FLUTE, ALTO FLUTE
SUSAN PALMA-NIDEL
In his 1990 New York Times Review entitled "A Flutist Who Spans Many Idioms", Donal Henahan wrote: "Susan Palma has long been held in awe as a virtuoso flutist and a good musical citizen by followers of a wide variety of performing groups, including Speculum Musicae, Orpheus, the American Composers Orchestra, the Paul Taylor Dance Company and the Bach Chamber Soloists. Her [solo recital] program at Merkin Concert Hall on Tuesday evening may or may not have been planned to reflect that catholicity of associations, but it left the listener in little doubt as to her range of capabilities."
Susan has recorded over 70 CDs for Deutsche Grammophon (DGG) and Nonesuch with Orpheus including her own album of Mozart Flute Concerto in G and the Flute and Harp Concerto with harpist Nancy Allen. Gramophone Magazine call it the "best recording of these works to date". She was also featured on the 2001 grammy winning Shadow Dances (chamber music of Stravinsky) as well as on the Copland recording of Appalachian Spring, which was nominated for a Grammy award.
Susan has continued to perform this music but since 1999 she began to move away from, but not forget, her classical background. Fortuitous meetings with new musicians helped her find a new way. On a tour in Buenos Aires with Orpheus in 1997 she met and became friends with Pablo Ziegler, who was Astor Piazzolla's pianist from 1979-89. Because of Pablo's interest in writing for chamber orchestra and chamber groups they began working together, playing Pablo's music, Tango Jazz, as well as his new arrangement of Piazzolla's music.
Pablo soon wrote Susan a piece for flute and string quartet, Suite Canyengue, which was recorded on her first solo CD, Elegante: New Flute Music from South America (2012). Also included on Elegante were; Ivan Lins singing two of hs own tunes, accompanied by Susan's friend and colleague Branford Marsalis, bandoneon virtuoso Hector del Curto, guitarist Leo Amuedo, Nilson Matta on bass and the talented Café on percussion; and a new version of Villa Lobos' Assobio do Jato (Jet Whistle), brilliantly re-imagined by Robert Sadin (also the produce of the Album, with Chico Pinheiro, Eddie Arron and Cyro Baptista.
Because of these meetings and her highly successful debut solo recording, Susan began searching for a new World Music project. This search eventually led to her exploration of the rich musical tradition of Portugal. With the encouragement of Ivan Lins, Susan sough out the finest musicians in Lisboa and found that there was great interest n working with a renowned Classical flutist from New York who had a passion for their music. Lisboa Íntima is the latest result of Susan's ongoing World Music Journey, released in Portugal November 11, 2016 and to be released in New York in early March 2017
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Please see and hear more about Susan on this website including a YouTube link: https://youtu.be/fnbSxPPAG-w; and https://youtu.be/TCEPLJ-AOxk (where Susan discusses the project)
PRODUCER, ARRANGER, MUSICAL DIRECTOR
ROBERT SADIN
.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
RICHARD O. NIDEL
conceived and developed Lisboa Íntima with Susan and Robert. In 2004, he wrote: WORLD MUSIC: THE BASICS, (Routledge), which remains an important reference work in the field. It is a comprehensive survey of Folk, Traditional, Roots and Popular music from virtually every country in the World, containing brief historical, political and musical commentaries and anecdotes for every country and extensive recording recommendations for 1000s of artists. His love and knowledge of Portuguese musical genres is central to Lisboa Íntima, and informed the repertoire.
Richard owned and operated Citron 47, a World Music Bistro in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, from 1995-2000, featuring renowned World musicians Richard Bona (Cameroon); Bakhiti Kumalo; Tony Cedras (South Africa); Pablo Ziegler; Hector del Curto (Argentina);
Romero Lubamba, Café, Teco Cardoso, (Brasil); Johnny Almendra, Valerie Naranjo, Philip Hamilton, Leo Traversa and Frank Colon, and Jazz luminaries Frank Wess, Jimmy Owens, Jeff Haynes and Howard Alden.
Richard has published numerous writings about Wine including his widely acclaimed “knowledge cards” for Pomegranate. He is soon to publish his Guide for Selecting Fine Wine, a biased, sarcastic, anti-industry primer designed to expose the hype and pretense in the wine trade, debunking and demystifying the subject.
When not involved in new music projects or writing about wine, Richard reluctantly works as a practicing attorney with offices in New York City.
Learn more about Richard›
THE GREAT MUSICIANS WHO COLLABORATED WITH SUSAN ON LISBOA INTIMA ARE:
VOCAL
CARLOS DO CARMO
received the 2014 Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the only Portuguese musician to receive such an award. Carlos and his family – especially the incom-parable, late Lucilla do Carmo - are historic figures in the Portuguese musical lexicon known as Fado.
After more than 40 years of recording and performing, Carlos remains in fine, back on the concert circuit as we move through 2016. The seeds for Lisboa Intíma were planted during a meeting with Richard and Carlos in New York City in the fall of 2014 at the introduction of Ivan Lins. Susan alto flute solo interlude of “Um Homem na Cidade” is in homage to Carlos and perhaps his most famous recording by the same name. Fado Ultramar, a tune Ivan composed for Carlos in 1983, is the first and only duet recording of Carlos and Ivan, a highlight of Lisboa Intíma.
vocal,piano
ivan lins
who graced Susan’s Elegante, is Brazil’s most recorded
and best-known living composer both in Brazil and Internationally, a multi-Grammy winner. His music has been heard on recordings of Sting, Barbara Streisdand, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Manhattan Transfer, George Benson, Dionne Warwick Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Diane Shuur, Patti Austin, Toots Thielemans, Take 6, Carlos do Carmo, Michael Bublé, Jane Monheit and many others. Ivan continues to sell out large auditoriums and arenas all over the World and has performed and recorded with virtually every major Brasilian artist of the last 50 years. He now resides mostly in Lisboa (Belêm), and is as active as ever on the concert tour circuit..
He appears with Susan on his compositions Fado Ultramar and Iluminados.
VOCAL
NÉ LADEIRAS
is a veteran of the renowned folk ensembles Trovanté and Brigada Victor Jara, a visionary artist, musician and vocalist from the northeast region of Tras-os- Montes. Her recordings from the 1980s and 1990s are widely acclaimed classics, revered as masterpieces of Portuguese folk music, especially with Né as lead vocalist in the eclectic Banda do Casaco.
Né performs two stunningly gorgeous pieces on Lisboa Intíma, and the deep connection with Susan – musically and personally - is palpable on the recording. When they first met at Namouche after months of intense corres-
pondence on-line, Susan and Né immediately knew they were sisters! Né had not recorded for many years before this collaboration but she has never sounded better. She recently completed a long awaited, exciting new solo recording of her own compositions titled Outras Vidas, which will be released in November 2016.
cavaquinhO
JÚLIO PEREIRA
is the leading proponent of the Cavaquinho in Portugal, perhaps all the world, a virtuoso of the highest order. Júlio’s career dates back to before the Carnation Revolution when he performed with the legendary Zeca Afonso and others who protested the long ruling dictatorship. He has performed with Basque Trixitrixa master Kepa Junkera with the Chieftains on their Grammy winning Santiago. His composition Ler Devagar opens Lisboa Intíma with an upbeat flavor and the interplay between Júlio’s Cavaquinho and Susan’s Flute is a joy. Julio also curates the Cavaquinho Museum in Lisboa, a must to visit for fans of the instrument when visiting Lisboa. Known to many as the Ukulele, the Cavaquinho was invented in Madeira in the late 18 th century, then known as a Machete, eventually exported to Hawaii by Portuguese craftsmen.
Some of the other great musicians on Lisboa Íntima are:
BASS
CARLOS BARRETTO
After completing a course at the National Music Conservatory of Lisbon, Carlos resided in Vienna (1980-1982) to study with the legendary Ludwig Streicher. While in Paris (1984-1993), he performed in the most prestigious festivals throughout France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Carlos returned to Portugal in 1993, and recorded 9
CDs as a leader. He currently is collaborating with LST (String trio), Suitable (António Eustáquio) and the Carlos Martins Quartet. He has worked with numerous world renowned jazz and world musicians, including: André Gago, Lee Konitz, Steve Grossman, Gary Bartz, Steve Lacy, Steve Potts, Brad Mehldau, Art Farmer, Carlos Bechegas, Jorge Pardo, João Moreira, Mal Waldron, Bernardo Sassetti, Richard Galliano, Mário Laginha and Barry Altschul. His artistry can be heard on Ó Que Estriga Tenho Na Roca, Iluminados and Fado Ultramar on Lisboa Íntima.
GUITARRA PORTUGUESA
JOSE MANUEL NETO
is widely considered the leading proponent of the guitarra portuguésa today, perhaps without peer. The instrument is the signature sound of Fado much as the Bandoneon is the essence of Tango. Zé Manel is ubiquitous on the world stage and in demand as a studio musician. He is the musical director and an integral part of the major Portuguese ensembles that tour the world including international stars Maríza, Camané, Ana Moura and Carlos do Carmo.
He is an astonishing improviser. He joins Susan on two tracks on Lisboa Intíma, bringing a breathtaking elegance to Jose Luis Tinoco’s classic Alfama. He is the perfect accompanist on Fado Ultramar, Carlos and Ivan’s historic duet.
GUITAR
PEDRO Jóia
is an internationally renowned guitar virtuoso whose versatility includes a rare expertise in Flamenco guitar. He has recorded six albums in his own name and is a featured soloist on numerous other recordings. Pedro resided in Brazil for several years and worked there with Ney Matogrosso, Yamandú Costa, Gilberto Gil and many others. In 2008 he was awarded the Carlos Paredes Prize for the album À Espera de Armandinho which interprets the art of the great maestro.
Pedro’s artistry on Carlos Paredes’ Verdes Anos and the lullaby Jose Embala O Menino are highlights of Lisboa Intíma. Since 2013, Pedro has toured the world with and is the musical director for the great Fado and Pop singer, Mariza.
TRUMPET
JOÃO MOREIRA
is arguably the most in demand Trumpeter in all of Portugal. He graduated from the New School for Social Research in New York in 1999 where he studied with Henry Martin, Richie Beirach, Charles Tolliver and Jimmy Owens.
Since 1989, João has taught at the Hot Club Jazz School in Lisboa, and is a founding member of the International Association of Schools of Jazz. João has played virtually every jazz festival in Portugal, as well as many festivals in the United States, and throughout Europe. He has performed with Mario Laginha, Maria João, Ira Coleman, Nguyen Le, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider, Gil Goldstein, Ivan Lins,
Flora Purim and Airto, António Zambujo and Cristina Branco. and Michael Gibbs. He is a featured soloist on Lisboa Íntima on Ivan Lins’ Iluminados.
GUITAR
Mário DELGADO
is one of the most prominent guitarists in Portugal today. He has a classical background and has become a unique Jazz improviser through studies in the school of the Hot Club of Portugal. He has studied with many
renowned jazz guitarists Bill Frisell, John Abercrombie, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell and Derek Bailey.
Mario’s ability to transform standard compositions to other genres, both from Tin Pan Alley and classic Fado, is truly his forte. His Filactera quintet was voted best jazz Portuguese group of 2001. Check out Mario’s solo on Ó Que Estriga Tenho Na Roca on Lisboa Íntima for some Lisboan blues.
percussion, berimbau, chant
RUCA Rebordão
is an internationally acclaimed percussionist from Angola, a master of the Berimbau, who possesses a broad understanding of the music and rhythms from everywhere in the world. He has worked with many musical luminaries including Sadao Watanabe, Alejandro Sanz, Rão Kyao, Madredeus, Paulo de Carvalho, António Chainho, Mariza, Melody Gardot, Ivan Lins, Fafá de Belém, and is a fixture on the Lisboa music scene.
Ruca is also a principal of an exciting new company “Ampla Portugal”, managing and supporting local musicians throughout the Lusofone world. On Lisboa Íntima Ruca is featured on Ler Devagar, O Que Estriga Tenho Na Roca and Jose Embala O Menino.