San Francisco (Top40 Charts/ Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations) Fresh from the acclaimed release of their new CD, Like A Bridge, world jazz ensemble, LUA HADAR with TWIST presents the premiere of their new Live Concert DVD, Like a Bridge, a 70-minute Live Studio Concert directed by Emmy award-winner Lawrence Jordan, shot at the legendary Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California.
The premiere screens at San Francisco's historic Balboa Theater on November 15 at 7:30 p.m. for one night only with the cast and crew on the scene signing DVDs at a wine reception after the show.
In addition to the Like A Bridge Live Studio Concert, the premiere includes a 25-minute documentary, Building Bridges, on the creation of the Bridges Project and the origins of the band and its signature "cosmopolitan jazz" sound.
For Hadar, music is much more than club dates, even though she's appeared in the best of them, from Yoshi's in Oakland to the Iridium in New York.
Lua is a genuine - and fervent - voice for the power of music to change the world. "Our new DVD encourages people to be like a bridge to each other in promoting understanding of differing languages, cultures, and ideas," Hadar says.
Songs of hope, courage and our common humanity in seven languages (English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and Malagasy) weave the theme of world unity throughout this passionate, fun and eclectic performance by vocalist Lua Hadar and her band of top international musicians.
Music Director Jason Martineau on piano, Dan Feiszli on bass, Celso Alberti on drums, Ian Dogole on Global Percussion, Larry De La Cruz on reeds, Emil Miland on cello, Fumiko Ozawa on koto,
David Miotke on jazz accordion, and featuring South African performer Gideon Bendile and members of his Kalahari
Experience Zulu Choir.
The limited release Collector's Edition of the DVD will be available for $19.99. Thursday, November 15th at 7:30pm, Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa Street (at 37th Ave.) San Francisco, CA 94121, Phone (415) 221-8184, Tickets $10 at Special Events, www.balboamovies.com
ABOUT LUA HADAR with TWIST
Lua Hadar with Twist performs international standards with a different 'twist' on style; they also present both original and rarely performed songs, in several different languages. English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and Malagasy (the language of Madagascar) are represented in the new recording, which uses the Bridge as a metaphor for the connections we can make with each other to foster world unity and harmony. The CD Like A Bridge, recorded at the same sessions with the DVD, is receiving critical acclaim and airplay on over 100 radio stations, across the USA and in Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, England and Brazil. www.likeabridge.net
BIOS
LUA HADAR, Vocals, Executive Producer
A unique and original vocalist with a soaring range, Lua interprets an eclectic song list with a charming, swinging delivery, as well as passionate commitment and humor. She has been molded by cultural exchange experiences in places as diverse as Bali, Russia, Switzerland, Japan, Thailand, France and Italy. Since its inception in 2007, Hadar's band TWIST has developed a reputation for twisting the style of international standards, performing original numbers and expressing our common humanity through songs in 7 different languages. Lua has charmed audiences at such noted jazz clubs as Yoshi's and The Iridium to Bangkok's Thailand Cultural Center and the Swan Bar in Paris. www.luahadar.com
LAWRENCE JORDAN, Director
Emmy Award winner Lawrence Jordan is an internationally acclaimed producer/director who has filmed in every corner of the world with some of the music industry's biggest stars. From Chile to China, South Africa to North Korea, the Grand Ole Opry to the Palais de Versailles, a rainforest in South
America to an ice floe in the Artic Circle, his 3D film, television specials and live broadcast events have won Grammy, Emmy, Ace, Telly, and Clio Awards. His work has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, HBO, PBS, TBS, DISNEY, A&E, BBC, MTV, VH-1, and in theaters worldwide. He has worked with such artists as Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Izzard, Mariah Carey, Cristina Aguilera, Santana,
Dave Matthews Band, Jay-Z, The Who, Phish, Rush, Elton John, Chicago, Pink Floyd, The Bee Gees,
Vanessa Williams, John Fogerty, Lyle Lovett, Barry Manilow, BB King, Boz Scaggs, Billy Joel, John Mellencamp, Duran Duran, Rod Stewart,
David Bowie, Neil Diamond, K.D. Lang, Tony Bennett, Shania Twain, Johnny Mathis, Michael Bolton,
James Taylor, and many more. Lawrence directed the long running music series Live By Request, numerous Farm Aid concerts, 3D concert films, and many live television specials. His upcoming project is a peace concert with the Dalai Lama, Dave Matthews, and an array of music stars. https://bit.ly/LawrenceJordanIMDB
JASON MARTINEAU, Musical Direction, Arrangements, Piano
Dr. J is the cornerstone of TWIST, as music director, principal arranger, pianist and bandleader. He's also an award-winning composer, instructor and author, holding graduate degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music. Jason works in many different idioms and styles, and since 2005 has recorded three albums with Lua Hadar, performing with her in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, and at the 10th International Festival of Dance and
Music in Bangkok, Thailand. www.jasonmartineau.com
DAN FEISZLI, Bass
Experienced on both upright and electric basses, in styles of music ranging from jazz and Latin to pop and rock, Dan Feiszli anchors TWIST with versatility and panache. As a recording engineer, he has mixed albums reaching as high as #4 on the U.S. Top 40 Jazz
Radio Charts. Dan did the mixing for Like A Bridge at his studio in El Cerrito, California, employing both his fine musicianship and his excellent technical skills. www.studiorhythm.com
CELSO ALBERTI, Drums
Celso was born in Curitiba, Southern Brazil. The driving rhythms of his country's music led him to develop an early interest in the drums and by the age of 17, he was performing regularly as a professional. In 1982 he expanded his musical horizons with a move to the U.S., where he has been living since, working with top performers both as a drummer and as an audio engineer. Celso's dynamic drumming style blends traditional Brazilian music with World and Rock influences, providing TWIST with exciting flair and a rock solid base. www.celsoalberti.com
IAN DOGOLE, Global Percussion
As a major in Ethnomusicology at Brown University, Ian delved deeply into the indigenous music cultures of the planet, while maintaining his fascination with the evolution of Jazz and began to crystallize his vision of Global Fusion Music, blending the forms and instruments of Jazz with those of the non-Western world. Ian has released six audio recordings as a leader/producer and has recorded and performed widely with artists from Peru to the Sudan with his band Hemispheres. He brings an authentic world beat to TWIST with percussion including udu, cajon, shakers and dumbek. www.iandogole.com
LARRY DE LA CRUZ, Reeds
Recording artist, composer, teacher and reed man extraordinaire, Larry's energetic style and musical sensitivity provide TWIST with color and variety whether he solos on tenor, alto, soprano or flute. His dynamic soloing can range from Coltrane-esque runs on up-tempo tunes to soulful wails on slower ballads. www.larrydelacruz.com
Guest Artists
DAVID MIOTKE, Jazz Accordion
Dave brings his unique jazz accordion sound to the band's French songs, such as La Mer, with authentic color and skilled playing. He is a multi-talented singer, pianist, accordionist and composer, performing solo and with musical groups in styles as varied as jazz, cabaret, tango, Italian, strolling strings and classical. Dave holds music degrees with honors from Northwestern University and was a founding member and high lead singer/keyboardist with the well-known 60's rock band, H. P. Lovecraft.
FUMIKO OZAWA, Koto
Educational collaborations with Japan have introduced Lua to koto player Fumiko Ozawa, who this past year made her koto orchestra debut at San Francisco's Herbst Theater. Fumiko started studying koto in 2004, with Mrs. Masazuka Sato, Head Master of Seiha
Music School of Japan and USA. Fumiko obtained her teaching credential for koto music (Jun-Shihan, associate level) from the Seiha
Music School in Tokyo, 2009. She guests with TWIST on their interpretation of the Japanese 1963 pop classic Ue o muite aruko, honoring the dignity of the Japanese to "walk with their heads up'" after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 2011.
EMIL MILAND, Cello
Emil made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2010 with Frederica von Stade in her farewell recital. In the same week he made his jazz debut with TWIST at New York's Cornelia Street Café, and has contributed to Like A Bridge on the mystical
Tom Jobim song, Imagina. A champion of new works for cello, he has given premieres of music written specifically for him by such composers as Ernst Bacon,
David Carlson, Andrew Imbrie, Lou Harrison, Jake Heggie and Dwight Okamura. As a member of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra since 1988, he has collaborated with many famous singers in recital.
GIDEON BENDILE and KALAHARI EXPERIENCE, Zulu Choir
Patience James, Ron van Leeuwarde, Moeketse Gibe
Gideon Bendile's group Kalahari
Experience is a South African a cappella ensemble featuring members of the BAMMY award winning Zulu Spear Band and other talented artists. They perform African and world music influenced by jazz, Soweto pop, and a wide range of traditional African styles, carrying the message of forgiveness, freedom, and peace. Gideon has performed with legendary artists including Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dave Brubeck, Redd Foxx and the Neville Brothers. Kalahari
Experience joins with TWIST in the Zulu chorus of the French pop song about immigration rights, Né Quelque Part (Born Somewhere.)
CANDACE FOREST, Pianist-Singer-Composer
Candace has co-produced three CD's, the Like A Bridge live recording project and numerous live concert and educational events with Lua Hadar. Candace's own compositions range from works for solo, ensemble and orchestra to full-length dance and theatre pieces including Viva Concha! Rose of the Presidio and All In This Together, a symphonic program premiered by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Her song, Come Back To California, dedicated to French bassist Albin Suffys, received it's U.S. premiere with Lua Hadar and Twist at Yoshi's in March 2012 and appears in the Building Bridges Documentary. www.candaceforest.com
The DVD features three new numbers that do not appear on the
Like A Bridge CD:
The Golden Gate Bridge (English)
San Francisco Bay Area comedic songwriter Rita Abrams penned a few extra lyrics for the 75th anniversary of one of the world's most iconic bridges. Lua enjoys the romp as she takes on the persona of the Bridge who's been through it all.
Né Quelque Part (French, Zulu)
Maxime Le Forestier's pop song, Born Somewhere, advocates for immigration rights in both French and in Zulu. The compelling, upbeat performance features Lua's French vocal, backed by South African performer Gideon Bendile, with members of his Kalahari
Experience Zulu Choir.
Scriabin Etude in D# Minor, Opus 8, No.12 (instrumental)
Mystic, visionary, virtuoso, and composer,
Alexander Scriabin dedicated his life to creating musical works to open the portals of the spiritual world.
Music Director Jason Martineau takes the lead in a unique virtuoso jazz adaptation of the 1894 piano work, with fiery performances by bassist Dan Feiszli and drummer Celso Alberti.
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING:
… a wave of sonic bliss…
- Jeffrey Siegel,
Straight No Chaser Jazz Show
An effervescent swing, a dynamite range with passionate phrasing, Hadar is nothing if not the consummate entertainer…incredibly intriguing hybrid … delightful world flavor … first call band of international talent with an ability to reinvent tunes without disrespecting the originals … A breath of fresh air...A true winner! -- Brent Black, Critical Jazz
There is a strong sense of timeliness throughout the album, thanks to the various languages it feels like one is drifting around the world... quite something to behold.
- John M. Peters, The Borderland, UK
