Charles Flores was born in Cuba in 1970. [1] He became a bassist when he was 10 years old, but Cuban laws prohibited an in depth study of jazz and other American genres of music. [1] Flores eventually immigrated to the United States as a refugee and settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where his wife, Miriam Flores, had relatives. [2]
He joined the group Afro-Cuba, led by Emiliano Salvador, during his senior year in high school and later toured with the group in 1992 and 1993. [1] He then joined the Isaac Delgado Group and appeared on some of their albums. [1]
In 2002, Flores joined the Michel Camilo Trio, which consisted of Michel Camilo, Dafnis Prieto and Flores. He won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2004 for their album, Live at the Blue Note . [1] [2] Most recently, Flores performed on the trio's 2011 album, Mano A Mano. He stopped performing with the Michel Camilo Trio in November 2011 due to declining health. [1]
Charles Flores died of complications of throat cancer on August 22, 2012, at the age of 41. Mayor Pedro Segarra of Hartford, Connecticut, Flores' adopted hometown, told reporters, "Charles' story of leaving his native Cuba to pursue his dream and passion for music was only surpassed by his talent and skill as a musician...Hartford has lost a giant in the world of jazz and my thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Flores family."
John Scofield is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he has toured and recorded with many prominent jazz artists including saxophonists Eddie Harris, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, and Joe Lovano; keyboardists George Duke, Joey DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Larry Goldings, and Robert Glasper; fellow guitarists Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Pat Martino, and Bill Frisell; bassists Marc Johnson and Jaco Pastorius; and drummers Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers. Outside the world of jazz, he has collaborated with Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, John Mayer, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Gov't Mule.
Stanley Clarke is an American bassist, composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, sell out shows worldwide and have recordings reach gold status.
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain", "500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba" and "Windows" are widely considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis's band in the late 1960s, he participated in the birth of jazz fusion. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever. Along with McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, Corea is considered to have been one of the foremost pianists of the post-John Coltrane era.
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The Hartt School is the performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford, a private university in West Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1920 by Julius Hartt and Moshe Paranov, Hartt has been part of the University of Hartford since its charter merged the Hartt College of Music, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to create the university in 1957. The Hartt School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance, theatre, and associated disciplines. The Hartt Community Division offers a variety of opportunities in music and dance for students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
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This is a list of notable events in Latin music that took place in 2012.
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Michael Eckroth is an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer from Phoenix, Arizona, particularly known for his work in Latin jazz. He was a member of jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield's New Quartet from 2010-2012. Currently, he is the co-writer, arranger, and pianist for Cuban and American mambo big band Orquesta Akokán, whose self-titled debut album from Daptone Records was nominated in the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.