REVIVAL/50: Jose Gonzalez Criollo Clasico

 

REVIVAL/50 is a year-long digital performance series celebrating Augusta Savage Gallery's 50th Anniversary

 

YouTube premiere Friday, October 9, 2020 4:00 p.m. ET
Online Friday, October 9 through Thursday October 15, 2020



 

For pure joy and excitement, one of Puerto Rico's premier musicians Jose Gonzalez (guitar, cuatro, composer) features his spellbinding trio Criolla Clasico with Ahmed Gonzalez (flute, percussion and guitar) and Rene Gonzalez (Latin percussion and bass). With 20 CD recordings and hundreds of performances, Gonzalez has been music director for some of Puerto Rico's top artists and invited artist with the Hartford and Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestras.

Bios
Jose Gonzalez - Guitar/Cuatro - guitarist/Cuatro player/composer. Jose is one of Puerto Rico's premier musicians with 15 CD recordings and hundreds of performances with Symphony Orchestras and major Latin artists (Libertad Lamarque, Sandro, Braulio).A major performer/composer of the islands national instrument, (the Cuatro), he has been music director for Puerto Rico's top artists (Giovanni Hidalgo, Danny Rivera, El Topo, Roy Brown). Jose has participated as invited artist with the Hartford and Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestras as well as the Bronx Arts Ensemble, New Jersey Chamber Music Society, Heineken Jazz Jam Series and the World Guitar Festival in Martinique among many others. He is featured artist on four Putumayo World Music compilations.

Ahmed Gonzalez - flute/percussion/guitar - a young lion of Puerto Rico's thriving Latin jazz music scene. Ahmed studied classical flute with Smith College Flute instructor (and Julliard graduate) Sue Kurian. His dedication to jazz and Latin music have led him to perform and record with many top artists. His debut CD "Flute Soul" is now a certified bestseller and he can be heard on WEIB Smooth Jazz Radio where he has charted three of his songs. Equally versatile in Latin, Jazz, Classical, Rock and World Music, his beautiful expressive tone and impressive improvisational skills have made him a much in demand player in New England.

Rene Gonzalez - Latin Percussion/Bass Guitar - one of the most versatile of the new percussionists on the Latin scene today. Rene studied at the UMass Music Department and has developed an impressive technique and knowledge of Afro-Cuban/World music through constant study and performing with masters of percussion such as Giovanni Hidalgo , Paoili Mejias, Trilok Gurtu and Steve Berrios. His skills on congas, bongos, timbales, drumset, cajon, bata drums and his continuous exploration of Latin Percussion make him a walking encyclopedia of Latin music. From Big Band to Cuban drumming -he does it all! And to top it off he is easily one of the best bass players around!!