SAXOPHONE AND CLARINET
Alvorada have put together a new video – all recorded remotely while in Covid-19 lockdown.
Today is National Choro Day in Brazil, and marks the birthday of Pixinguinha. This is our version of ‘Gostosinho’, by another great choro composer, Jacob do Bandolim.
I’m using some of my time at home to learn some software skills for audio and video editing. This is a cover of an Aphex Twin tune, Avril 14th, which I re-arranged for clarinets.
Performances sadly cancelled due to Covid-19:
March 29th – London Vocal Project @ Pizza Express, Soho
March 29th – Roda de choro @ The Harrison, Kings Cross
April 3rd – Alvorada @ The Post, Seven Sisters
April 9th – Alvorada @ Future Inn, Bristol
April 10th – Alvorada @ Royal Festival Hall Central Bar, Southbank
May 19th – Alvorada & Luciana Rabello @ Pizza Express, Holborn
June 7th – Alvorada @ Florence Works, Islington
June 12th – Alvorada @ Fleece Jazz, Colchester
August 7th-31st – Showstopper @ Pleasance Grand, Edinburgh Festival
August 12th – Alvorada @ Lake District Summer Music International Festival
August 13th – Alvorada @ The Slaughtered Lamb, Clerkenwell
September 6th – Alvorada @ London Folk Festival, Cecil Sharp House, Camden
This Friday, February 21st, I’m looking forward to playing with Telecoteco, a duo exploring samba and choro. I first met singer and pandeiro player Jacque Falcheti in Brazil in 2014, and so it’s a pleasure to get to play with her and guitarist José Miranda on this date, part of their 2020 European tour. The gig is at the intimate Basement Bar at the Green Note: www.greennote.co.uk/production/telecoteco
Alvorada had a great time in Dorset, playing to some packed venues around the county and meeting lots of new listeners, most of whom were hearing choro for the first time.
While we were away we also were delighted to discover that we’ve been nominated for Best Group in the Songlines Music Awards 2020. You can vote for us here:
www.songlines.co.uk/awards/2020
(closes midnight on Friday 31st January)
Alvorada’s first shows of 2020 are just around the corner.
We play three dates in Dorset on January 23rd – 25th, as part of the Artsreach Rural Touring programme. We’ll be performing at venues in Wootton Fitzpaine, Portesham and Chetnole. Info and booking here: artsreach.co.uk/event/alvorada
Then on February 1st we’re back in London at one of our favourite venues, The Harrison. Book tickets here: www.wegottickets.com/event/493042
My last gig of the year was one to remember, with London Vocal Project at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho. We performed a mixture of our re-worked Christmas classics, many which are staples of our repertoire for this time of year, alongside some brand new material, which is the basis for our newest project – the James Taylor Songbook. Some brilliant arrangements by director Pete Churchill as well as other members of the choir.
We’d been working towards this show for a few months (actually two shows – we did an early and a late show on the same night, to two sold out crowds), and it was great to get this music out there. I’ve been part of LVP since it began eleven years ago, and this night ranks among the most memorable I’ve enjoyed with this special community.
The good news is we’ll have an ongoing residency at Pizza Express in 2020, so look out for more dates!
A few years ago, we filmed some of our Christmas repertoire. Here’s our version of ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’. You can find more Christmas videos on LVP’s Youtube channel.
Here are some photos from a couple of recent gigs with singer Gabi Kozyra. We were performing music again from her amazing album, Noites Brasileiras, which focuses on previously unpublished and unrecorded Brazilian songs.
We played in a trio with Walter Lopes at the Sands Film Studios (a unique and tucked away little gem of a place in Rotherhithe), and then travelled to Poland to play at the Raciborski Cultural Centre, with Walter, Andres Ticino and Sam Watts. Also enjoyed some excellent Polish food and drink while we were over there!
Alvorada’s performance in the London Jazz Festival was a great evening. We played to a sold out crowd at the Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall, playing music from ‘First Light’ alongside new material that we’ve been working on this year. We also had the special pleasure of inviting the amazing pianist, John Turville, to join us for a few tunes. He brought something very different to the music, and it was a delight to have him with us.
Photos: Captured by Liz
© Liza Heinrichs
