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Gonzalo Grau

La Clave Secreta’s NEW CD IS OUT!!! GET IT NOW!!!

About Me

I began my musical studies at the age of three in Caracas, developing skills in many instruments such as piano, cello, viola da gamba and percussion. I have played with some of the most recognized artists of my country and have recorded over fifty CD’s. In 1995, I was awarded with a scholarship at Berklee College of Music, where I graduated in 1998 with the mention Summa Cum Laude as a Piano Performance Major. I play and collaborate with musical projects and artists such as Mango Blue, Maria Schneider's Orchestra (Grammy Winner 2005), Timbalaye, Osvaldo Golijov's Saint Marcus Passion and Ainadamar (Double Grammy Winner 2007). I am currently working on commissions by the Atlanta Symphony, the Labeque Sisters, and leading my own Latin band, "La Clave Secreta".

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/27/2006
Band Website: gonzalograu.com/laclavesecreta
Band Members:

I am working on two main "personal" projects at the same time:

1. LA CLAVE SECRETA (my Latin/Funkie/Jazzy/World 12 piece band)

It used to be called "La Timba Loca", and we are about to release our NEW CD

Members:

Bass - Panagiotis Andreou

Trumpets - Albert Leusink, Dan Brantigan

Sax's/Flute - Tim Mayer, Felipe Salles, Shlomo Cohen

Drum Set - Pablo Bencid

Congas - Robert Rosario

Violin - Alí Bello

Lead Vocal - Manolo Mairena

Piano - Gonzalo Grau

Founder members and always part and family of this project: Percussionists: Fausto Cuevas III, Omar Ledezma, José "BamBam" Ramírez, Ernesto Díaz

Vocalist: Alex Alvear

Violin: Ernesto Briceño

2. PLURAL (an "upcoming" musical portrait of "who I am")

This project involves most of the great artists, friends and family that have been with me in this "beautiful musical trip" I call "my life"... READ MY INFLUENCES, AND YOU WILL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT... (I guess!)

Featuring: Isabel Palacios, Alberto Grau, Schola Cantorum de Caracas, Antonio Bujanda, Diego Cabrujas, David Moreira, Aquiles Báez, Maroa, Carlos Julio Ramírez, Vladimir Rivero, Pedro Cortés Jr., La Conja, Jesús Montoya, Cesar Muñoz, David "Zancudo" Peña, Mauro Tortolero, Vicente Lebrón, Ernesto Briceño, Fausto Cuevas III, Omar Ledezma, Panagiotis Andreou, Alex Alvear & Manguito, La Clave Secreta and many more.

This video is a 5 minute DEMO CLIP with fragments of a recent concert of PLURAL (in its 1st edition), with David "Zancudo" Peña and Carlos "Nene" Quintero. Caracas, May/06/07. On this one, I'm playing a solo piano version of a flamenco guajira... I called it "Guajira de Capullo"
Influences: J.S. Bach, Ruben Blades, Paco de Lucía, Oscar de León, E. Satie, Albeto Grau (my Dad), I. Stravinski, Los Van Van, Sting, Ilan Chester, David Moreira, Isabel Palacios (my Mom), Antonio Bujanda, Venezuela, Chick Corea, Camarón de la Isla, Maria Schneider, Osvaldo Golijov, Guaco, Willie Colón, Pedro Cortés Jr., Aquiles Báez, Schola Cantorum de Caracas, A. Kachaturian, Issac Delgado, Fafa (my aunt), Papo Luca, Camerata de Caracas, all my teachers, and my grand father Taitu.
Sounds Like: (read my influences... you'll get the idea)...
THIS IS A VIDEO OF ME SINGING THE "CHICHESTER PSALMS" by L. Bernstein.
1982 Caracas, Venezuela. My dad is conducting the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and three of his choirs (Schola Cantorum, Cantoria Alberto Grau and Orfeon Universitario Simon Bolivar)... I was 10 and a much cuter!!!
Record Label: 'm going solo...music published by GonzoGrau Music
Type of Label: None