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Community Corner

2ND FRIDAY @ MONDO Music Concert Series Event with A TASTE OF GARDEL Tango Music Concert

The popular bi-monthly 2ND FRIDAY @ MONDO Music Concert Series at the wonderfully intimate Brownstone Theater at MONDO, located at 426 Springfield Avenue in downtown Summit, NJ continues on Friday, June 13, 2014 at 7:30PM with a special music concert evening of the internationally popular tango music made by the iconic 1930’s Argentine singer Carlos Gardel and more with accomplished tango vocalist /actor Chris Vasquez and special guest artist, Latin Grammy award winning pianist Fernando Otero. After the concert stay for an intimate classic tango dance party.                             

From his hometown of Buffalo, New York to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chris Vasquez has been recognized for his passionate interpretations of the tango.  The NY Argentine Consulate recently awarded Mr. Vasquez the honored prize of "Best Singer" at their International Tango Music Competition, and he
was a finalist in the Medellín International Tango Festival Voice Competition.
 He has performed in New York at the Museo del Barrio, The Spanish
Institute, Americas Society, The Park Theatre in NJ, and at The National
Building Museum in Washington, DC among others.  He has been guest soloist
with the Long Island Symphony and The Americas Vocal Ensemble.  He has
written and produced several tango shows including the celebrated The Son of Tango: A Tribute to Carlos Gardel.                                                            

As an actor, he has been seen in theater, film and TV in the USA and Spain and has toured in concert in Romania, Bulgaria, and China.   Mr. Vasquez holds degrees from Tufts University and from the New England Conservatory of Music.                                

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The Argentine composer and pianist Fernando Otero found his voice as writer, musician and bandleader when, at the urging of one of his music teachers, he began to incorporate the indigenous sounds of his native Buenos Aires into his work. …"A unique and provocative style developed, which combined the
improvisatory thrill of jazz with a contemporary classical structure in
compositions that were often fast–paced and intense, full of dramatic stops and
starts…"

Otero first gained prominence in 2000 with his debut and eponymous album, a collection of pieces recorded in Buenos Aires in the early 90's, before moving his residence to New York. Afterwards he released "Chamber Music",
"Siderata", "Plan", "Revision", "Expansion" and in 2008 his acclaimed debut album on Nonesuch Records: "Pagina de Buenos Aires".

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After the release of "Material" in 2009 by Warner Music, his new album entitled "Vital" (World Village) won the Latin Grammy for Best Classical album in 2010.

In 2012 he recorded "Romance", a chamber music record which offers a
collection of original compositions that draw from traditional elements of
Argentine music , but are decidedly cosmopolitan. While meticulously
constructed, they also at times suggest the freedom of improvisation. The new
album was released on February 2013 by Soundbrush Records.

He has written music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, string quartet, choir, and solo instruments as piano, violin and cello, being many of his compositions
commissioned and premiered by performers like the Kronos Quartet and the Imani Winds ensemble. Among his recent works he wrote a Solo Violin sonata for Nick Danielson, Solo Piano Works for Krisztina Wajsza, a Cello Concerto for Inbal Segev, piano trios for the Ahn Trio, and an album for two pianos performed by himself and Yana Reznik.

Due to the nature of his compositions and performance, he was embraced by both New York classical and jazz scenes. He has performed with legendary bassist Eddie Gomez (who introduced Otero as one of the pianists of the new generation) , flautist Dave Valentin, the Arturo O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, and was featured in the Grammy Award-winning album Funk Tango by reed maestro Paquito D'Rivera, with whom he has also performed at Birdland, Blue Note, and the Caramoor Festival. Fernando Otero has written and produced soundtracks for movies and recorded in more than 40 albums.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. Advance tickets are available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/703195 or for reservations and more information call the TEATRO Si box office at 908-301-9496. Space is limited. Reserve early! Walk-up tickets, if available can be purchased at the door starting at 7pm on event date. We hope you will join us often during the year to celebrate the arts in a unique setting. We recommend that you consider enjoying a fine meal before or after the concert at one of the fine eateries in quaint downtown Summit. Most are located within a short walk from MONDO. Visit them at www.MondoSummit.com.

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