On October 1st at 7pm, DanzaNova will perform selections from their debut album "Desert Winds" at the iconic West Village venue The Bitter End.
Danvanova is a World Fusion Ensemble which focuses on ethnic folk music primarily from The Middle East, Israel, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Their leader, Ronn Yedidia, has composed a series of "KlezDances" which are woven throughout their intoxicating repertoire. The musicians of DanzaNova will take you on a thrilling instrumental ride full of passionate improvisational twists and turns....all executed with idiosyncratic virtuosity!
The Musicians:
Ronn Yedidia ~ Accordion & Composition
Soon after receiving his DMA in Musical Composition from The Juilliard School of Music in 1991, composer/pianist/accordionist Ronn Yedidia decided to abandon all the common trends which represented mainstream contemporary music, and instead embarked on an individual journey toward the re-establishment of traditional tonal principles such as melody, harmony, form, aestheticism, drama and dialogue. His passion for folk, jazz and other non-classical genres of music which maintain tonality in their essence has helped him enhance his musical language. He has written for all instrumental mediums from solo through chamber to symphonic works, and for most vocal idioms including art song, pop/folk songs, and both sacred & secular choral works. The world premiere of his work "Steps In The Wonderland" was performed by The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in May, 2007. Major commissions include the San Antonio International Piano Competition, the Seattle Chamber Music Society and the Zamir Chorale of New York. In 1994, Yedidia was invited by Wanda Toscanini-Horowitz to edit and record the unpublished piano compositions by the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz. Ronn's compositions have been recorded by renowned artists and ensembles on many major labels. His solo album "Yedidia Plays Yedidia", on Britain's Altarus label, has galvanized the attention of numerous pianists and composers around the world. In addition to his many national and international awards, Dr. Yedidia has won special grants from both ASCAP and BMI, and a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship. He is the co-founder and Classical Program Director of The New York Piano Academy in Manhattan. www.ronnyedidia.com
Lara St. John ~ Violin
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has been described as "something of a phenomenon" by The Strad and a high-powered soloist by the New York Times. She has performed as soloist with the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and with the Boston Pops, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Symphony, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Ireland, Amsterdam Symphony, Brazilian Symphony, Sao Paulo Symphony, China Philharmonic, Hong Kong Symphony, Tokyo Symphony, and the orchestras of Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland among many others. The Los Angeles Times wrote Lara St. John happens to be a volcanic violinist with a huge, fabulous tone that pours out of her like molten lava. She has technique to burn and plays at a constant high heat. Lara created her own record label, Ancalagon, in 1999, and has recorded with the Royal Philharmonic, the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and The Knights, with which she won the Juno award in 2011 for her Mozart album. Of her Bach Six Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo, American Record Guide wrote: "I simply don't know where else you can go to hear Bach played at this level of artistry. Once again she eclipses her competition." www.larastjohn.com
Giacomo La Vita ~ Guitar
Guitarist Giacomo La Vita has performed as both a soloist and ensemble musician in major halls in New York City, as well as in many cities across the U.S., in his native Italy, and throughout Europe. Recent concerts include performances in Geneva, Berlin, and New York at Merkin Hall, with the Garden State Philharmonic, The Mannes Orchestra and with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under the baton of Maestro James Levine. Giacomo performs regularly in a voice-guitar duo with his wife, soprano Jeanai La Vita - the La Vita Duo. Recent concerts have taken the duo on a tour across the U.S., promoting the release of their new album, Nightfall. Giacomo is also an avid arranger of music for guitar and has published many solo and ensemble works, ranging from Scarlatti to Rachmaninoff, and has commissioned new works for guitar from the world-renowned composer Ronn Yedidia. Currently he is transcribing and recording the great keyboard works of J.S. Bach for solo guitar and guitar ensemble (a project which has achieved a place as a finalist for a Fulbright Award.) After receiving his Masters degree from Mannes College of Music, he went on to be a top prize winner of 15 international guitar competitions. www.giacomolavita.com
Eddy Khaimovich ~ Bass
Mr. Khaimovich is an award-winning bassist, composer, educator and producer. He grew up and started his musical journey in Israel, later moving to New York City to continue his career. He was the recipient of the prestigious Hot House Magazine Jazz Award 2014 in the bass category. He recorded his first album Andarta (featuring multi Grammy-award winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove) and received raves from critics and audiences alike. Other major highlights of his career include performances at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Berliner Philharmonie, China Millenium Music Festival, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jazz & Colors Festival. Mr. Khaimovich has played with greats in multiple genres including Roy Hargrove, Paquito DRivera, James Moody, Fred Hersch, Lew Soloff, Gloria Estefan, Yolanda Adams, Harlem Gospel Choir, Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim and Maxim Vengerov, just to name a few. www.eddykhaimovich.com
Benny Koonyevsky ~ Percussion & Drums
Before making his move from Haifa, Israel to New York City in 1986, Benny Koonyevsky performed and toured with Israel's three best-known pop artists: Yehuda Poliker, Yehudit Ravitz, and Shalom Chanoch. He was also awarded the prestigious Francoise Shapira Prize for solo percussion work, and at the age of 20 made his solo debut with the Israel Philharmonic. He has played with musicians as diverse as Turkish artist Omar Faruk Tekbilek, jazz artist and 2009 Grammy nominee Kate McGarry, American folk-singing trio Peter, Paul and Mary, and one of the worlds reigning Prima ballerinas Diana Vishneva - spanning genres from Cuban to classical. Benny studied Latin percussion with Frankie Malabe and Bobby Sinabria and has spent time in Cuba learning from "Lali" Raul Rodriguez (Clave y Guaguanco) and Piloto (Klimex.) His numerous recording credits include Gloria Estefan, Vanessa Williams, Donald Fagan, Julian Green, Debbie Friedman, Rolando Morales, Alan Madec, Valerie Naranjo, Jennifer Holiday and John Ehlis. He has appeared on Broadway in The Lion King, Spamalot, West Side Story, Burn The Floor, 2008 Tony winner In The Heights, 9-5, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Annie and Billy Elliot. His off-Broadway credits include The American Pilot, for which he also composed the score (Manhattan Theatre Club). As a classical musician, Benny plays with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, NJ Symphony, the New York Percussion Quartet, as soloist with DCINY orchestra, and was Principal Timpanist with The International Symphony Orchestra under Lorin Maazel. He attended the prestigious Sleswig Holstein Festival under Sir George Solti and the Tanglewood Summer Festival under Leonard Bernstein. He is currently Assistant Timpanist and Percussionist with the Springfield (MA) Symphony Orchestra. Bennys teaching and master classes include Weill music institute at Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School summer program, Nashville institute for the Arts, George Mason University in Washington DC and Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia. He received a Master's degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor's degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
Ubicación
The Bitter End (Ver)
147 Bleeker Street
New York City, NY 10012
United States
