Israel Varela
The Labyrinth Project
Israel Varela | drums, vocals
Florian Weber| piano
Alfredo Paixão | electric bass
Special guest: Ben Wendel | sax
Friday 27th September, sees the release of Israel Varela’s newest album by Jando Music / Via Veneto Jazz. Leading Mexican drummer, composer and vocalist, Varela has performed with renowned artists such as Pat Metheny, Pino Daniele and Charlie Haden. He is joined by a cosmopolitan ensemble of exceptional musicians: US special guest Ben Wendel, Brazilian bassist Alfredo Paixao and German pianist Florian Weber.
This is the 9th album by Mexican drummer, composer and vocalist Israel Varela, one of the world's most distinctive exponents of flamenco-jazz drumming.
Produced by Jando Music in collaboration with Via Veneto Jazz, "The Labyrinth Project" contains 8 original tracks by the exceptional drummer Varela that embark listeners on an authentic journey to mesmerizing soundscapes and fresh, original atmospheres, enriched with pure and free improvisation. Varela contributes drums as well as vocals on several tracks, giving his music a profound and spiritual quality.
On this new musical adventure, Varela is joined by a truly cosmopolitan ensemble of top-caliber musical partners: German Florian Weber - ECM pianist and Steinway Prize winner at Montreux; Brazilian bassist Alfredo Paixao – 4-time Grammy Award winner, boasting collaborations with many international artists such as Liza Minelli, Pino Daniele, Billy Cobham and Rosa Passos; US special guest Ben Wendel, considered among the world’s best saxophonists and much admired also as a composer, who collaborated with musicians such as Snoop Dog, Prince, Antonio Sanchez, Tigran Hamasyan.
1 - Flowing Wind 07:08
2 - Shadow 01:24
3 - All Directions 05:11
4 - Ascended Soul 00:56
5 - Heliopolis 07:37
6 - Azul 04:16
7 - Nueve Secretos 03:14
8 - Cuatro 11:30
Info at www.israelvarela.com and www.jandomusic.com.
Press Office Israel Varela:
Fiorenza Gherardi De Candei – info@fiorenzagherardi.com - tel. 328.1743236
www.fiorenzagherardi.com - www.israelvarela.com