The Vernon Jazz Club will celebrate with a fiesta of sound as the Gabriel Palatchi Trio opens the start of the season this Saturday night.
The band will be playing originals as well as some covers including Caravan (Duke Ellington), Poinciana (Nat Simon), and Cantaloupe Island (Herbie Hancock).
Born in Buenos Aires, Palatchi began playing the piano when he was eight. After studying classical at the Conservatory of Manuel de Falla, he received a degree in music from the Berklee International School in Argentina.
Palatchi’s music is described as being a mix of Latin jazz, funk, tango, and gypsy.
When asked what inspires him to write, Palatchi replied, “I live in Tulum, Mexico four to five months every year and it’s there where I get really inspired and compose all my music. I would say that living in the nature and having the time to enjoy life inspires me to write music.”
His first solo album, entitled Diario de Viaje (Travel Diary) and recorded in Mexico City, was chosen as one of the best Latin jazz CDs of the year by Jazz FM and is played on radio stations around the globe.
He has already released a second album, Caja Musical (Music Box), and will be recording a third in the upcoming year. This will be accompanied by a tour throughout Europe and South America.
Palatchi currently splits his time between Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. It was in Mexico that the Gabriel Palatchi Band was initially formed. Band members have included international musicians from Cuba, Mexico, Canada, France, Uruguay, England, Russia, Peru, Spain, and Argentina.
His extensive travelling has gained him worldwide acclaim.
“Pianist Gabriel Palatchi provides a worldly perspective on the traditional Latin jazz sound and with his impressive debut, stakes his claim as one of the new young lions of Latin jazz,” said Edward Blanco, music critic with Ejazznews.com
Palatchi will be joined by Doug Stephenson on bass and Tony Ferraro on drums at the Vernon Jazz Club.
Stephenson has been a key member of Western Canada’s jazz community for the past 25 years, working with artists Melody Diachun, Karin Plato, Jennifer Scott, and blues legend Big Miller to name a few.
His music has been heard not only in live venues but in theatre, radio, television, and jingle productions.
His arrangements and sound were showcased in Decidedly Jazz Dance Works’ productions No Small Feets and Classic Jam. Both of these shows headlined major venues in the Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Victoria jazz festivals.
Stephenson is a member of the jazz and contemporary music program at Mount Royal College and is an instructor at the University of Calgary.
Ferraro was named Percussionist of the Year by Humber College and has studied privately with legendary drummers Dave Weckl (Chick Corea, Paul Simon, Madonna), Steve Smith (Journey, Buddy DeFranco, Victor Wooten), and Horacio Hernandez (Carlos Santana, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Roy Hargrove).
Ferraro is a diverse drummer whose experience includes playing rock with Juno award winning bands Idle Eyes, Trooper, and The Spoons, and Juno nominee Melody Diachun.
The Gabriel Palatchi Trio takes the stage at the Vernon Jazz Club (3000-31st St.) Saturday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the Bean Scene, Bean to Cup, and at www.vernonjazz.ca.
The trio is also performing at Lorenzo’s Café, 901 Mabel Lake Rd., in Ashton Creek (east of Enderby) tonight at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Cover is $15 and reservations can be made by calling 250-838-6700.
More information on the trio is available at www.gabrielpalatchi.com.
