Music:

Member Since: 3/6/2007
Band Website: dafnisprieto.com
Band Members:

Drummer/Composer Dafnis Prieto launches own label, Dafnison Music, 2008 with new Sextet Album, Taking the Soul for a Walk

With the release of Taking the Soul For A Walk, Cuban-born Dafnis Prieto, recognized by his elders and peers as a singular force on the drums since he arrived in New York in 1999, brings his already luminous career to another level. For one thing, his third album is exceptionally cohesive and varied, featuring a suite of original compositions performed by a like-minded group of outstanding musicians. Saxophonists Yosvany Terry and Peter Apfelbaum, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, pianist Manuel Valera, and bassist Yunior Terry are all exemplary team players and, like Prieto, expert at crafting musical narrative from pan-American source material. For another, the band leader and composer on the much acclaimed Zoho releases About the Monks (2005) and Absolute Quintet (2006), takes control of the means of production, launching his own label, Dafnison Music.

Extending his previous quintets to a sextet, Prieto gives himself a larger canvas and palette for his compositional strokes and penchant for beautiful counterpoint melodies over a multitude of polyrhythms. He wrote seven of the twelve pieces in response to a 2005 commission from Chamber Music America and titled them The Emotion Series.For Dafnis Prieto, Taking The Soul For a Walk represents a significant step towards seizing more control of his artistic life. “I have a lot of music that I want to put out – music for dance, for film, and other projects,” he says. “I no longer want to ask permission to release it from other people who might be interested. I am trying to represent in my music what I am living now and I want the music to sound the way I walk, the way I breathe, the way all of us are living today – with all the emotions, all the questions and answers that we have.”

Dafnis Prieto, 2008.

NEW ALBUM TAKING THE SOUL FOR A WALK... buy it here http://cdbaby.com/cd/dafnisprietosextet

Saxophone Yosvany Terry and Peter Apfelbaum

trumpet Avishai Cohen

piano Manuel Valera

Bass Yunior Terry

“This music has a very emotional a Walk" is a journey to all of the emotions evoked by the Titles of the 12 tracks. I have experienced these emotions as most of us probably have, and this music is flying through our ears before it touches infinity and disappears.”
–Dafnis Prieto, February 2008

Musicians:
Peter Apfelbaum- Sop sax, Tenor sax & Melodica.
Avishai Cohen - Trumpet.
Yosvany Terry - Sop sax, Alto sax.
Manuel Valera - Piano.
Yunior Terry - Bass.
Dafnis Prieto - Drums.
Itai Kriss - Flute on track 10.

All compositions by Dafnis Prieto
Published by Dafnison Music BMI

The New York Times has compared the arrival of Dafnis Prieto in the U.S. to the landing of an asteroid. Indeed, within a short period his groundbreaking drumming techniques have had a powerful impact on both the Latin and jazz music scene, locally and internationally. Having studied at the school of Fine Arts in Santa Clara and later at the National School of Music in Havana, Prieto obtained a thorough classical education while broadening his knowledge of Afro-Cuban music, jazz and world music outside of the academy.

He first toured Europe with pianists Carlos Maza and Ramon Valle and the pioneering group “Columna B.” In the seven years that he has lived in New York, he has played in bands led by Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O'Farrill, Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, Peter Apfelbaum, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdez, Claudia Acuna, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, Andrew Hill and Jerry Gonzalez, among others. He has performed at many national and international music festivals as a sideman and as bandleader.

As a composer, he has created highly distinctive music for dance, film, chamber groups and for his own band projects which have ranged from duets to a “Small Big Band.” He has received commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America, Jazz at Lincoln Center, East Carolina University, and Meet the Composer, as well as from various new music ensembles. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops. Since 2005, he has been teaching as a visiting professor at NYU (New York University.)

Dafnis currently leads three groups – the Latin jazz ensemble heard on his 2005 debut CD “About The Monks,” the band featured on his second album, “Absolute Quintet,” which includes violin, cello, and Hammond organ and this Sextet new Album "Taking the Soul for a Walk" released for Dafnison Music (CDs released on Zoho Music.) “Absolute Quintet” is nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2006. Dafnis Prieto is nominated for Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist, 2007.

“Dafnis Prieto is easily the most impressive young drummer to come on the jazz scene during the past decade. Possessing awesome virtuosity and astonishing versatility, Prieto has made important contributions to the music of a broad range of leaders… His compositions are elaborate composites melding Afro-Cuban rhythms and modern jazz harmonies into music that is ecstatic and intelligent.” - All About Jazz

The essence of Mr. Prieto’s style is his collation of various Afro-Cuban percussion sounds - from old religious music to modern music - within one set of trap drums. His playing is infernally complicated, and infernally precise; the blizzard of accents he throws into any pattern have their place as surely as pixels in a computer image.”
- The New York Times

“He is extraordinary, a rhythmic stimulus. He comprehends the two most incredibly difficult rhythmic genres - being Cuban and being an extremely talented jazz drummer.” - Eddie Palmieri

“Dafnis Prieto has what makes a great musician stand out from the pack: highly creative and improvisational instinct, an awareness of how much drama the music demands, interactive skills and a commitment to keep on growing as an artist. I am sure Dafnis will be regarded by jazz historians and musicians alike as one of the most influential and groundbreaking instrumentalists of the 21st century.” - Michel Camiloalso available DAFNIS PRIETO ABSOLUTE QUINTET, Zoho Music, 2006 :

Dafnis Prieto - drums

Christian Howes - violin

Dana Leong - Cello

Yosvany Terry - Sax

Jason Lindner - Hammond Organ & Keys

Special Guest - Henry Threadgill - alto sax

All compositions by Dafnis Prieto

Publishing by DAFNISON Music (BMI).

DAFNIS PRIETO ABOUT THE MONKS, Zoho Music, 2005 :

Dafnis Prieto - Drums

Brian Lynch - Trumpet

Yosvany Terry - Sax

Luis Perdomo - Piano

Hans Glawishnig - Bass

Ilmar Gavilan - Violin

All compositions by Dafnis Prieto

Publishing by DAFNISON Music (BMI).

DAFNIS PRIETO's DRUM SET:

Dafnis Prieto endorse Yamaha Maple Custom Drum, (LP) Latin Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks

Drum set as follows:

One (1) 10-inch Rack Tom,

One (1) 12-inch Rack Tom,

One (1)14-inch Floor Tom,

One (1) 14-inch by 5-inch, Maple Snare drum,

One (1) 18-inch Bass drum,

Yamaha hardware for Drums as follows:One (1) tom stand mounted for two toms,

Five (5) boom cymbal stand,

Two (2) straight cymbal stands,

One (1) hi hat stand with clutch,

One (1) bass drum pedal,

One (1 single braced snare drum stand and One (1) set (3 in a set) of floor Tom legs,

Drum heads must be Evans drumhead, new or in good shape.

Projects & Compositions, Grants & Commissions:

Dafnis Prieto has created the music for several dance projects:

Un Lugar (Havana 1996)

A mouth in a sleeping shell (NYC PS 122, Winter 2000)

Time in Circles (NYC Joyce Soho, Spring 2002)

Forms and Sounds (NYC Jazz Gallery 2002)

Puzzle/Rompecabezas (NYC The Kitchen, Fall 2002)

Music selection of Sang (Danspace Project, Spring 2002)

"Descending Matter (Judson Church, Fall 2002), a work by choreographer Osmany Tellez.

Since 1996 Dafnis has been collaborating with choreographer Judith Sanchez-Ruiz in interactive dance/music/visual media experimental works that use life improvisation as the central component.

Music for the film Fighting Illiteracy, by Pedro Arizti and Fernando Casado, (Providing Primary Education in Rural Honduras)

Music for Dance Piece: Citizens and individuals by Judith Sanchez-Ruiz.

He composed music for the Grammy Winner Album "The Gathering"by The Caribbean Jazz Project & the Album "Birds of a Feathers"also by the Caribbean Jazz Project.

Prieto was commissioned by the CBC in Toronto Canada to write a piece "On and On" for the True North Brass Quintet/2004

Commissionned by East Carolina University at Greenville NC to write a piece "Echo Dimensions" for the Meridian Arts Ensemble (Brass Quintet & Percussion, 2005)

Chamber Music America New Worksaward, 2005.

Dafnis Prieto is a recipient of Meet the Composers'Van Lier Fellowship, 2005.

Prieto is a Faculty Member in NYU since September 2005.

Commissioned by the Ethos Percussion Group under auspices of the Jerome Foundation "The Guiros Talk"a piece for 4 guiros (1 mov) and 4 percussion sets "Claveteando"(2 mov), 2006.

Dafnis Prieto is AWARD WINNER in the JAZZ JOURNALIST WARD, Up & Coming Musician of the Year 2006!

His second Album: 2006 DAFNIS PRIETO "ABSOLUTE QUINTET" has been NOMINATED in the Latin Jazz category.

Dafnis talks about the Album, "Absolute Quintet "

European concert music has had a great impact on Cuban culture, along with African and popular music from Spain, France and Italy.

By the19th century, an authentic and original Cuban music began to evolve, with many traces of European chamber music traditions.

I always remember the sound of strings in early Cuban music, in styles such as Danzon, Danza, Contradanza, as well as in the popular Charanga bands. You can find it in the music of Esteban Salas, Jos White, Alejandro Garcia Caturla, Amadeo Roldan and other prominent Cuban composers.

The sound of my Absolute Quintet is a reflection of these many styles that have influenced my musical development. While I always liked the sounds of the Hammond organ and of all string instruments individually, I never thought that I was going to have so much fun writing for and conceiving an ensemble sound that includes cello, violin, organ and other keyboards, as well as saxophones and drums.

I am grateful to the great musicians in my band who have infused my compositions with so much individual talent, creative energy, and spirited interplay.

The Coolest is inspired by a duet collaboration with vocalist Carl Walker (Kokay) and reflects the emotion I felt about meeting and performing with him.Sensaciones: Life is full of sensations and feelings; I wanted to write something that somehow expresses what we can?t express with words, a feeling of existence, the breathing of the body, or maybe just infinity.The Stutterer is a very percussive piece, as when a person who stutters speaks. It creates a rhythmic pattern that repeats one after the other, going back and forth to the same melodies or rhythms.Afrotango is dedicated to my wife Judith. A sentimental and a romantic melody line on top of a 6/8 rhythmic pattern is the basis of this tune. Henry Threadgill's playing gives the song its essence.

One Day Suite: Morning, Afternoon and Night are the three movements of this piece that recreate the motion and energy of a 24-hour period.

The Morning is about the sunrise, the start of the day, the beginning of opportunities.

The Afternoon reflects on the consistence of ideas, the continuation of the day.

The Night describes the day after sunset - the calm, the glory, the end.

New Elephant: the sound coming from the image of an elephant woke me up one day, it was like thunder in slow motion, in darkness, but I could hear the sound from far away, coming like an elephant with slow, rumbling steps towards me.

Renew the Elephant: once more the image of the elephant came to me, but this time in a different way. The colors and the sound were a reincarnation of the elephant, and I renewed the image in my mind so that it became a different animal.

Innocent Bird: I wrote this tune a week before my son Lucian was born. It reflects how I feel about him ? he was coming into this world like an innocent bird.

Dafnis Prieto Produced by Roberto Occhipinti and Dafnis Prieto.

Recorded by Joe Marciano at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY in Summer 2005.

Mixed by Jeff Wolpert at Desert Fish, Inc., Toronto, Ontario. Mastered by Peter J. Moore at The E Room, Toronto, Ontario.

Photos: CD cover by Ben Long. Henry & Dafnis, and musicians outdoors by Judith Sanchez Ruiz. Musicians performing by Hans Wendl. Dafnis sitting with black background by Bill King.

Dafnis Prieto's Absolute Quintet record pictures, from left : Yosvany Terry, Christian Howes, Dafnis Prieto, Dana Leong, Jason Lindner. Photo by Sergio Royzen, October 2005.

Package Design: 3+Co. (www.threeandco.com) Executive Producer: Joachim Becker.

Dafnis Prieto is a recipient of a Meet the Composer Vanlier Fellowship 2005.

Dafnis Prieto plays Yamaha Drums, Latin Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads. Christian Howes plays Yamaha violins.