AIRE
The Album
The work of an artist often suggests that of an alchemist. In her new album, Aire, Mexican singer and composer Magos Herrera transformed the grief, fears, and loneliness of a deadly plague into a luminous collection of songs representing a celebration of our humanity and the healing power of music. Aire features twelve songs and includes her new compositions, commissioned by Chamber Music Americas New Jazz Works, and gems from the Great Latin American Songbook, such as "Alfonsina y el Mar" and "Gracias a la Vida." Those two classics suggest bookends of the experience in Aire, "Alfonsina …" as an acknowledgment of impermanence and death; "Gracias a la Vida" as a prayer of gratitude for the many gifts of life. But for two exceptions Magos sings over a musical canvas provided by her jazz trio augmented by the celebrated New York orquestra The Knights.
listen
Tracklist
Aire (Magos Herrera)
Gracias a la vida (Violeta Parra)
The Calling (Magos Herrera)
Choro de lua (For Elena) (Magos Herrera)
Alfonsina y el Mar ( Ariel Ramírez, Félix Luna)
Passarinhadeira (Guinga, Paulo César Pinheiro)
Obra Filhia (Danilo Moraes, Paulo Cesar de Carvalho)
Remanso (Magos Herrera)
Papalote Intro (Diego Schissi)
Papalote ( For Tomás) (Magos Herrera)
Samba em Preludio (Vinicius de Moraes, Baden Powell)
Healer (Dedicaded to mexican shaman Maria Sabina) (Magos Herrera, Vinicius Gomes, Gonzalo Grau)
Musicians
Magos Herrera-Vocals
Ingrid Jensen-Trumpet and Flugelhorn (“Remanso” and “Gracias a la Vida”)
Dori Caymmi-Voice (Samba em Preludio)
Vinicius Gomes-Acoustic Guitar Sam Minaie -Bass
Alex Kautz-Drums, percussions (Healer, Remanso, Obra filhia , Gracias a la vida) , palmas (Healer)
Gonzalo Grau- Chekeré (Aire), cajon, palmas and jaleos (Healer), Djembe and cajon (Alfonsina y el mar)
Gonzalo Grau, Vinicius Gomes, Alex Kautz - Backing vocals in “Obra Filhia.”
The Knights
Colin and Eric Jacobsen, artistic directors
Wayne du Maine, conductor
Colin Jacobsen, concertmaster
Violín: Colin Jacobsen, Christina Courtin, Abi Fayette, Alex Fortes (11), Kristi Helberg, Nanae Iwata,Yaira Matyakubova (11)
Viola: Mario Gotoh (11), Celia Hatton
Violonchelo: Gabriel Cabezas, Jia Kim (11)
Baja: Grey Fulmer
Flauta: Alex Sopp
Oboe: Michelle Farah
Clarinete: Agnes Marchione
Fagot: Edwards Burns
Trompa: Karl Kramer-Johansen
Trompeta: Micah Killion
Trombón: Dave Nelson
Arpa: Megan Conley
Piano: Blair McMillen
Arrangers
Diego Schissi- Gracias a la vida, Alfonsina y el mar, Remanso, Obra filhia, Papalote, Choro de lua
Gonzalo Grau- Aire, The calling, Healer
Jaques Morelenbaum- Samba em preludio
Production
Magos Herrera Artistic director, executive producer
Magos Herrera & Gonzalo Grau Recording production
Alex Venger Recording, editing, and mixing
Oscar Zambrano for Zampol productions Mastering
Release DATE
May 2023
Label
Sunnyside Records