New Album

Noneto Ibérico

“The record teems with surprising time-signature shifts, stacked rhythms and counterpoint passages yet comes across as entirely natural. The genius of Cuadrado’s tonally pungent and fairly lengthy compositions relates to how they’re tethered to central motifs that often function as bookends.” – DownBeat Magazine (four star review)

“This ambitious nine-movement suite showcases the compositional prowess of Barcelona-born bassist Alexis Cuadrado, a New York resident and founding member of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground.” – JazzTimes Magazine

" . . . revelling in his Spanish origins, the bassist and composer Alexis Cuadrado presents his 'Noneto Iberico', and ambitious multi-movement work that blends jazz and flamenco material" – The New Yorker

– The New Yorker “Mr. Cuadrado, a bassist, has devoted much of his energy as a composer-bandleader to an exploration of Spanish jazz hybrids. His prepossessing new album, ‘Noneto Ibérico’ (BJU), advances that cause considerably, and so should this album-release engagement” – Nate Chinen, The New York Times

“The Barcelonan bassist celebrates the release of his latest album, Noneto Ibérico, a nine-movement suite that draws on flamenco. His intricate and sharply defined compositions show that he’s tapped into something much deeper.” – New York Magazine

“Noneto Ibérico is one of those very skilful pieces of music that really works best as a whole. It’s like a whirlwind tour through gorgeous, lush flamenco grooves. Brimming with passion and spice, Cuadrado has accomplished something truly hot with this one.” – Jazz, Blues & The Truth

Cuadrado puts a fresh timestamp on Spanish Flamenco and modern jazz . . . Noneto Ibérico reboots flamenco-jazz for the twenty-first century.” – Allaboutjazz.com

“Alexis Cuadrado is carving a place for his exceptional bass playing and his most impressive composing abilities. ‘Noneto Iberico’ is a successful brilliant endeavor embracing the complexities of Spanish Flamenco rhythms while embedding contemporary American jazz improvisations and harmonies. Alexis’ unique compositions are passionate with tons of clarity throughout! ‘Noneto Iberico’ is going to demand repeated listening! BRAVO!” – Rufus Reid – Bassist/Composer

“Listen to Cuadrado’s compositions and you’ll find every reason to take him seriously.” – Josh Jackson, NPR Music

“Alexis Cuadrado is a bassist/composer/band leader after my own heart. With Noneto Iberico he's going for something personal, accessing folk music of his native country and continuing to add to and expand the definition of the word ‘jazz’. I'm a fan.” – Ben Allison – Bassist/Composer

The rich melody lines, the handsome harmonies, the subtle rhythmic changes, the excellent solo work and ensemble parts and the joyous attitude of the music all make ‘Noneto Ibérico’ worth your investigation." – Richard Kamins, Step Tempest

“Cuadrado’s original compositions demonstrate a sensitivity that never devolves into sentimentalism, and a superior rhythmic sense.” – Mel Minter, Weekly Alibi

Dexterously melding sophisticated harmonies with the Spanish rhythms . . . Cuadrado’s orchestrations wove a multi-hued tapestry. . .” – Russ Musto, All About Jazz New York (on the premiere of Noneto Iberico at The Jazz Gallery, October 2009)

“this ambitious work by bassist Cuadrado draws upon the rhythms and unique structures of various flamenco song forms, merging them seamlessly into a sophisticated modern jazz context. The top-flight band gives a strong performance, and the recording quality is excellent. Very good stuff . . .” - KZSU – Stanford Radio 90.1 FM

Noneto on the media

Radio:
Alexis appeared on WBGO's "The Checkout" for a live performance with a quintet and an interciew. Listen to it HERE.

Also "The Jazz Session" with Jason Crane dedicated an entire episode to "Noneto". Check it out HERE.

Press:
The New York City Jazz Record ran a wonderful review on Noneto, get it HERE.
Another great review from the Inside World Music blog.
Richard Kamins reviews Noneto in his blog Step Tempest.
The Indianapolis Star also reviews the album, and so does Midwest Record.
CD release concerts in NYC were listed by The New Yorker, Time Out New York and The New York Times.

With

Perico Sambeat - saxophones/flute, Loren Stillman - saxophones, Avishai Cohen - trumpet, Alan Ferber - trombone, Brad Shepik - guitar, Dan Tepfer - piano, Alexis Cuadrado - bass, Marc Miralta - percussion, Mark Ferber - drums. and VERY Special Guests Israel Suárez "Piraña" (Paco De Lucía), Tomás Moreno "Tomasito" (Chano Domínguez), Blas Córdoba “Kejío” (Vicente Amigo) On Flamenco Handclaps and "Jaleos"

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records proudly announces the release of Noneto Ibérico, the epic new recording from bassist, composer, and co-founder of BJURecords, Alexis Cuadrado. Noneto Ibérico is Cuadrado’s fourth CD as a leader and the follow up to his much-lauded recording, Puzzles. “Noneto Ibérico”, which saw its successful premiere in October, 2009 at NYC’s Jazz Gallery, is a nine-movement piece performed by nine musicians, blending the traditional song forms of Spanish Flamenco music with the contemporary improvised music idiom, creating a unique and groundbreaking genre that goes a step beyond previous blends of flamenco and jazz. Noneto Ibérico will be released digitally on March 1 and in stores on March 15, 2011.

Besides Mr. Cuadrado on double bass, the ensemble featured on Noneto Ibérico includes some of the most outstanding jazz musicians on the New York scene: Avishai Cohen on trumpet, Loren Stillman on saxophones, Alan Ferber on trombone, Brad Shepik on guitar, Dan Tepfer on piano and Mark Ferber on drums, with the special collaboration of two of the most exceptional musicians in Spain that have broken molds, and are renowned internationally for blending jazz with Flamenco, Perico Sambeat on saxophone and Marc Miralta on percussion. Together they construct a bridge that brings the composer's cultural legacy to bear on American jazz, thus enlightening the contemporary musical experience.

Cuadrado has researched deep into the roots of Spain's Flamenco music, extracted its bare-bone elements and reconstructed them. Cuadrado explains, “Around 4 or 5 years ago, I just became obsessed with Flamenco music. I started listening to a ton of it, studying, transcribing, playing along with recordings. I formed a trio to play some of the repertoire and called it Trio Iberico. Suddenly I got a Chamber Music America grant through their “New Works” grant program (final funding for this project came from a successful Kickstarter funding campaign) to write a Flamenco-jazz piece for a nine piece band. And that's what this music is, Noneto Iberico!.” The stunning result is a series of pieces that create a completely new aesthetic in the contemporary American jazz panorama.

The bassist/composer based each one of the pieces of "Noneto Ibérico" on a specific flamenco song-style (known as "Palo"). Every Palo has its own complexities and idiosyncrasies: a specific form, rhythm, harmony and melodic twists that have to be faithfully respected in order to be considered authentic. Every movement in the "Noneto Ibérico" suite achieves this, but Cuadrado also draws resources from other musical sensibilities in addition to his native-flamenco vocabulary. His experiences as a composer and performer in a wide variety of contexts, from jazz, world music, chamber music, as a sideman with Angelique Kidjo, playing 24 hour parties in gypsy wedding bands, and more, have left an indelible impression on Cuadrado. Some of the results include the piece "Por La Mínima", which mixes the elements of the flamenco "Bulerías" with those found on minimalist music. The melodies of the "Soleá”, titled "Sólo El Sol Sale Siempre Solo", are based on serialism, and the "Alegrías" "Tocar y Parar” utilize baroque counterpoint motives.

There is no doubt that the release of Noneto Ibérico will be one of the highlights in the jazz and new music landscape of 2011.

Booking - Presenters

Please contact
Alexis Cuadrado
info@alexiscuadrado.com
Tel 347 623 4419

Press Inquiries

Please contact
Jason Paul Harman Byrne
Red Cat Publicity
Email Redcatjazz@mac.com
Tel 347 578 7601 .

Noneto Ibérico was created with support from Chamber Music America's New Works: Creation and Presentation Program, funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke charitable Foundation. Additional support from the Consulate General of Spain in New York and The Catalan center at NYU.

 

 

 

 

Stream and buy the entire "Noneto Ibérico" CD here

Interview and Performance at WNYC's "Soundcheck"

Recording "Very Well (Fandango)" at Systems Two studios in Brooklyn, NY.