Afro-Peruvian sextet performs free concert

Written by Rob Ketcham

Wednesday, 25 February 2009 17:53

Described as one of the most “fresh,” “hip,” and “brilliant” composers and musicians of his time, the Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet will perform a free concert tonight at 9 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Ballroom.

It will be the concluding event for the University of Wyoming’s three-day creativity conference.

The concert, which is sponsored by Teaching Creativity, Friday Night Fever and the Student Activities Council, will showcase music from Alegria’s newest chart-topping CD, “Nuevo Mundo.”

“Gabriel is definitely one of the most creative and inventive artists out there,” Mike Lange, program adviser of the Wyoming Union, said. “Not only is he an amazing musician, but he’s a great educator as well.”`

While world-renowned trumpeter and composer Alegria will lead the sextet, he will be accompanied by saxophonist Laurandrea LeguÍa, acoustic guitarist Yuri Juárez, bassist Ramón De Bruyn, drummer Hugo Alcázar and master percussionist Freddy Lobatón.

Alegria, who is currently the associate director of jazz studies at New York University, earned a doctorate in jazz studies from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree from the City University of New York and a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College.

During the course of a musical career that has spanned the globe, Alegria’s sextet has received rave reviews from a number of different magazines and artists.

“An inspiring mixture of Jazz and Afro-Peruvian music,” “The Latin Jazz Corner” said. “As more people hear Alegria’s honest blend of styles, they will definitely be looking for its inclusion into their future musical landscape.”

Ingrid Jensen, the nationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter who performed with the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble during last week’s Rocky Mountain Festival of Winds, added, “My life has been enriched by Gabriel’s vision and the great music he has introduced me to.”

On top of tonight’s concert, Lange also said Alegria will host a free workshop this afternoon at 3:30 in the Wyoming Union Ballroom. At the workshop, which is open to students and the public, he said Alegria will discuss the role creativity plays in higher education.

Overall, Lange said he encourages anyone and everyone to attend not only Alegria’s afternoon workshop, but also his concert this evening.

“They are going to be off-the-charts awesome. There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be new. It’s going to be innovative. It’s definitely going to be everything you want from a concert.”

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