FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact Steve Camilleri: 574-282-8700

SOUTH BEND, IN – The Center for the Homeless, the Arturo Sandoval Institute and The Music Village are pleased to announce their partnership in creating an intergenerational, musical program for the guests of the Center. Weekly music classes will be offered to children, seniors and veterans at the Center thanks to the generous donation of the Arturo Sandoval Institute. The Music Village will oversee delivering the instruction. Steve Camilleri said, “We are so excited to partner with Arturo and expand the appreciation of music and community with our youth, elders and veterans through guitar lessons! The concept of having them take lessons together with the talented instructors from The Music Village will have a great impact on both generations.” The Center looks forward to seeing the personal growth from all individuals involved.

This program originated because Arturo wanted to expand his impact on the South Bend community beyond his relationships and programming at The University of Notre Dame. “The Arturo Sandoval Institute (ASI) is thrilled to launch our new partnership with the Center for the Homeless and The Music Village. Bringing youth, seniors and veterans together to focus on music and creativity embraces why I started ASI. It is our privilege to have such amazing partners dedicating themselves to spreading music and creativity to those who deserve it most” said Sandoval.

The Music Village is a grassroots community musical arts center in the heart of downtown South Bend. At the core of TMV’s mission is the belief that where the arts flourish so do people and communities. Resources are focused on improving and expanding arts opportunities for people of all ages, interests, abilities, backgrounds and incomes.

For more information or questions, please contact Steve Camilleri at the Center for the Homeless (scamilleri@cfh.net).

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By Kirk Silsbee

Every time trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval plays, he gives a tutorial. The same can be said of many musicians, of course, but what sets Sandoval apart is his example as a man and as an American. Those qualities were on full display Saturday, as he performed with his renowned big band and a high school band.

The naturalized Cuban exile left his country at great personal risk for the United States. Not content with a music career with an international profile, he has become a hands-on advocate for music in Southern California public schools.

Sandoval headed Saturday’s “Save the Music 2!” benefit at the Alex Theatre, the site of last year’s inaugural fundraiser for ASI, the Arturo Sandoval Institute. The near-capacity crowd of 1,300 people swelled the coffers of ASI, which brings scholarships, private instruction and master classes music to deserving students. Spokeswoman and ASI board member Mercy Velazquez announced the organization’s mission is to “educate, support and inspire our students.”

Results of that program delighted the Alex audience, as an all-star orchestra of student players from Glendale, Hoover, Calabasas and Crescenta Valley high schools opened the show. Led by director Frank Vardaros, the band acquitted itself reasonably well while backing Sandoval on his bolero, “Closely Dancing.” Orchestra sections — trumpet, trombone and reeds — need to cook slowly over time to develop cohesion. Rhythm sections, in particular, need time and effort to adhere, and this one would benefit from more experience and playing time together.

Sandoval exited and on an unannounced swing bounce, tenor saxophonist Kevin Kasimov showed promise in getting around his horn. Trumpeter Sam Kang gave an exuberant solo, causing Vardaros to bring the dynamics of the ensemble up underneath him for some spontaneous excitement.

“Sounded beautiful, guys,” Sandoval quipped as he reentered. “Sounds much better without me.”

He then introduced every band member as each was given a certificate of appreciation. After an intermission, Sandoval joined with his own rhythm section. On the lilting “Bye Bye Blackbird,” his trumpet danced lightly. By the third chorus the groove deepened, as drummer Johnny Friday emphasized the backbeats. Sandoval got into some serious swinging, while pianist Randy Waldman played with the beat, then against it, as bar lines were crossed on his wonderful solo.

“The most important word in the dictionary is ‘freedom,'” Sandoval proclaimed. “Without it, there is nothing to life. The second most important word is ‘smile.'” He then combined with singer Monica Mancini on Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” for a silk-and-sandpaper vocal duet. His trumpet tone was thick and rich, and brought to mind the late virtuoso Rafael Mendes.

A horn contingent from Sandoval’s big band assembled for a two-beat rave-up on the warhorse “When the Saints Come Marchin’ In.” It was a treat to hear reed king Bob Sheppard and Andy Martin indulge in some trumpet-clarinet-and-trombone two-beat playing. On this, Sandoval’s steely tone nodded in the direction of Al Hirt.

The whole of Sandoval’s big band assembled next. Made up of some of the most renowned players in the Hollywood recording studios (with the addition of actor Andy Garcia on bongos), Sandoval was framed in stunning relief. Sheppard — on customary tenor sax — bopped, trombonist Alex Iles preached, and Sandoval got loose on “Funky Cha Cha,” which was just what the title promised. A trumpet duet full of fireworks with the equally gifted Wayne Bergeron was a summit that begs for an album, if not a tour.

The late bebop avatar Dizzy Gillespie facilitated Sandoval’s escape from Cuba, and he mentored the young trumpeter until his passing in 1993. Using the Gillespie Big Band’s “‘Round Midnight” introduction, Sandoval’s “Dear Diz: Every Day I Think of You” was a heartfelt tribute with rich, orchestral color. Five young men from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy improvised a slow motion display of acrobatic muscle control. A sizzling version of Dizzy’s “Manteca” was augmented by a torrid Mambo accompaniment by two young Debbie Allen dancers.

Sandoval prospered from a hand up and his gratitude and actions repay that largesse in kind. Instrumental virtuosity is not rare, but combined with Sandoval’s character and good citizenship, it’s a rare commodity.

Source: Glendale News-Press

By Kelly Corrigan

Classical musician and composer Arturo Sandoval, who discovered his love for music as a boy growing up in Cuba, will share his talent at the Alex Theatre later this month in a concert aimed to cultivate music education in today’s youth.

His Glendale-based institute will also donate proceeds from the show to the Glendale Educational Foundation and Glendale Arts — two organizations that promote the arts and music education among local students.

Sandoval’s performance, titled “Save the Music 2,” comes about a year after his institute’s first performance that helped raise thousands of dollars for music education last year.

Mercy Velazquez, chief executive of the Arturo Sandoval Institute, said she befriended the 10-time Grammy Award winner about 20 years ago, but grew closer to him in the last five or six years after he moved from Miami to California.

Sandoval was born in Cuba in 1949, known for becoming a protégé of jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie. He performs the jazz trumpet, flugel horn, and piano all over the world and has recorded music with artists such as Johnny Mathis, Alicia Keys, Bill Conti and Rod Stewart.

At the 1995 Super Bowl, he performed alongside Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle.

All the while, raising funds to promote music education in schools has been a priority for Sandoval for years, Velazquez said.

“He wanted to start an institute to help children,” Velazquez said. “He’s been thinking about this for years.”

Since the institute launched early last year, it has provided scholarships, clinics and master classes in which Sandoval has taught local students, including young musicians at Burroughs High School in Burbank.

The institute’s mission is to provide music education to students, no matter their economic background.

A July golf tournament and a November gala that Velazquez is planning will also aim to raise money for the institute, which distributes money to schools that need it, including those beyond Glendale’s borders, Velazquez said.

However, Glendale schools remain a top priority, she added.

Also during Saturday’s performance, a youth band made up of more than 20 students will perform, the majority of them from Glendale schools, said Elissa Glickman, chief executive of Glendale Arts, which manages the Alex Theatre.

“This was kind of a win-win for us,” she said, adding that the event also provides free tickets to local students in Glendale and Burbank to see Sandoval perform.

The benefit concert will begin at 8 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Tickets start at $25. Special VIP tickets for $175 include a dinner after the show with Sandoval at Far Niente.

Source: Glendale News-Press