Tributo de tambor y trombón en clave de mujer Boricua

Dutch trombonist 'Maestra' May Peters brings a tribute

to the grandes dames of Puerto Rican Music Trombonist, musical director and writer May Peters was the teacher Trombone Jazz and Caribbean Music at the Conservatory de Puerto Rico, where she wrote a book ¡Música,maestra! In 1994 she started out in the band of Eddie Santiago and Plena Libre. Later she would play with the orchestra of Elías Lopés accompanying famous salsa singers like Andy Montañez and Lalo Rodriguez. She was a guest at the 55 Anniversary of La Sonora Ponceña. So she clearly thought her new cd would be a salsa cd. When she approached last year well-known arranger and pianist Eric Figueroa in her second homeland Puerto Rico to produce her debut album, they both hadn’t the idea that they would add a new product to the already rich music culture of the Puerto Rico. Figueroa, known of his work with Bata Cumbele, Descarga Boricua and later on as a producer of Luis Enrique, Olga Tañon and many more started to arrange eight compositions. Again he was renewing. And he ended up with a refreshing concept of arrangements of famous female Puerto Rican composers. A tribute with percussion and trombone to the Grandes Dames of Puerto Rican music. The perfect musician to do so would be a woman on trombone, with a decent Jazz education as a background (Conservatory Hilversum- the Netherlands) and a passion for Afro Caribbean music. May Peters lives 13 years in Puerto Rico. Alternating with the Netherlands and Curacao, where she worked two years as a trombonist at the Tumbafestival ’94, ’95, 2008. June 19, 2013 the cd Tributo de Tambor y trombón en clave de mujer boricua is released under her own label Coquí Promotions. It is a surprising album with eight different Afro-Caribbean rhythms, recorded at the famous Spectrum Studios in San Juan- Puerto Rico by the best musicians of the Puerto Rican music scene. Forty different percussion instruments recorded by eight percussionists and a ‘jazz quintet’ formation as a base!

Reviews

Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular:

On rank #9 of the 20 Best Albums of 2013 of Puerto Rico. ‘A creative work with an

incalculable value for nacional music and the female presence in it. It is a ingenious idea,

what deserves an applause because of it’s brilliant performance on trombone’...

Ragui Vega el Nuevo Día- Puerto Rico: ‘A ‘Puerto Rican by adoption’ demonstrates clearly her of control of Latin Jazz.’…

Peggy Ann Bliss, San Juan Star- Puerto Rico ‘Woman and Women: Salsa Jazz is a Dutch Treat. Trombonist May Peters Surprises with CD in PR’..

DJ Walter B Nice for NewGenSalsa.com: ‘May Peters is a gifted trombone player from Holland who has shared the stage with many of the best musicians/artists in the Latin music industry such as Elias Lopes and His Orchestra, La Sonora Poncena, Eddie Santiago and Plena Libre just to name a few. If you’re a Latin Jazz lover as I am this album will be a must add to your collection.’

Lino Iglesias Composer, Latin Music Consultant, Producer, Philadelphia-USA: ‘This

production is one of the best recordings of actual times in the genre of Tropical Jazz, given

that it possesses a dynamic variety of rhythms that energetically & subtly stimulate the ear

of the listener with surprising musical movements, in conjunction with enigmatic melodies

of the past that frame the singular sound & musical mastery of May Peters & her melodic

Trombone, as well as the impeccable musical work of Eric Figueroa and all the musicians

that participated in this great project.’

James Nadal - All About Jazz: ‘Dramatic liberties were taken with the arrangements by

pianist/producer Eric Figueroa, who set up all the songs with a dominant percussion factor

and has Peters leading the charge with a ferocious combination of energy and finesse.

Having paid her dues with numerous salsa, bomba, and plena bands, she obviously thrives

in this environment and the results are impressive.’

Wilbert Sostre – Latin Jazz Network: ‘May Peters is more knowledgeable of the Puerto

Rican music than most Puerto Ricans. No doubt Peters is a versatile musician capable of playing different styles convincingly . The structured but ingenious arrangements leave plenty of space for good improvisations by May Peters, pianist and producer Eric Figueroa, Paoli Mejías on congas and Luis Manuel Rodríguez on timbales.’

Dj-Hecu Hector Ordoñez- Cali,Colombia:’How exciting and pleasant to come across musical productions, of which every second, every track, every melody played touch your soul.‘Tributo de Tambor y Trombón en Clave de Mujer Boricua’ the most recent production of Dutch trombonist May Peters is one of them without a doubt. This album mixes tremendous harmonies from the Jazz Latino idiom with the feeling and passion which emanates Latin and Caribbean music.’

An excerpt of the liner notes of Eric Figueroa, producer, arranger, pianist:

'Personally, each track represents a characteristic of women: beauty, intelligence, sensuality, creativity, strength, patience, humor and independence. Listen up this production, which brings a bit of everything, it is varied and is made with a lot of heart. May, your performances were magical, "especially" the bolero of Myrta Silva. Puerto Rico, give a hug to May Peters for loving this Island in the same way that we love it.'

An excerpt of the bio’s written by the ‘cronista musical oficial de Puerto Rico’ Miguel López Ortiz especially for this production and collected in an including 28 pages booklet: Sylvia Rexach is, without doubt, the most celebrated female Puerto Rican composer. She left a small but very refined repertoire of 53 compositions in total, mainly boleros, In this occasion we will listen to Dí Corazón an arrangement in an authentic Puerto Rican rhythm, the bomba, with three trombones played by May Peters. Puchi Balseiro is the Puerto Rican female composer who is best captured and identified the most with the essence of the filin, fusion of bolero and jazz. From her hand came very strucking boleros. Her Tu equivocación we will hear in this compact in medium swing tempo. Gloria González has been the most outstanding and prolific of the Puerto Rican female salsa composers. Protégé from the legendary Tite Curet Alonso. Ever since, most of the stars of the salsa have recorded her compositions, such as Bobby Valentín y su Orquesta with Frankie Ruiz. In this work of May Peters we will hear Si no te hubieras ido Myrta Silva passed history as one of the most multifaceted, controversial and emblematic figures of the resplendent era of Puerto Rican television. We well hear her classics ¿Qué sabes tú? y Tengo que acostumbrarme arranged in a bolero medley. Zulma Angélica González is possibly, the most well-known female Puerto Rican salsa composer after Gloria González. The list of those who performed her compositions includes Bobby Valentín, Andy Montañez,Sammy González y Willie Rosario y su Orquesta with Gilberto Santa Rosa and Tony Vega. In this recording, May Peters offers us her version, in samba rhythm, of Nací y así soy. Lily Delgado has been one of the most representative female voices of the music of trios in Puerto Rico. From her authorship, here we will hear, adapted to plena, the other authentic rhythm of Puerto Rico, her composition, Estoy enamorado. Lucy Fabery internationally promoted under her nickname «La Muñeca de Chocolate», «the Chocolate Doll», is the Puerto Rican singer who could be identified the most with the Cuban filin style. Her passionate way and personality, together with her exotic mullata beauty, captivated every audience. From her we will listen now, in yambú rhythm to La oportunidad. Iris Chacón proclaimed as «La Vedette de América» ever since the dawn of her career. This explosive and sensual artist was the main figure during the whole decade of the ‘70. She is

recognized as the most genuine and impressive sex symbol projected through the national television of Puerto Rico. Caramelo y chocolate, appeared in the highest ranks of the Hit Parade. May Peters offers us her version arranged to cha-cha-chá.

The Musicians: May Peters: trombone, executive production Eric Figueroa: musical production, piano and arrangements Ramón Vázquez: bass, double bass Paoli Mejías: conga’s, buleador, pandero Tony Escapa: drums Luis Manuel «Manolito» Rodríguez: timbales Daniel Díaz: bongo’s, campana, buleador, panderos: quinto/seguidor/tumbador Pablo «el Indio» Rosario: maracas, guïro, clave and minor percussion Greg Schmitt: elec. guitar Pedro Guzmán: cuatro puertorriqueño Mickey Alvarado: surdo,pandeiro,tamborin,shaker,caxixi,cuíca,whistles & percussion effects Raúl Berríos: cuíca and chékere

Cándido Reyes: güícharo Franscisco 'Kiko' Hurtado: recording and mixing engineer

Park Boulevard - San Juan 00913 Puerto Rico- USA Skype: maypeters.3 You’re welcome at the Newspage Facebookpage of Tributo de Tambor y Trombón Interviews and info: coquipromotions@gmail.com www.maypeters.com Mob: +1-787-379-4619 Netherlands: +(11)31-630667086 Click here for the pictures of the Recording Click here to see the pictures of the CD Presentation in a full Teatro Arriví,San Juan – Puerto Rico Nov 3, 2013, Part 2 El Nuevo Día blog Puerto Rico ‘El Trombón que llegó de Holanda’ by Ragui Vega

Click here for a free Youtubeversion of the opening song Di Corazón.