Customer Reviews

Aurea

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Released as a project for ArtistShare, Aurea features Afro-Peruvian and Argentinian music mixed with jazz, and features the amazing Essiet Essiet on acoustic/electric bass, Sofia Rei Koutsovitis on vocals and Geoff on piano and keyboards. Two outstanding tracks are Leucadia and Miraflores. Geoff donated 10% of all sales to impoverished Latin American families.

This represents a deep exploration of Afro-Peruvian music blended with Keezer's personal jazz voice. The pianist and composer notes, "In Peru you've got descendants of Amerindians, Spanish, African, even Chinese and Japanese... Peru's cultural crossover with Africa predates America's, and many more of the African elements are retained in [their] music than in jazz." Five compositions are Keezer's contemporary creations drawing on South American traditions, while three were written by contemporary Argentine composer/songwriters. This was a serious undertaking by Keezer, something of a labor of love, I guess. After all of the research and study, the music was rendered with soul and sensitivity.
Geoffrey Keezer, piano and leader; Essiet Okon Essiet, electric and acoustic bass; Hugo Alcázar & John Wilkan, percussion; Sofia Rei Kousovitis, vocals; Steve Wilson, alto saxophone; Ron Blake, alto saxophone and flute; Phil O'Connor, bass clarinet; Peter Sprague & Mike Moreno, guitars; Susan Wulff, double bass.
A portion of album sales are donated to help relieve economic stress in Peru and Latin America ...
... (however, if politicians don't make prioritize America over private and personal interests, we may need that money here!)

Geoffrey Keezer's brilliance in bringing together some of the most outstanding world and international jazz artists in and outside the United States. This is a landmark album. Viva Geoffrey Keezer