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Ecos de Portoalegre - THIRD PRIZE WINNER! at the 17th Annual Billboard World Song Contest (2010) with "TIERRA NUESTRA" from album ECOS DE PORTOALEGRE - Billboard Song Contest
Montreal has been blessed with Ecos De Portoalegre; perhaps the most exciting group on the city’s World Music Scene. Featuring members from four countries in South America, Ecos De Portoalegre offers up a vital and original blend of Jazz, Salsa and Latin-American rhythms. Ecos De Portoalegre released their self-titled debut album in 2009, featuring amazing instrumental work and the sensuous and sensational voice of Anamaria Gonzalez.
Ecos De Portoalegre opens with Tierra Nuestra, a delicious bit of Latin Jazz. Gonzalez is sensational with a warm and raw sound that’s unforgettable. Songoro Cosongo Songo will make you want to dance at all costs. The song is done call and response style and features amazing piano work from Pablo Samuel Castro. Nubladito has a Cuban feel with strong movement and rhythm. Gonzalez sings in a duet that is powerful. Interlunio is the prologue for No Me Desampares, which is just Gonzalez and acoustic guitar. It’s a wow moment.
Historia Del Fuego finds Ecos De Portoalegre gravitating into the highly danceable and rhythmic Latin Pop realm. The song is done up with piano, brass and loads of percussion, but never sounds overdone. Movil features a rap and comes up short of expectations. Rumpa Pa Fidel is a high energy tune with a strong, clear vocal line and a party atmosphere. Ecos De Portoalegre closes out with Sig Cantando, moving from smooth lyricism to urgent happiness; a highly enjoyable closing track.
Ecos De Portoalegre is the most enjoyable Latin Jazz album I've heard in some time. Anamaria Gonzalez is a star, and with a band like this at her side its hard to imagine how things could go wrong. It's simply a matter of time before Ecos De Portoalegre is playing big stages far beyond the reaches of Montreal.
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5) - Wildy's World Review
"Ecos de Portoalegre, a Montreal band with a United Nations groove! Founded here in 2005, Ecos de portoalegre sets loose a new wave of South American music. Featuring virtuoso musicians from Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina and Quebec, the band pours solar-powered energy into making you dance, think and dream, with a compelling blend of salsa, jazz and traditional Latin- American rhythms, and lyrics that are poetic, intelligent and inspiring."
- Montreal Jazz Fest 2008 - Montreal International Jazz Festival
"Their Latin American fusion of frolicking salsa-jazz fits in with a dedicated new generation style."
- Nuits d'Afrique International Festival 2008 - Festival Nuits d'Afrique
"Ecos de Portoalegre are a fusion of sound, art, literature, and politics – one that makes you think just as much as it makes you want to move your hips."
- The McGill Daily 2008 (McGill University) - The McGill Daily
Discography
Ecos de Portoalegre - Ecos de Portoalegre (released 2010).
Single "Tierra Nuestra" won Third Prize at Billboard World Song Contest 2010.
Photos
Bio
Since 2005, Ecos de Portoalegre have been lighting up the Montreal scene with their own flavour of Latin music. Their recently released self-titled debut album has already been receiving rave reviews. The first song on the album, "Tierra Nuestra", won 3rd prize in the Latin category of the 17th Annual Billboard World Song Contest 2010. Offering a blending of salsa, jazz and traditional Latin-American rhythms; combined with smart, powerful and poetic lyrics, Ecos de Portoalegre have become one of the "coup de coeur" of the World-Music circuit in Montreal. Coming from four countries in Latin America, these young artists are part of the new wave of Latin-American musicians making the worldwide audiences dance, think and dream. With their always packed concerts all over Montreal, Ecos de Portoalegre have attracted the attention of prestigious international festivals such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Festival d´Ete du Quebec, Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, and its music has been broadcasted in several media including the CBC, Radio Canada, CIBL, and CKUT. Unlimited energy, exceptional talent and the most irresistible groove is what the audience experience every time they have the opportunity to witness the magic of Ecos de Portoalegre. Let them seduce you!
Website: www.ecosdeportoalegre.com
Facebook: ecos de portoalegre
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