2013 Jazz Griot Award Winner " Dr. Willis Kirk"

If you've had notions of experiencing the music of a heavenly host, then Sunday, June 23^rd’s, Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinee is your chance to feel the dynamic spirit of Colombian jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda at the Redstone Room, in the RME on the corner of 2^nd & Main, Davenport, IA.  A committed teacher, Edmar holds a workshop to help demystify jazz and the harp at 3 PM, followed by a matinee concert from 6 – 8 PM. Make a note: this month’s Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series is actually on the forth Sunday, but the music will be fresh as always.

The performance features Edmar Castaneda on harp with Andrea Tierra - Vocals, Itai Kriss – Flute and Dave Silliman – Drums.

"The Colombian plays the harp like hardly anyone else on earth. His hands,

seemingly powered by two different people, produce a totally unique, symphonic fullness of sound, a rapid-fire of chords, balance of melodic figures and drive, served with euphoric Latin American rhythms, and the improvisatory freedom of a trained jazz musician...captivating virtuosity, but in no way only virtuosity for its own sake."  Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Edmar Castaneda was born in 1978, in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Since his move to the United States in 1994, he has taken New York and the world stage by storm with his virtuosic command of the harp - revolutionizing the way audiences and critics alike consider the instrument. A master of beautifully complex timing, lush colors and dynamic spirit, Edmar has been called “almost a world unto himself.”  The New York Times

Not unlike other exceptional musicians who have transformed their lives through art, Castaneda’s journey has humble, inspiring beginnings. The son of a musician and a mother who nurtured Edmar’s obvious natural talents, he embraced the noble folkloric traditions of his native Colombia. The joropo dance classes he attended with his sister were a master class in movement, accompanied by the harp. In the mid-1990's, he moved to New York, and studied jazz trumpet, before returning to the harp. Today, on stages all over the world, it is remarkable how Edmar’s body engulfs his Colombian harp as he crafts almost unbelievable feats of cross- rhythms, layered with chordal nuances to rival even the most celebrated flamenco guitarists, and an incredible blend of musical influences. The 35 year old Colombian harpist has introduced international audiences to a distinctly South American musical style-joropo-and he has broken new ground in jazz with his harp-an unconventional instrument in a genre traditionally defined by the piano, brass and woodwind instruments.

"His music draws on the traditional joropo music of the grasslands he absorbed early, as well as tango, Brazilian and flamenco guitar, West African kora and virtuoso jazz pianists like Art Tatum. That's a fascinating mix, but his technique is the real astonishment. Castaneda juggles lead, rhythm and bass lines, using a variety of hard and soft string attacks to keep those voices distinct — all without giving up the groove."  NPR Music

Castaneda has performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, Joe Locke, JLCO, John Patitucci, Giovanni Hidalgo, Lila Downs, Janis Siegel, Chico O’Farrill, Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band, The United Nations orchestra, Simon Diez, among other renowned musicians.  He has also released three CD’s: Cuarto de Colores (2006), Entre Cuerdas (2009) & Double Portion (2012)

Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series is scheduled for Sunday, June 23^rd, and features an all-ages workshop at 3 PM, followed by the matinee concert from 6-8 PM.  Admission to the workshop session is Free for Kids, $5 for adults.  General admission for the 6 - 8 PM Concert is $10 or $15 for reserved seats.  For ticket information, call Polyrhythms: 309 373-0790.  For more information, visit our web site: www.polyrhythms.org.

Doors open at 5:30 PM.  Come experience jazz “live”, like it was meant to be enjoyed… Come and hear the hottest jazz in the Quad Cities.  Experience the magic of the music at Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series Sunday, June 23^rd, featuring jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda.

Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series is made possible with major support of the Riverboat Development Authority, the Scott County Regional Authority, and the RME as well as the support of the Austin Family Charitable Fund, Davenport Clarion Hotel, Bowman Accounting, IL Senator Mike Jacobs, Peeples Heating & Air Conditioning, radio station KALA, Greatest Grains, and DJ Mixxin Mel.