20 Years of Brazilian Jazz at DCC

Release Date March 20, 2007                                                                                                             

On Tuesday, April 10, Dutchess Community College celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month with the 20th Annual concert of Matt Finley and Rio JAZZ at 7:30 p.m. The cabaret-style performance will be in the Louis Greenspan North Cafeteria, Drumlin Hall at the main campus in Poughkeepsie. Admission is free. For information, call (845) 431-8050.

Rio JAZZ, the Hudson Valley’s premier Brazilian/American concert jazz band, was formed by trumpeter and arranger Matt Finley in 1988. The band plays contemporary and cutting edge music of Brazil, Brazilian jazz standards, and original compositions by Finley and other band members. The band performs at select locations during the year, always where there is free admission. This is one of two free concerts Finley and Rio JAZZ will play this year funded in part by the Music Performance Fund as administered by the American Federation of Musicians.

This concert, which is part of the DCC Lyceum Series, features bandleader, composer and flugelhorn artist Matt Finley with Peter Tomlinson on piano, Grammy Award-winning bass player Mark Egan on fretless bass, Joel Rosenblatt (former Spyro Gyra drummer), Jeff Ciampa on guitar and Tomas Martin Lopez on Latin percussion. Special guest artists include Don Miller, upright bass, and Peter Einhorn, guitar.

“This is our 20th annual concert,” said Finley, “and that’s important because any gig that lasts more than a week is a good one.” He noted that, “We’re not doing a ‘nostalgia’ thing. We’ll be playing new music as always.” The concert venue offers people the chance to settle in to enjoy the music, or even get up and dance to it, plus an assortment of free, delectable refreshments, compliments of the College’s Office of Student Activities. “DCC Activities Director Mike Weida and his staff work hard to make this a successful event,” said Finley.

So does Finley when he prepares for Rio JAZZ concerts at DCC in the spring and at his hometown of Bolton Landing on Lake George in the summer. “These concerts take many months to plan, with new arrangements and new music,” said Finley, who also plays independently at a variety of local venues. “When Peter Einhorn, Don Miller and I perform, we play original Brazilian music by composers from the 60s, 70s and 80s.” Some of that music will be included in the April 10 concert, as will music from Finley’s CD Brazilian Wish, which is currently #2 on HVMusic.com's list of CDs in the region.

The 20th Annual Rio JAZZ concert helps DCC commemorate Jazz Appreciation Month, a celebration of Jazz music sponsored by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History along with several education, music, arts, and humanities organizations. Jazz Appreciation Month is intended to draw public attention to the glories of jazz as both an historical and a living treasure, and to draw greater public attention to the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz and its importance as an American cultural heritage. The month is intended to stimulate the current jazz scene and encourage people of all ages to participate – to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, and support institutional jazz programs.

For more on the band, visit www.riojazz.com. For more information on Jazz Appreciation Month, go to http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/

Meet This Year’s Band:

Rio JAZZ has a core of regular players who come together each year, plus a variety of guest artists. On this year’s roster of performers:

Matt Finley, flugelhorn: Matt plays trumpet, flugelhorn, soprano sax, flute and a half-dozen other instruments as needed. He performed for many years with Grammy-winning baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola and was a featured trumpet soloist and arranger with the Albany Jazz Workshop. He studied composition with Edgar Curtis, Director of the Albany Symphony Orchestra. Matt has led Rio JAZZ since 1988. Brazilian Wish, his CD on Kingsmill Music, features nine of his original Brazilian Jazz compositions and an all-star lineup produced by Jon Werking. He lives in Pine Plains, New York.

Mark Egan, bass: One of the world’s pre-eminent fretless bass players, Mark leads the group Elements with Danny Gottlieb, David Mann and Gil Goldstein. A multiple Grammy winner, Mark has recorded extensively with Pat Metheny, Gil Evans, Sting, David Sanborn and many others, and manages his own active record label, Wavetone. His newest CD, As We Speak, features a two-CD “super trio” set with Mark as leader along with Danny Gottlieb and John Abercrombie. Mark lives in Warwick, New York.

Jeff Ciampa, guitar: Jeff recently recorded with Harry Belefonte and Dave Matthews and often performs with Mark Egan and Danny Gottleib. He recorded Project Ivan Lins with the Brazilian singer Kenia, and has just released his second solo CD, House of Mirrors for Wavetone Records. Jeff lives in Warwick, New York.

Peter Tomlinson, piano: Peter has several CDs out and has performed with Hubert Laws, Ron Carter, Kenny Washington and Jimmy Cobb. His most recent CD, For Evan’s Sake, is a duet with guitarist Peter Einhorn.  Peter is on the jazz piano faculty at Western Connecticut State College and lives in Hurley, New York.

Joel Rosenblatt, drums: Joel recorded and toured with Michel Camilo, Paquito D'Rivera, Steve Khan, and Eliane Elias. He was the drummer for the acclaimed group Spyro Gyra for 13 years.  He’s now actively playing freelance work in New York City with Bill Evans, Lee Ritenour, Randy Brecker and others. Joel lives in Yonkers, New York.

Tomas Martin Lopez, Latin percussion: Tom has performed with top Latin bands, including Grammy Nominee Lalo Rodriguez, Orq, Broadway, Louie Ramirez. He currently plays with Master Drummer John Amira in Afro Cuban & Haitian Drum & Dance in New York City, teaches Latin Percussion in the Hudson Valley area, and fronts his own band, Caribe Sol. Tom lives in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Peter Einhorn, guitar: Peter is a member of the Bard College music faculty, has performed with Jim Hall, Jimmy Cobb, Steve Swallow, Ira Sullivan, David Amram, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Steve Kuhn, Eddie Daniels, Ray Mantilla, Roland Hanna, Walter Booker, Jerry Coker, and others. His recent recording, Bouganvillea, features all original music and is available on Unicorn Records. Peter lives in Woodstock, New York.

Don Miller, bass: Don plays acoustic bass and has performed and recorded with the likes of Ira Sullivan, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Ramsey Lewis, Mongo Santamaria, George Benson, Larry Coryell and Mark Murphy. His CD, Dial M for Bass is receiving national airplay and great reviews. Don lives in Kerhonkson, New York.

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