Vallecas Art Ensemble
Sonic Rays
1. La Lidia 4.55
2. MW 5.02
3. Spirit 4.18
4. Let's Go 3.56
5. Shine on Harvest Moon 4.38
6. I Surrender All 3.29
7. If You Were Mine 5.08
8. Bop Till You Drop 3.34
9. Zippy 4.44
10. *5:00 HYMN 5.02
*Alternate Take
ABOUT
Volume 2 of VALLECAS ART ENSEMBLE'S sessions at Infinity Studios includes original music by its three composers that feature their personal improvisational styles, as well as a nod to the past with their interpretations of Shine on Harvest Moon and the classic hymn, I Surrender All.
VALLECAS ART ENSEMBLE was formed in 1998 in MADRID to confront the 21st century and took their name from the barrio VALLECAS, where they rehearsed. With three prolific composers, their repertoire is mainly original music and it is the confluence of their various compositional styles that gives the group their unique sound. This recording was made after the VALLECAS ART ENSEMBLE had been performing for many years in the Spanish jazz scene.
To listen the full album and to buy it click here
MUSICIANS
Nirankar Singh Khalsa drums, percussion and voice.
Hector Oliveira bass.
Tony Heimer piano.
BACKGROUND
Zippy, If you were mine, Bop till you drop, Let’s Go and 5:00 Hymn composed by Anthony Heimer.
La Lidia and MW composed by Marcelo Peralta.
Spirit composed by Nirankar Singh Khalsa.
Shine on Harvest Moon composed by Bayes and Norworth.
I Surrender All, It is a traditional hymn arranged by Vallecas Art Ensemble.
Engineered by Pablo Baselga.
Mixed and mastered November 2022 by Hector Oliveira and Pedro Baselga at Infinity Studios, Madrid-Spain.
Produced by Vallecas Art Ensemble and Koshkil Records.
Cover art by Erik Kirksaether.
Cover designed by Pablo Elorriaga.
LINER NOTES
Marcelo Peralta.
Saxophonist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger and Conductor. Born on March 5, 1961 in Buenos Aires (CABA) Argentina
Died on March 10, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.
https://www.nwkoshkil.com/nw
Tony Heimer.
Pianist/Composer, born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA in 1954
Studied music with Jaki Byard, Joe Pass, Charlie Shoemake and Barry Harris. He has worked with a wide variety of European artists including Michael Moore, Sean Bergin, Lolita, Bob Sands, Norman Hogue, and many others as well as working extensively with theater and comedy artists such as the DELL ‘ARTE PLAYERS, PIGEON DROP COMEDY COMPANY, JOSE LUIS COLL (Telecinco’s HABLANDO SE ENTIENDE LA GENTE) and performing for many years with the notorious clown JANGO EDWARDS.
Hector Oliveira.
Double Bass Player, born in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. Graduated summa cum laude with a BA in professional music from Berklee College of Music, Boston in 1986. In Madrid, Spain since 1990. During this time in Spain he has worked with artists and musicians such as Raphael, Lolita Flores, Berlín Osborne, Azúcar Moreno, Jayme Marques, Jango Edwards, Orquesta Nacional de Jazz de España, Combo Belga, Luis Salinas, Antonio Serrano, Víctor Manuel, Ana Belén, Chattanooga, Denia Ridley, Nicole Henry, Maria Creuza, Luis Cobos Spain Jazz Band, Mark Soskin, Alessia Desogus, Javier Bergia, Gladston Galiza, Matthew Herbert Brexit Big Band, La Roda de Choro de Madrid. Has recorded and played with Pablo Carbonell, Pepin Tre, Rosalía Mowgli, Malcolm Scarpa, Kike Jambalaya, Mariano Mariano. Double Bassist in the musical Follies in the Teatro Español in Madrid. Musical director for the company Musikanz.
Nirankar Singh Khalsa.
Nirankar Singh Khalsa born as, and formerly known as Mark Edward Henderson, is a Chicago native of a traditional Black American family. Born September 10, 1952. Drummer/Percussionist of various cultural disciplines, Singer and Personal Composer. Inspired and ‘initiated’ since infancy by his father William Henderson Jr, also former drummer/percussionist, and various other musicians in his family line. Has in his experience as a professional musician, an extended international trajectory, in his native U.S and abroad over more than 50 years. He now resides in Madrid, Spain. For more on his timeline and experience, given upon request.