Skirball Cultural Center Announces VINICIUS CANTUÁRIA AND BILL FRISELL, 1/20

The Skirball Cultural Center presents the Los Angeles premiere of the collaboration between celebrated Brazilian singer/songwriter and guitarist Vinicius Cantuária and prolific master guitarist Bill Frisell, live in concert, on Sunday, January 20, at 7:00 p.m. Continuing the Skirball's new music series, "Journeys and Encounters"-which showcases surprising collaborations between musicians of diverse genres- Cantuária and Frisell come together for a rare performance of tracks from their critically acclaimed album Lágrimas Mexicanas.

When Cantuária moved to New York from his homeland of Brazil, he was struck by the amalgamation of sounds emanating from the streets of the city. In particular, he was moved by the diversity of Spanish-speaking people. Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Mexicans, and countless other Latin American groups formed a rich multicultural community. As these sounds filled Cantuária's head and heart, he returned to his Brooklyn apartment and started writing Lágrimas Mexicanas heavily influenced by the melting pot of New York.

Similar to the bossa nova movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Frisell and Cantuária collaborated to fuse traditional Latin rhythms with improvisational jazz methods for Lágrimas Mexicanas. Frisell understood Cantuária's vision for the album, and their musical spontaneity inspired Frisell's orchestration. While Cantuária wrote the lyrics in a mix of Portuguese, Spanish, and English, both musicians easily fell into the rhythm of writing the arrangements together. Cantuária's poetic lyrics and moving rhythms, together with Frisell's gorgeous arrangements, create a sublime yet accessible world of music.

Lágrimas Mexicanas was released on January 25, 2011 on Entertainment One Music to critical acclaim. The Los Angeles Times noted, "Frisell's Americana twang and echoing feedback mixed with twilit Bossa Nova is irresistible." All Music Guide continued, "It is at once warm, sexy, and visionary. It presents two different yet very complementary artists in a collaboration that borders on brilliant."

Following the performance by Vinicius Cantuária and Bill Frisell, "Journeys and Encounters" continues with four concerts running through the spring of 2013:

DR. L. SUBRAMANIAM'S GLOBAL FUSION

Featuring Harmonica Blues Legend Corky Siegel

Friday, February 22, 8:00 p.m.

$35 General; $30 Skirball Members; $25 Full-Time Students

Los Angeles premiere! Master South Indian violinist, composer, and conductor Dr. L. Subramaniam is one of the pioneers of fusion between Carnatic (South Indian) music and Western classical, jazz, and rock. His Global Fusion project has toured to critical acclaim around the world, each time integrating different musical traditions and showcasing new guests. At the Skirball, Subramaniam will perform with his eight-piece band featuring master blues harmonica player Corky Siegel, violinist Ambi Subramaniam, keyboardist Chris Rhyne, guitarist Mark Spagna, bassist Jerry Watts, and drummer Joey Heredia.

BALLAKÉ SISSOKO AND VINCENT SÉGAL

Chamber Music

Thursday, March 14, 8:00 p.m

$35 General; $30 Skirball Members; $25 Full-Time Students

West Coast debut! Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko and French cellist Vincent Ségal's Chamber Music project is a groundbreaking collaboration between two like-minded virtuosos working in warm unison. Their intimate and lyrical compositions are renowned for creating an atmosphere of peace and calm that has moved music fans around the world. Deeply rooted in Manding music yet incorporating a variety of world music and classical influences, this is one of the most beautiful and appealing fusions undertaken in the last decade.

TALVIN SINGH AND NILADRI KUMAR

Thursday April 4, 8:00 p.m.

$35 General; $30 Skirball Members; $25 Full-Time Students

Los Angeles premiere! This is the breathtaking meeting of two master artists who have each set out to shake up the Asian music scene. Tabla player/producer/composer and renowned architect of the Asian Underground music scene Talvin Singh joins forces with fifth-generation sitar virtuoso Niladri Kumar. Their stunning exploration of Indian musical traditions delivers a powerful modern aesthetic through tabla, light electronica, sitar, and zitar (a cross between a guitar and a sitar created by Kumar).

COMMON CHORDS

Thursday, May 16, 8:00 p.m.

$35 General; $30 Skirball Members; $25 Full-Time Students

Common Chords brings together highly accomplished musicians from diverse cultures and religions, led by famed Pakistani singer/guitarist Salman Ahmad (of Junoon) and world-renowned klezmer violinist Yale Strom. Their music blends rock, klezmer, jazz, bhangra, Indian, Sufi, qawwali, and klezmer vocals into a distinct new hybrid, brilliantly executed by Ahmad, Strom, vocalist Elizabeth Schwartz, tabla master Samir Chatterjee, bassist Mark Dresser, dhol player Sunny Jain (of Red Baraat), accordionist Lou Fanucchi, and saxophone and flute player Tripp Sprague.