AFRORICAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Over the last 12 years, William Cepeda has broardened the consciousness of Puerto Rican music worldwide with his Afrorican Jazz, an original concept he created in 1993, presenting highly sophisticated jazz arrangements combined with rythms and musical styles of Puerto Rico.
Since then, William Cepeda's eight-member band explores idioms from all over the world creating a dense mosaic of rythms, a universal and challenging repertoire. Cepeda's surely gave birth to a new shade of jazz, revealing the multi-cultural richness and creative potential of Puerto Rican traditional music. "William Cepeda's Afrorican Jazz swings between Africa and America; and the cultural mix resulting seems to come as much from Fela Kuti, than Mario Bauza or the Vienna Art Orchestra." Blaise Delay / 24 heures - Montreux Jazz Festival.
WILLIAM CEPEDA INTERNATIONAL QUINTET
A union of virtuous musicians from different parts of the world, different musical backgrounds who play William Cepeda's multicultural vision of music.
Accomplished and well-known on the jazz scene, each of them is a master of its instrument and brings to the Quintet its own original color.
With a funky style of contemporary jazz and dynamic musicality, William Cepeda explores a more experimental jazz style,
rhythmic complexities and unexpected harmonies tinted of his vibrant Puerto Rican sensibilty.
Instruments: Trombone, Shells, Percussions & Vocal / Drums / Piano & Synthetiser / Bass / Saxophone & Flute.
GRUPO AFRO-BORICUA
The excellence of Afro-Puerto Rican traditional dance and music: Grupo Afro Boricua give a new energy to the rich and colorful folklore of bomba, plena and verso negro.
William Cepeda, renowned for his work and research on Afro-Puerto Rican traditional music and dance, has selected the best musicians, singers and dancers of the island to promote the richness of his African roots.
With original arrangements, William Cepeda exposes the remarkable talents of the most gifted traditional performers of Puerto Rico, presenting to the international stage a unique and dynamic artistic expression.
This twelve-member troupe also includes dancers representing traditional characters of Afro-Puerto Rican folklore with their costumes while the interaction between dancers and musicians creates a vibrant and contagious energy.
PUERTO RICAN EXPLOSION
A creative music & dance entertainment show presenting William Cepeda's original arrangements of diverse Caribbean rythms.
Between tradition and modernity, this thirteen-member band brings its rich musical heritage to another level, to a wider audience, folding Caribbean traditional musics into a broader genre of World Music.
Unique, refreshing, highly danceable.with an explosive dose of Caribbean groove for everyone to enjoy!
TIERRA NEGRA
A multidisciplinary piece created in celebration of the Afro-Puerto Rican community, their courage and self- determination to preserve dignity throughout history, in face of harsh conditions.
Composed in the form of a suite, Tierra negra combines Afro-Puerto Rican traditional genres, with Jazz and Classical Music creating an original language full of creativity and experimentation. It also integrates contemporary and traditional dance, poetry, theater and visual arts, producing an innovative performance.
BOMBA SONFÓNICA
2005: Production of Bomba Sinfonica - a first in Puerto Rico musical history
This unique musical piece brings traditional bomba music and dance into a new dimension. Composed for symphonic orchestra, choir, solo singers from the classical, popular and folk traditions, this original fusion of classical music and traditional bomba inaugurates a new path for the evolution and development of Puerto Rican music.
EDUCATIONAL RESIDENCIES
William Cepeda is an experienced and dedicated educator who welcomes opportunities to present conferences, workshops, master classes and/or clinics for students, professional musicians and children.
William Cepeda graduated from the Berklee College of Music and has a Masters
from the Aaron Copland School of Music.
Cepeda has toured with Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D'Rivera, Lester Bowie, David Murray, Tito Puente and Michel Camilo among others. Founder of the Afrorican Jazz concept, Cepeda offers a unique approach to Jazz, Puerto Rican traditional music, Latin Jazz and World Music Jazz.
Topics for conferences and workshops: Trombone / Conch Shells / Puerto Rican Percussion / Presentation as a Guest Artist / Traditional Puerto Rican Music, Latin Music, Jazz theory and improvisation.
For information and booking contact:
Caribbean Moods Entertainment
727 E. 10st. Brooklyn, New York 11230
Phone/fax: 917-482-7153
E-mail: wcepedamusic@gmail.com
www.williamcepeda.com
Over the last 12 years, William Cepeda has broardened the consciousness of Puerto Rican music worldwide with his Afrorican Jazz, an original concept he created in 1993, presenting highly sophisticated jazz arrangements combined with rythms and musical styles of Puerto Rico.Since then, William Cepeda's eight-member band explores idioms from all over the world creating a dense mosaic of rythms, a universal and challenging repertoire. Cepeda's surely gave birth to a new shade of jazz, revealing the multi-cultural richness and creative potential of Puerto Rican traditional music. "William Cepeda's Afrorican Jazz swings between Africa and America; and the cultural mix resulting seems to come as much from Fela Kuti, than Mario Bauza or the Vienna Art Orchestra." Blaise Delay / 24 heures - Montreux Jazz Festival.
WILLIAM CEPEDA INTERNATIONAL QUINTET
A union of virtuous musicians from different parts of the world, different musical backgrounds who play William Cepeda's multicultural vision of music.
Accomplished and well-known on the jazz scene, each of them is a master of its instrument and brings to the Quintet its own original color.
With a funky style of contemporary jazz and dynamic musicality, William Cepeda explores a more experimental jazz style,
rhythmic complexities and unexpected harmonies tinted of his vibrant Puerto Rican sensibilty.
Instruments: Trombone, Shells, Percussions & Vocal / Drums / Piano & Synthetiser / Bass / Saxophone & Flute.GRUPO AFRO-BORICUA
The excellence of Afro-Puerto Rican traditional dance and music: Grupo Afro Boricua give a new energy to the rich and colorful folklore of bomba, plena and verso negro.
William Cepeda, renowned for his work and research on Afro-Puerto Rican traditional music and dance, has selected the best musicians, singers and dancers of the island to promote the richness of his African roots.With original arrangements, William Cepeda exposes the remarkable talents of the most gifted traditional performers of Puerto Rico, presenting to the international stage a unique and dynamic artistic expression.
This twelve-member troupe also includes dancers representing traditional characters of Afro-Puerto Rican folklore with their costumes while the interaction between dancers and musicians creates a vibrant and contagious energy.
PUERTO RICAN EXPLOSION
A creative music & dance entertainment show presenting William Cepeda's original arrangements of diverse Caribbean rythms.Between tradition and modernity, this thirteen-member band brings its rich musical heritage to another level, to a wider audience, folding Caribbean traditional musics into a broader genre of World Music.
Unique, refreshing, highly danceable.with an explosive dose of Caribbean groove for everyone to enjoy!
OTHER PROJECTS:
TIERRA NEGRA
A multidisciplinary piece created in celebration of the Afro-Puerto Rican community, their courage and self- determination to preserve dignity throughout history, in face of harsh conditions.Composed in the form of a suite, Tierra negra combines Afro-Puerto Rican traditional genres, with Jazz and Classical Music creating an original language full of creativity and experimentation. It also integrates contemporary and traditional dance, poetry, theater and visual arts, producing an innovative performance.
BOMBA SONFÓNICA
2005: Production of Bomba Sinfonica - a first in Puerto Rico musical historyThis unique musical piece brings traditional bomba music and dance into a new dimension. Composed for symphonic orchestra, choir, solo singers from the classical, popular and folk traditions, this original fusion of classical music and traditional bomba inaugurates a new path for the evolution and development of Puerto Rican music.
EDUCATIONAL RESIDENCIES
William Cepeda is an experienced and dedicated educator who welcomes opportunities to present conferences, workshops, master classes and/or clinics for students, professional musicians and children.William Cepeda graduated from the Berklee College of Music and has a Masters
from the Aaron Copland School of Music.
Cepeda has toured with Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D'Rivera, Lester Bowie, David Murray, Tito Puente and Michel Camilo among others. Founder of the Afrorican Jazz concept, Cepeda offers a unique approach to Jazz, Puerto Rican traditional music, Latin Jazz and World Music Jazz.
Topics for conferences and workshops: Trombone / Conch Shells / Puerto Rican Percussion / Presentation as a Guest Artist / Traditional Puerto Rican Music, Latin Music, Jazz theory and improvisation.
For information and booking contact:
Caribbean Moods Entertainment
727 E. 10st. Brooklyn, New York 11230
Phone/fax: 917-482-7153
E-mail: wcepedamusic@gmail.com
www.williamcepeda.com
