Cecilia Zabala

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Publication Date

2-20-2011

Year of Release

2011

Note(s)

Biography:

Guitarist, singer and composer Cecilia Zabala was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1975. Throughout her career, she has expressed her musical creativity using her guitar and her voice, creating original compositions that blend sensitivity, emotion, technique and intuition. Her music draws on a rich mixture of influences, from Argentinian folklore, the contemporary language of the twentieth century, jazz, tango, and Brazilian music.

Cecilia is an active participant in the musical scene of Buenos Aires, with a variety of projects as a performer, composer and arranger. She plays as a soloist and was also a member of several different chamber ensembles, such as the guitar quartet "Cuatro en punta", the tango group "Mala Junta", and the duos "Las Morochas" and "Alvarezabala." With "Alvarezabala", she released the album "Halo de luz" -2004- (www.alvarezabaladuo.com.ar) and with "Las morochas" she released "Milonga sin palabras" -2005. With this duet she made a tour in the U.K., playing at the National Theatre and the Lewes Guitar festival in 2006.

Her solo recordings highlight her as an original, deep and "feminine" songwriter, a virtuoso guitarist performing on the 7 strings guitar. In a tradition of guitarists and writers, her roots are from Atahualpa Yupanqui to the minimalism of Juana Molina, Zabala's work combine traditional, classical and pop elements. Her first solo recording, "Aguaribay" (indie 2007), mixed Argentinian folklore repertory with original instrumental and vocals compositions, creating a new sonic landscape. Special guests for this recording include Juan Falú (www.juanfalu.com.ar), Quique Sinesi (www.quiquesinesi.com) and Silvia Iriondo (www.silviairiondo.com.ar).

Soon after, Zabala released "Pendiente" (MDR Records 2008) with original compositions and her arrangements of works by contemporary composers. Pendiente moves away from pure folk roots to reveal unusual rhythms and unique melodies with contemporary compositions by American-Russian Regina Spektor, Marcela Biasi (Brazil), David Aguilar (México) and Diego Penelas (Argentina). Special guests included Marcelo Moguilevsky (bass clarinet), César Lerner (accordion), Luciano Dyzenchauz (double bass) and Rodrigo Quirós (percussion), among other instrument as soprano sax, violoncello and bassoon.

With her second release Zabala consoidate as an unusual creator, singer and guitarist.

Since 2006 she has performed at international venues with her duo "Las Morochas" (UK) and as a soloist artist in Germany, Switzerland and Spain.

In 2008-2009 she was part of "International Guitar night", a project created by American guitarist Brian Gore wherein four internationally renowned guitarists offer an evening of their own music as well as collaborations among themselves. She participated in three different tours - UK, Canada, United States - the last sharing the bill with renowned guitarists Benjamin Verdery (USA), Pierre Bensusan (France) and Brian Gore (USA). In addition to her performance tours Cecilia Zabala presents workshops and master classes focusing on Argentinean music, songwriting and arrangements for guitar.

In 2010 she did her first solo tour in the United States with concerts in New Orleans, New York City and Boston. She also made a recording of her own music with two musicians from Boston, pianist Joe Deleault (www.joedeleault.com) and wind player Don Davis (www.myspace.com/dondavis). This album will be released in 2011. She also taught master classes on Argentine music for Guitar at the New York City Guitar Society and Yale University. In her fourth European tour in 2011 she introduced her music in new venues in Paris (France), Fribourg (Switzerland) and Leipzig (Germany) and she also taught master classes in Geneva (Switzerland).

In 2011 she is touring in the US as a soloist artist for the second time, visiting the West Coast area (San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Eugene Oregon), New York City and West Virginia. She also is preparing to record her third solo album in Buenos Aires Argentina.


Note

Smith Recital Hall

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Fine Arts | Music | Music Performance

Marshall University Music Department Presents a Guest Artist, Cecilia Zabala, guitar

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