Edmar Castanedato Play the Blue Note, 3/6 & 7

Grammy-nominated harpist Edmar Castaneda will celebrate his sophomore release Double Portion (Arpa Y Vaz, 2012) at the Blue Note on March 6 and 7.

The record’s title refers to Castaneda’s attempt at fusing the music of his native Columbia with the sounds of New York, as well as his use of both the Colombian folk arpa llanera and the traditional classical harp. One each of the recording’s ten tracks, nine of which are original compositions, Castaneda plays in solo or duo settings with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon or mandolin virtuoso Hamilton de Holanda. At the Blue Note, Rubalcaba and Zenon will both be on hand to join Castaneda in performing these new works live for the first time.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 6 – Wednesday, March 7, 2012; Sets at 8:00PM & 10:30PM

WITH: Edmar Castaneda, harp; Gonzalo Rubalcaba, piano; Miguel Zenon, alto saxophone

COST: $25 @ table / $15 @ bar

WHERE: The Blue Note; 131 W 3rd. St, New York, NY 10012

MORE: Doors open at 6pm. Set times are 8pm and 10:30pm

BIO: Since his move to the United States in 1994, Colombia-born Edmar Castaneda has quite literally taken New York and the world stage by storm with the sheer force of his virtuosic command of the harp, revolutionizing the way audiences and critics alike view the instrument.

A master at realizing beautiful complexities of time, while skillfully drawing out lush colors and dynamic spirit, Castaneda has been characterized as "almost a world unto himself" by The New York Times. The legendary Paquito D'Rivera, Castaneda's frequent collaborator, has remarked: "Edmar is … an enormous talent – he has the versatility and the enchanting charisma of a musician who has taken his harp out of the shadow to become one of the most original musicians from the Big Apple."

At the Blue Note tonight, Castaneda will perform with world-renowned pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and groundbreaking saxophonist Miguel Zenon. Born in post-revolutionary Havana, Cuba, Rubalcaba first introduced his instantly recognizable pianistic touch and spirit to the broader world in the early '80s. Since then he has garnered Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards (for Nocturne (2001) with Charlie Haden and Supernova (2001), respectively), as well as an additional 15 Grammy nominations.

Rubalcaba has performed with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Ignacio Berroa, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Charlie Haden, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Eric Harland, Marcus Gilmore, John Patitucci, and Jack DeJohnette, among others. He continues to tour the world as a bandleader and solo pianist in jazz and classical settings.

Multiple Grammy nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced and blended the often contradictory poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered as one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists of his generation, he has also developed a unique voice as a composer and as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between Latin American folkloric music and jazz.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released six recordings as a leader, including his latest, Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook (2011). He has worked with such jazz luminaries as Charlie Haden, David Sánchez, The Mingus Big Band, Bobby Hutcherson, Steve Coleman, and the SFJAZZ Collective, and he has topped the Rising Star Alto Saxophonist category of the DownBeat Critics Poll on four different occasions.