Berklee Salsa with Strings Octet Get Double Jazz Billing

Juan Chavez y Arco Kemao will play the Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival.

July 22, 2008

Berklee College of Music salsa octet Juan Chavez y Arco Kemao will perform twice on Saturday, August 9 as part of the Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival in San Jose, California. Chavez—whose violin, singing, and dancing with his salsa big band Díle were a highlight of the 2007 Kennedy Center Conservatory Project series in Washington, D.C.—brings to San Jose Araco Kemao, a fresh band of top Berklee students whose salsa delivery system features the triad of violin, viola, and cello. Rounding out the group are piano, saxophone, trombone, congas, and timbales.

A native of Dallas, Chavez began Arco Kemao—literally "burnt bow"—to honor salsa traditions and to help create some new ones. The group includes students from Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the continental U.S., many of whom grew up with Latin music, and others who simply could not keep away once they'd heard it.

Juan Chavez y Arco Kemao perform at 11:00 a.m. on the festival's Latin Jazz Stage, at Post and Market streets, and again that night at the Fairmont Hotel, from 9:00 p.m. to 12 a.m. On Sunday at 10:00 a.m., the group will give a youth master class on salsa rhythms and the use of strings at Camera 3, located at the corner of 2nd and Fernando streets.

Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music was through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than half a century, the college has evolved constantly to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. With more than a dozen performance and nonperformance majors, a diverse and talented student body representing more than 70 countries, and a music industry "who's who" of alumni, Berklee is the world's premier learning lab for the music of today—and tomorrow.

2 Salsa Workshops w/ Juan Chavez @ the Dance Complex

1:30 - 3:00PM UNDERSTANDING SALSA RHYTHMS (Dance/Music Workshop)

This workshop teaches the fundamental rhythms of Afro-Cuban and Salsa music in depth, as well as more complex and unfamiliar rhythms, to enhance the dancers understanding of timing and improve musicality. Body movement will be used to help memorize some of the more familiar rhythms. As a bonus, this workshop will feature virtuoso Afro-Cuban percussionist from Berklee College of Music. This is a neutral timing class (applicable to ON1 or ON2). Class fee is $15 in advance or $25 total if paired with spin technique workshop ($20 each @ the door).

Register online now at:
http://www.juanpchavez.com/dance

3:00 - 4:30PM SPIN, SPIN, SPIN!!! (Dance Technique Workshop)
This workshop teaches proper technique for both axle (in place) and pivot (traveling) spins in salsa dancing. A focus is placed on balance, core, spotting and timing. This class is taught ON2, though NO PRIOR ON2 KNOWLEDGE IS REQUIRED. High Heels are not allowed in this class (socks or jazz shoes only.) Class fee is $15 in advance or $25 total if paired with rhythms technique workshop ($20 each @ the door).

Register online now at:
http://www.juanpchavez.com/dance

Afro-Cuban/Salsa Dance Class @ Jeannette Neill Dance Studio w/ Juan Chavez

Wednesdays 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Starting July 9th

http://www.juanpchavez.com/dance
http://www.jndance.com/

This class is open to all levels and is NOT partnered.
There is an emphasis on body movement, musicality and spin technique.

The first hour includes a set warm up, workout and stretch and the last half hour is choreography.

Come check out this new class as well as all the other wonderful classes JNDS offers.

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Jeannette Neill Dance Studio:

Our class system is set up so that there is no registration or membership fee. Classes are ongoing, meaning that a student can start at any time. A student should start at a level appropriate to him or her. Progression to the next level is at the discretion of the student and/or the instructor. If you are unsure of your level, for your first class, we suggest that you start one level lower than the level at which you think you might be.

Fees & Policies

* Classes are $15 each.
* Class cards may be purchased at a discounted rate for multiple classes to be taken within a specific period of time:
........10 classes taken in 3 weeks costs $135
........10 classes taken in 6 weeks costs $140.
*Class cards are valid until they expire. They are transferable, but not refundable. Sorry, we do not replace lost or stolen cards.
* We accept cash and personal checks; no credit cards, sorry. Returned checks are subject to a $20 fee.
* We offer a professional rate to members of performing arts unions with valid ID.

Salsa Lessons in Boston | Afro-Cuban Classes in Boston | Salsa Boston

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

I had the great opportunity of playing the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival this weekend. The festival is ongoing throughout the summer and has some other great acts you should check out if you're in the area. Take a look at some of the press below.

Berklee Brings Music Mix to the North Shore for Salem Jazz and Soul Festival "Berklee Summer Series," May 10–August 9:
http://www.berklee.edu/news/2008/04/0429.html

The Salem Insider Review:
http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/05/12/salem-jazz-and-soul-festival/

Berklee students set to swing into Salem - The Salem News Online Article:
http://salemnews.com/punews/local_story_130004919.html

About.com Interviews Salsa Violinist Juan P. Chavez

July 28, 2007

About.com's Music Careers section came to me a few weeks back asking if I would be interested in doing an interview with them about my experiences at Berklee. I said no...YEAH RIGHT!!! I was floored at the fact that anyone would want to interview me, much less a music guide owned and operated by the New York Times.

There is currently a link to my interview on the main page, musicians.about.com, but the direct link is http://musicians.about.com/od/educationandexperience/a/juanchavez.htm

Tell me what you think...

Tag Link:
Juan P. Chavez Interviewed by About.com

Juan P. Chavez Perfoms with Larry Harlow's Latin Jazz Encounter & The Latin Legends Band

July 20-21, 2007

Well this weekend was very interesting. Larry Harlow and The Latin Legends band were going to be in Cambridge for a Salsa event at the Hyatt. On a whim I decided to e-mail Larry Harlow and ask I could play with the band. To my surprise I get an e-mail from him less than 5 minutes later that says "Bring your violin.. Sound check at 6pm in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency... Are you coming to Worcester Latin Jazz Encounter concert at 6:30 at the Ecoterium.. Sound check there is 4p...See ya...Harlow."
Well needless to say I was super excited and freaking out at work a little.

I don't have a car and none of my friends were willing to go to Worcester so I decided to take the train there, even though I only had about $20 left to my name...which is only enough to get to the EcoTarium...not back. Honestly! When else are you going to have the opportunity to play with Larry Harlow? So I'll go out there and play and figure the rest out when it's all said and done.

I'm supposed be there at 4, but the first train to Worcester doesn't leave until 4:10 but I'm still gonna go because late is better than never, right?! Well I miss the 4:10 train by a couple of minutes and the next train doesn't leave for an hour...I'm PISSED!!! I missed the train that was already making me late, the next one doesn't leave for another hour, I don't know how I'm going to get back to Boston, I'm drenched in sweat from running for the train and I'm hungry! So while debating with myself on whether or not I should just turn around and go home, I looked up and realized an hour had passed! So I hopped on the train without thinking twice and the second I sat down I fell asleep.

When I woke up we were in Worcester and it was about 6:15. I hopped in a cab and told the lady where to go. She could tell that I wasn't from Worcester so she drove me around for a good 20 minutes, sucking away the last of my money, even though the EcoTarium was only 1.5 miles away. I was angry but there was nothing I could do and I was more concerned about being late.

I get there and can hear them playing from the parking lot and run up to the event. I saw a table that said "Band" on it and sat next a women sitting by herself. I told her that Larry Harlow invited me to play with them and that my name was Juan. She was very nice and went up to Mr. Harlow (WHILE HE'S PLAYING ON STAGE) and told him that I was there. The next thing you know I'm jumping on stage in the middle of a song and playing my heart out. I was very nervous at first but after a while it was very natural and I was having a good time. The audience really liked me...I had people come up to me after the show and ask me for my autograph and to take pictures with them. It was very flattering!

The band members were all very nice, as well as amazing. Bobby Sanabria was on drums and he's a legend at Berklee, so it was an honor to meet him let alone play with him. The bass player was Ray Martinez and he was incredible! All the other musicians were great and very kind and said nice things about my playing, which was nice (even if it wasn't true.) It was Frank Fontaine on Sax and Flute, Chembo Corneil on Congas and Mac Gollehon (another Berklee Grad) on Trumpet.

After everything was over I was going to call someone to come pick me up but...my phone was dead! So I start walking back to train station where I will begin begging for money and playing my violin in the station for change. I managed to collect about $6 when a bus announced it was leaving for Boston. The bus ticket was $9, but I pleaded with the driver to please let me on. He said no. I pleaded some more and told him "I lost my wallet..I don't have anymore money" and finally he said to quit my whining and get on the bus in the rude way of speaking that New Englanders often do.

An hour-and-a-half later...I was home with a huge smile on my face and a empty wallet.

Day Two

So I'm supposed to be at the Hyatt at 6pm...I couldn't figure out what to wear so I was running a little late and got there at 6:30. Everyone was on musicians time so I was actually the first one there and sat alone for a good half-and-hour. Once Mr. Harlow got there he sat down and chatted with me for a long while. He told all kinds of stories about himself, other musicians and then just some random things. It was very unreal to just be sitting and talking with Larry Harlow. After a short while another one of my music idols walked in the room...Lewis Khan, a salsa trombonist/violinist and other Fania legend. It wasn't quite as easy to talk to him but was still cool nonetheless.

I sat out the first three songs but then jumped on for La Cartera. I got to trade 8's with Lewis Khan and even got to take an extended solo. Actually...I think I took a solo on every song I played that night. I'm sure that aggravated the dancers, but who cares...After it was all over I got to go up and hang out with them for a bit.

It was a great weekend.

More Photos From Kennedy Center Thanks to Rob Jaczko

Rob Jaczko (the chair of the MP&E Department at Berklee) was kind enough to post the pictures he took from our trip. Click the link below to view Rob's site.

There are pictures from the Kennedy Center performance and our recording session at XM Satellite Radio.

http://www.jaczko.com/dc07/

-Juan