Shelly Berg Trio “Alegria” + Rene Marie and the JAS Academy Afro-Caribbean Big Band led by Etienne Charles: “Tribute to Harry Belafonte”

René Marie is a very rare artist. A modern vocal icon, her unique artistry has been recognized with multiple domestic and international awards including two GRAMMY Award nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album. A lyricist/composer/arranger/playwright/actress/educator/speaker / and social justice activist, René is an Americana roots artist with jazz improvisational chops.

Trinidad-born Etienne Charles is a performer, composer, and storyteller, who is continuously searching for untold stories and sounds with which to tell them. His lush trumpet sound, varied compositional textures, and pulsating percussive grooves enable him to invoke trance, soothing, and exciting listeners while referencing touchy and sometimes controversial subjects in his music.

Shelly Berg Trio presents Alegria: Think of the most magical moment you can remember while listening to music. Was it a live performance, something on the radio as a child, or even something you may have performed yourself? Just take a minute now to reflect on that. What you may be feeling when remembering that moment is Alegría which means happiness or joy in Spanish.

Music has the power to transform people. When music is at its best, it can create a deep connection between performers and listeners. These moments can even be the catalyst for the trajectory of a person’s life. In my case, I remember my childhood being filled with moments of bliss while listening to, and later playing music. These moments put me on the path towards a beautiful life in music and now I would like to share them with you. Welcome to the Alegría project. Together we will explore the moments of boundless joy that we all experience through music.

Carlitos Del Puerto – Born and raised in Cuba, Carlitos is the son of the world-famous bass player Carlos Del Puerto who is a founder and original member of the Cuban super group IRAKERE, and a distinguished professor and author of the book The True Cuban Bass adopted by Berklee College of Music. Since arriving in the United States, Carlitos has worked with Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, and has recorded on TV, Film soundtracks, and countless recordings. He was a member of Chick Corea’s band for eight years, with whom in 2020, he received a Grammy for the album Antidote. He also tours with recording sensation Bad Bunny.

From Cuba, Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the Latin and Jazz music scene, nationally and internationally. A gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops throughout the world. He was a faculty member of Jazz Studies at NYU from 2005 to 2014, and in 2015 became a faculty member of Frost School of Music at University of Miami.

Vocalist Rene Marie will join the twenty students selected for the JAS Academy Afro-Caribbean Big Band program for a musical celebration of the Caribbean-born legendary vocalist, Harry Belafonte. This beautiful concert intersperses the most beloved calypso selections of Harry Belafonte with lesser-known facts about his use of music to effect social change. Each musical selection (arrangements by trumpeter Etienne Charles) is curated to engage the hearts and minds of both long-time fans of Harry Belafonte and more recent acolytes.