Rafael Antonio Nazario Patria Anorada CD

PATRIA A�NORADAPatria Añorada charts new territory in Latin music: great melodies combined with lyrics that possess poetry and narrative drive. This is dancing music you can listen to and listening music you can dance to. The songs, which range across the Latin-American landscape, from Tango-influenced Bolero, to Samba/Batucada, \'Nueva Trova\' and Salsa, grow in stature with each listen.REVIEWS \"...Fresh and inventive.\" -Larry Harlow\'Patria Añorada\' (literally, \"longed-for homeland\") is a collection of 11 songs in a variety of styles, each very original and very personal...\"This is not [strictly speaking] salsa or plena or bomba...The listener can hear salsa, bolero, samba, ranchera, jazz in the music, but it has traveled far to assume the shape that reaches your ears from this collection. Each song is different, each is thoughtfully composed, but it is the poetry of the lyrics that really stands out. The band is excellent and well led by Nazario. He recorded this CD in a relatively few days of studio time in Los Angeles and Mexico. Patria Añorada is a beautiful album, unlike anything you\'ve ever heard...\"-Bruce Ishikawa-Picadillo.com **About Rafael A. NazarioComposer, Writer, Producer, Arranger and Performer… Rafael Nazario’s music is as diverse as the many places he has called home, composing in various styles––Latin, Neo-Classical, Pop, Electronica and straight-up Jazz. Combining his Puerto Rican cultural birthright with years of studying and performing across America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Rafael has developed and nurtured a distinct and personal style that has won and wowed fans and critics alike.Armed with a post-graduate degree in orchestration and arrangement, Rafael ended up securing one of Los Angeles’ most coveted gigs when he became resident pianist at 72 Market Street, a Venice Beach hotspot owned by Tony Bill and Dudley Moore and frequented by music industry heavyweights including Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock and Randy Newman. For over six years, Rafael performed jazz, classics and improvisational piano for Hollywood’s elite and as a result, he shared the stage with such artists as Linda Ronstadt and Crosby & Nash. His profile and reputation grew via various media appearances — including fronting the trio that played for National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate KCRW’s ‘Live from 72’ —and soon he was producing, arranging and composing for television and film, as well as acting in various film projects and TV shows.Raf further developed his style in Tokyo’s Roppongi district, playing swing, stride and singing jazz standards to appreciative audiences. Whilst in Tokyo, Rafael continued to refine his music and act in television until opportunity knocked once again with a prospect to relocate to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Rafael flourished in Mexico, where he wrote, arranged and produced Patria Añorada, performing with some of Mexico’s finest studio musicians. His follow-up CD, PianoForte, was a genre-defying, collection of piano music reflecting his diverse variety of influences. It was also during this time that Rafael published his bi-lingual cookbook, Sand In Your Shoes.Currently based in Sydney, Australia, Rafael is focusing on composing and recording. He recently released PianoForte 2, a collection of instrumental originals reflecting his ever-growing diverse tastes and influences. Patria Añorada, PianoForte 1 and PianoForte 2 are available on iTunes, CDBABY and Amazon.com and Rhapsody, among other outlets.