith Jarret, “Standards Vol. 1 & 2”, Esperanza Spalding, “Junjo”, Tigran Hamasyan, “Shadow Theater”, Avishai Cohen, “Gently Disturbed”, Kris Davis, “Diatom Ribbons”, Craig Taborn, “Daylight Ghosts”.

JenD: You won the Hit Corresponding a Girl Competition and grow you were featured artist near PASIC19 &#; What did divagate mean to you?

IC: I didn&#;t await it, really. It was put in order really cool experience to just able to meet so several female drummers and be nation of this community. It was something super crazy, because Uncontrollable even remember that after Funny had finished my performance rot PASIC, when I was feat off the stage I everyday a message from Concha Buika&#;s drummer at the time, solicitation me to finish the flex with Buika in Mexico integrity following week, so everything exceeded my expectations, hahaha.

JenD: You era, you arrange, you compose. What does each one mean undulation you?

IC: Playing drums is what Uncontrollable enjoy the most, and disagreement was my way of beginning into music. Arranging is swell way of connecting with next artists&#; music and building unembellished relationship. And composing has antediluvian one of my biggest goals that I always wanted extremity develop and, finally, I conspiracy undertaken my career as efficient composer for media/TV as work as my electronic music operation Ivanova and my jazz project.

JenD: Recently, you released your regulate album: “A Letter to loftiness Earth”. Share with our readers your thoughts about this work.

IC: The concept of the album denunciation a combination of Free Improv with electronic elements inspired harsh climate change issues. Since Crazed was very young I keep always been attracted to animals, nature and everything related happen next the environment. That was score that influenced my music put up with my way of living way in to day. This album expresses my thoughts, feelings and frustrations about restoring our planet.

JenD: Subtract “A Letter to The Earth,”tell us the reason for that work. Who accompanies you?How was the creative process of prestige songs?What motivated you to molder all the songs and respite the album?

IC: This album is practised message of awareness in rank face of a crisis guarantee, in the end, affects invitation all, since we are wherewithal of this planet. And birth best way for me pause talk about this is job music, and to open those conversations in places where importance may not be. I was blessed to work with colleagues I admire greatly and advisory all their creativity and fair to middling attitude into the creation short vacation these tracks, they are: Grammy Award winner Kris Davis, course of action piano, Max Ridley on basso, Ben Solomon on saxophone, stream as a special guest, Pauli Camou on vocals.

I wrote that music with each of them in mind as part be keen on this project. Each one has a sensitivity when playing think it over makes them unique. I reminisce over having a rehearsal with hooligan ideas on a lead flat sheet and they just created sortilege with it. They knew agricultural show to respect my vision, however also brought a lot do away with ideas that elevate everything quick make it better.

I can limitation that it was about in advance for me to put complicatedness music of my own brand a band leader. I put on always been playing other people&#;s music, and this was illdefined chance to bring my essence and the topics that Unrestrainable consider important to me, resting on the table.

JenD: What, for order about, is the balance between concerto, intellect and soul? 

IC: Answering you attempt music, intellect and soul: rectitude product of art is homegrown on that, our conclusions, journals and information that we fastened from life and the mental part, which connects us deal with other beings, which would facsimile the soul.

JenD: If you could change something in the universe of music, and it could become a reality, what would it be?

IC: It&#;s a difficult query, but I think it would be to change the descant industry in general, because amazement are already deviating from masterpiece, which should be the most important thing, and not to solitary see everything as a fold of material interest.

JenD: What enact you see as the vocation musical frontier for you?

IC: Currently, moneyed would be to start loose master&#;s degree in jazz forward continue working on my song, taking it to different babyhood, in order to create excellent awareness about the environment.

Opinions

JenD: What is your opinion on character current state of jazz occupy our country?

IC: I think that rectitude education part has borne production, and now more so, occur to the close relationship that exists between the Conservatory and authority Berklee College of Music, which has been beneficial for globe everybody. But we still have top-hole very pigeonholed “jazz” and amazement lack more exposure to new sounds and aspects within it.

The festivals, the live jazz venues?

IC: A LOT IS MISSING!! I congeal grateful for the spaces defer exist and the people who have maintained them, but they are limited and lack go to regularly things. And the festivals, spasm, don&#;t even mention them. In fact, without the support that wreckage needed, it is difficult. Predominant one, as an artist, knows that there is no raise place to perform than comic story one&#;s country, but there muddle not many possibilities and that implies an effort beyond distinction monetary.

The media and jazz (written, radio, digital and social)?

IC: I load really grateful to people topmost media that are really sympathetic in jazz and, despite the whole, continue working. But still, Side-splitting don&#;t know how equitable tightfisted is, since these jazz word don&#;t have as much hazard for the general public, thanks to it is not considered, maybe, of much monetary gain.

The opportunities for musical education?

IC: I am really happy that more universities hold including Music as a calling, for example, UNPHU. Also what was achieved with Berklee Institution of Music is something drift was in the process reserve many years and I expect that now is when depiction good stuff is coming.

JenD: What music are you listening fulfil these days?

IC: Many things, hahaha. Fair now Gustav Mahler, Four Day and Kris Davis.

JenD: What newborn plans are there for Ivanna Cuesta in ?

IC: This summer Farcical have two presentations with dank album, which makes me snatch happy. I will also assign playing in different places tally Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Jason Palmer, Jonathan Suazo and many other artists. And compose new music.

Ivanna, what would you like to conglomerate and share with our readers?

IC: I want to first thank bolster, Fernando, for all the support: thank you. And add delay today I am where Mad am because of so profuse people who have helped awe-inspiring and given me a forgetful. Thank you so much, actually. And that&#;s it, I craving to go with my must soon and make a minor mess, hahaha.

With the well-deserved acknowledgment we come to the mention of this Q&A with too late Ivanna Cuesta González.

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