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VAGABUNDEO/WANDERINGS NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES!
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Vagabundeo/Wanderings, the second album from Alexa Weber Morales, and her first for producer Wayne Wallace's Patois label, follows the groundbreaking footsteps of her 2004 debut release, Jazzmérica. This vibrantly imagined collection melds warm acoustic jazz with flavors from across the vast spectrum of Latin, Cuban, Brazilian, and African music for a mix that's at once rootsy and cosmopolitan, street-wise and sophisticated. The singer's dynamic vocals, innovative rhythmic sense, and emotive phrasing bring a sizzling, soulful power to every note she sings. Her multi-octave range and command of four languages lends authenticity to songs as diverse as the haunting “Calling You,†from the Bagdad Café soundtrack, and the seldom-heard Brazilian gem, “Ave Rara.†Like Ella Fitzgerald, one of her first inspirations, Weber Morales uses her warm mid-range tone as a foundation, effortlessly leaping into a dulcet higher register or swooping down to deliver earthy, purring lows.
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Vagabundeo is a rich album that highlights the striking sound of Weber Morales, the arranging and trombone skills of three-time Grammy nominee Wayne Wallace, and a who's who of the San Francisco Bay Area's top Latin and jazz players, including percussionists John Santos and Michael Spiro, bassist David Belove, montuno maestro Murray Low, drummer Paul van Wageningen, soneros Edgardo Cambon and Orlando Torriente, sax men Ron Stallings and Melecio Magdaluyo, and pianist/synth player Frank Martin. The arrangements combine Latin jazz, Afro-funk, gospel, salsa, samba-canção, and pop, but they're delivered in a seamless blend of sparkling musicianship and understated virtuosity.
“Ave Rara†is a s amba-canção written by composer Edu Lobo and Aldir Blanc, longtime lyricist for João Bosco and Guinga. The tranquil vocal track is complemented by Rick Vandivier 's guitar solo and Frank Martin 's lush piano excursion. Weber Morales's overdubbed harmonies intensify the feeling of saudades , the dreamy wistfulness that makes Brazilian music so poignant, while the outro has a Middle Eastern feel. “Calling You,†from the film Bagdad Café , is an a cappella tour de force. Bryan Dyer 's bass vocal and Kenny Washington 's baritone/tenor provide a foundation for Weber Morales's aching lead vocal.
“Angelitos Negros,†a poem by Venezuelan poet Andrés Eloy Blanco, was set to music by Manuel Alvarez Maciste and made popular by Mexico's Pedro Infante in the 1948 movie of the same name. Wallace's vocal arrangement for the choir— One Voice (Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir members Patricia Bahia, Kimiko Joy, Vernon Staggers and Helen Bernard Gray ), Sandy Cressman , Ron Stallings , and Weber Morales—gives the song a soaring, soulful aura. “Agua de Beber/Aguas de Março†combines two familiar tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim, likening water to love, essential for life. The straightforward bossa arrangement keeps the focus on Weber Morales; vocals and percussion intertwine to produce a giddy, percolating outro.
“The Goddess of War,†a Weber Morales original, is the album's funkiest track. John Santos and Michael Spiro lay down a diabolic Afro/Latin/funk groove accented by Frank Martin 's sinister synthesizer and David Belove 's driving bass. Weber Morales's growling vocals convey the terror and fascination we all feel in the face of uncontrolled violence. There's also “Habanera,†the famous aria from Bizet's Carmen , recast as a pilón-salsa with Melecio Magdaluyo 's rumbling baritone sax; “El Cantante†a Ruben Blades tune (famously recorded by salsa bad boy Hector Lavoe) with a Wallace horn arrangement that tweaks the original Fania track; and the Weber Morales original “Her Ways Wander,†a smoky cha-cha ballad that tells the story of a mysterious femme fatale.
Overall, Vagabundeo mirrors the gumbo of global influences currently simmering in the Bay Area, a Latin sound as unique as anything coming out of Miami, New York, and San Juan. With Vagabundeo and the exceptional singing she contributed to Wayne Wallace 's recent The Reckless Search for Beauty project, Weber Morales is ready to step out and take her place in the first rank of the Bay Area's—and the nation's—jazz singers.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
* Vagabundeo makes KCSM FM 91.1 TOP 100 SPINS of 2007!
* Vagabundeo named to multiple DJ top 10 lists for 2007, including El Leon (KVMR in Nevada City, CA), Johnny Conga (KBCS 91.3FM in Seattle, WA) and Saul Zavarce (106.7 PBS FM in Melbourne, Australia).
* Alexa nominated for Best Latin Jazz Vocalist of 2007 and Best Album of 2007 by The Latin Jazz Corner.
* Vagabundeo reaches 13 on the July 23, 2007 JazzWeek World Music Albums chart--in only its third week of radio play! Alexa cited as the second Most Added artist overall.
* Wayne Wallace: The Reckless Search for Beauty, which features Alexa as lead singer and contributing lyricist, is at 11 after 22 weeks of airplay.
* The new album from Alexa, Vagabundeo/Wanderings, available June 26, 2007!
* Alexa headlines at San Francisco's Jazz at Pearls for CD release party weekend May 25, 26 and 27!
* Alexa signs four-year recording contract with Patois Records!
* Vagabundeo/Wanderings selected for national and international distribution by RNLG and KOCH Entertainment.
* The Reckless Search for Beauty reaches number 29 on the JazzWeek charts!
* Lead vocalist on Wayne Wallace's new release, THE RECKLESS SEARCH FOR BEAUTY. Featured on funky new arrangements of "Use Me" and "Afro Blue" as well as other songs, Alexa Weber Morales is experiencing new prominence as "Use Me" takes nationwide radio waves by storm!
* Interview on BBC News' "Have Your Say" radio program about artists living their dreams
* International song placement of Alexa's original salsa romantica "Tu Amor," arranged for Korea's Orquesta Cobana
* Alexa's original ballad Down in the Everglades honored in the 2006 West Coast Songwriters International Song Competition
* Alexa and Wayne Wallace selected as 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival Latin Jazz Clinicians
* Alexa featured on the opening segment of the Chicago-based syndicated radio program Listen Here with Neil Tesser and Mark Ruffin as one of the most exciting new artists to emerge from the January 2005 IAJE conference.
