Those unable to head to warmer climates this winter will at least get a sample of the tropics in High River this weekend.
The High River Gift of Music Society is bringing a special concert by the Luis Mario Ochoa Cuban Quartet to the High River United Church Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
The quartet began touring western Canada Feb. 10 under the auspice of Prairie Debut, a Canadian touring network that brings quality classical and world musicians to various western Canadian communities.
Havana-born Luis Mario Ochoa, who offers his vocal and guitar skills to the ensemble, describes the music as Latin American world music infused with a touch of jazz.
“With regard to Latin American Jazz we have happy music,” he said. “Even when we play a sad song it’s so romantic and so touching that if you put some influences of jazz in there people understand. It goes beyond the barrier of language. The happiness of Latin American music, everyone understands that. Everyone likes the spice of salsa or tango.”
The acoustic quartet brings a range of Cuban music to the stage from the romantic rumba to the lively cha cha through a powerhouse of energy.
The ensemble has made appearances at jazz festivals across Canada, as well as internationally such as the Barbados Jazz Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in New York.
Ochoa is joined by Hilario Durán on piano, Louis Simăo on bass and Luis Orbegoso on percussion – an ensemble that has been performing together for more than a decade.
“I have some of the best musicians in the world in the band,” he said. “They have their own bands and when we get together it’s not to do the same old boring thing that we did years ago. We are always creating new stuff – even on the stage.”
Despite members hailing from three different countries - Cuba, Portugal and Peru - there is a synergy when they get together, said Ochoa.
“If you see one of us looking at the other smiling it’s because something happened there and it went really good,” he said. “If you constantly do the same thing you lose the sparkle. We each come in with their own influences and apply the jazz improvisation on top of our own thing.”
Ochoa said the quartet also connects with the audience.
“I like to talk to the audience a lot,” he said. “I talk about the music, I talk about us, I ask questions to the audience. If I ask someone, ‘How you feel today?’ I try to say that with my guitar as well. I try to get them involved and sing along with us.”
Each member has other roles outside of the band, said Ochoa.
For Ochoa, some of his spare time is spent composing and arranging music.
Each musician works with other bands, so when they get together again it’s one big party, said Ochoa.
“We have fun sharing ideas, telling stories about ourselves and laughing about what’s happened,” he said.
Ochoa said he hopes the ensemble’s High River audience will have just as much fun this weekend.
“I know they had some hard times a while ago,” he said, referring to the 2013 southern Alberta flood. “We really look forward to lifting the spirit of all those people who went through the hard time in High River, embrace them and invite them to our concert. It will be a beautiful, happy experience.”
Tickets to see the Luis Mario Ochoa Cuban Quartet cost $25 for adults, $30 at the door and $10 for youth.
They can be purchased at Evanescence Gallery, Highwood Natural Foods or online at www.highrivergiftofmusic.com
For more information about the Luis Mario Ochoa Cuban Quartet go to http://luismario.com
