Afinidad and Gretchen Parlato Research

Gretchen Parlato is a young jazz artist. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in Ethnomusicology/jazz studies. She is known for her addition of Brazilian and African elements with jazz music. She is notable for performing with Lionel Loueke, Wayne Shorter and Kenny Barron. Her music has a very magical, bubbly, and happy vibe to it. It feels as though you are in a happy dream and it is peaceful and optimistic. In the year 2001 she was the first vocalist to be accepted into the Theonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance. In 2004 she she won first place in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.  In 2005 she released her first self titled album which was named #5 best progressive jazz cds of 2005. She just recently in the spring of 2009 released her new cd titled in a dream.

Edward Simon's Afinidad is a band consisting of 6 people Edward Simon the pianist, David Binney the saxophone, Basset Scott Colley, Drummer Antonio Sanchez, guitarist Adam Rogers, and percussionist Dernell Saturino. Edward Simon was born in Venezuela where he grew surrounded and inspired by Latin and Caribbean music. He graduated from Philadelphia performing art school at 15. Edward then received a scholarship from the University of the Arts where he studied classical music. In the mid 90's he formed the band Afinidad.