Abraham Gomez-Delgado, (seated center) Founder and Leader of Zemog El Gallo Bueno (performed at the 2009 Montreal Jazz Festival-congratulations to Abraham and Zemog!)
Abraham Gomez-Delgado is one of the most imaginative artists on the contemporary Latin/Nu Jazz/New Wave music scenes today. Combining elements of the traditional Puerto Rican rhythms of Bomba y Plena with jazz, rock, and other forms,
Mr. Gomez-Delgado creates passionate, thought-provoking, innovative compositions that make him one of the most exciting young composers of the 21st century. Teatro V!da was honored to have Mr. Gomez-Delgado as part of our production, "...and literacy for all." www.zemogelgallobueno.com
Fred Ho, (pictured below) recipient of the prestigious Harvard Arts Medal, 2010, performed with us at Barnes and Noble. Fred is a living legend and our dear friend. Composer, baritone saxophonist, scholar, author, educator, and warrior, he is life-long human rights activist and hero to many. Fred has been with us from the beginning. His most recent CD, Year of the Tiger, includes text by our Artistic Director, Magdalena Gómez. Learn more about him: www.bigredmediainc.com
Sandra Maria Esteves
The Godmother of the Nuyorican Poetry Movement
Sandra Maria Esteves is an internationally acclaimed and respected artist, as a poet and visual artist. Ms. Esteves joined us for a special televised performance of original work by Teatro V!da elders, with youth ensemble members as hosts of the show: "Awake in Times of War" which aired in Western Massachusetts and was filmed at ACTV, Amherst.
Ms. Esteves has been with us from the beginning, offering her love, encouragement and many gifts. We treasure her presence in our lives. She is a dedicated teaching artist with many publications to her credit, not only her own work, but the work of her students. She is a champion of many artists and has opened many doors of opportunity, in particular for artists who are under-recognized. As a mentor of our Artistic Director since her youth, her presence resonates throughout all we accomplish.
Her credits are too numerous to include here, but you can learn more about her and support her work by visiting: http://www.sandraesteves.com
Daniel Jáquez, Theater Director
Daniel Jáquez is a professional theatre director who has worked in the USA, Russia, Mexico, Switzerland, and France. Daniel has directed and produced Off and Off-Off Broadway and at renowned NYC concert venues such as The Town Hall, Symphony Space and Carnegie Hall as well as in major cities across the USA. In 2004, he directed the Off-Broadway production of Lobster Face (or the shame of amanda cockshutt) by Teatro V!da’s Co-founder, and Artistic Director, Magdalena Gómez. He is an Associate Artist at The Miracle Theatre in Portland, Oregon and at The Immediate Theater in NYC. In NYC, from 2003 to 2006, he was the Director/Producer of INTAR Theater’s NewWorks Lab. He earned an MFA in Directing from ART/MXAT Theater Institute at Harvard University. Mr. Jáquez is a Member of the Lincoln Center’s Director’s Lab, and of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Daniel and Teatro V!da are making plans for future productions and will be holding auditions for professional adult actors in the near future.
Daniel and Teatro V!da are making plans for future productions and will be holding auditions for professional adult actors in the near future.
(Taylor's New England Bike Tour in the Fall of 2010 was the impetus for our "Rumors of a New Day" production. It was an honor and joy to collaborate with Taylor.)
Taylor Ho Bynum is a performer on cornet and various brass instruments, composer, bandleader, and interdisciplinary collaborator with artists in dance, film, and theater. He presently leads his Sextet, the chamber ensemble SpiderMonkey Strings, and the little big band Positive Catastrophe; all of these ensembles have recently released critically acclaimed recordings. Critics have called Bynum “a young brass master and compelling composer” (Jon Garelick, Boston Phoenix), “a remarkable writer, improviser and bandleader” (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com) and “one of the most exciting figures in jazz’s new power generation” (Steve Dollar, Time Out Chicago).
His resume includes collaborations with both his contemporaries and legendary figures alike, most notably the iconic saxophonist/composer Anthony Braxton, with whom he has performed and recorded extensively over the past decade. He is currently a member of such groups as the Tomas Fujiwara/Taylor Ho Bynum Duo, The Thirteenth Assembly, Book of Three, The Convergence Quartet, Jason Kao Hwang’s Edge, Myra Melford’s Happy Whistlings, and the Tyshawn Sorey Quartet, with other credits including the ensembles of Cecil Taylor and the late Bill Dixon. In addition, he is a vice president of Dave Douglas’ Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music), a founding partner of Firehouse 12 Records, and the president of Anthony Braxton’s Tri-Centric Foundation. www.taylorhobynum.com
His resume includes collaborations with both his contemporaries and legendary figures alike, most notably the iconic saxophonist/composer Anthony Braxton, with whom he has performed and recorded extensively over the past decade. He is currently a member of such groups as the Tomas Fujiwara/Taylor Ho Bynum Duo, The Thirteenth Assembly, Book of Three, The Convergence Quartet, Jason Kao Hwang’s Edge, Myra Melford’s Happy Whistlings, and the Tyshawn Sorey Quartet, with other credits including the ensembles of Cecil Taylor and the late Bill Dixon. In addition, he is a vice president of Dave Douglas’ Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music), a founding partner of Firehouse 12 Records, and the president of Anthony Braxton’s Tri-Centric Foundation. www.taylorhobynum.com
¡La Bomba!
Lydia Pérez is the founder and CEO of the Puerto Rican Institute for Arts and Advocacy, Inc. RI, a non-Profit Organization. She is a provider of Afro-Caribbean Arts Programs. Her group "Yoruba2 ", present traditional music and dance from Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The group includes such known genres as 'bomba', 'plena', Yoruba song, and other rhythms. Lydia performs and teaches music that is in her "blood and spirit". Lydia travels nationally to express through her music that her culture is alive. We are proud to have her as part of the Teatro V!da circle of artists who are masters in their respective fields. Please learn more about her vast creative trajectory at:
http://afroyorubarican.blogspot.com/2010/03/lydia-perez-director-of-yoruba2.html
http://afroyorubarican.blogspot.com/2010/03/lydia-perez-director-of-yoruba2.html
Owen Brown, violinist and personal trainer to the stars. Mr. Brown traveled all the way from Philadelphia to join our ensemble in performance. Mr. Brown lived and performed with Sun Ra during the last seven years of Sun Ra's life. He is the vocal coach of Grammy winners, a musician and a healer; Ne-Yo is among his vocal students. He doesn't have to say a word about it -one just knows he's healer by his presence and actions. A ferociously trained and spontaneous artist. We were introduced to Owen by one of his students, our very own, Heshima! Owen joined us for our original production of "...and literacy for all", which premiered at the Davis Theater at the Springfield Museums, as one of the musicians who performed Heshima's original score.
am a professional violinist...who performs,composes and teaches. My studies have not only included Western Classical music,but has also included extensive studies in Jazz and South Indian carnatic music."
Our Music Director Heshima Moja keeps latin jazz culture alive by organizing musicians for jams in Jefferson Park, in Springfield's North End and at the Ribbery in Indian Orchard. He is a magnet for other greatly talented artists and creates world-class, free and very low cost events for our community, that are worthy of great concert halls. Heshima says: "I want to do this every Sunday afternoon. Musicians can play, children can join us and learn to play, artists can come and paint, poets write, recite...families can bring picnics...my vision is that this becomes a regular event...like what happens on any given Sunday in Central park." Heshima started the first event on May 17th, 2009 under cloudy skies-just a quick word of mouth from two days before, and so it began...we look forward to seeing where it goes. Thank you, Heshima for having vision and taking action. We also thank the generous musicians of our community who come out to play for the love of the music, our young folks, our community, The People. Below are some photos and a video clip just as the first session was beginning:
Below is a clip featuring Lydia Pérez (foreground) and Brendaliz Cepeda of the world renowned Cepeda Family, masters of the Bomba Dance form. We are honored to work wit h them. Ms. Pérez is considered among the greats of all Bomba dancers, and is also a living legend. She is a scholar, choreographer, educator and a tireless advocate of other artists of all ages. Ms. Pérez is also the founder and CEO of the Puerto Rican Arts and Advocacy Institute of Rhode Island: http://afroyorubarican.blogspot.com/
L to R Lydia Pérez, Rene Gonzalez, Heshima Moja. Photo by Magdalena Gómez. Taken at Bombaso event at studio of visual artist and producer, Gaddier Rosario.
Left: Luisa, owner of Palazzo's Café, One Financial Plaza, Downtown Springfield, one of our favorite spots to meet with friends and colleagues;
Right: (L-R) Heshima, Ahmed Gonzalez (usually on flute-he's a monster on the instrument!) and Jesus Págan, orchestra leader, singer and composer (performing with us at CityStage).
More artists to be listed as we update our site! Teatro V!da's Artistic Associates are truly living history and world-class artists.
We are grateful to them all for walking the legacy-building journey beside us.
