Miami Science Museum Partners with BMI for ‘Music Música’ Showcase October 22-25
BMI and the Miami Science Museum will present three musical events surrounding the opening of the museum’s newest exhibition, Music Música, October 22-25. Music Musica is a combination of two exhibits – “American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music” and “Music: Access All Areas” – that showcase music from cultural and scientific perspectives. As part of the exhibits, BMI has produced three unique concert events showcasing some of their diverse, Miami-based songwriters including Albita, Pitbull, Alih Jey, Javier Garcia, Nestor Torres, Ed Calle and many others.
Ticket prices for the exhibit are $18 for adults, $13 for children and $16 for students and seniors. Miami-Dade county residents will receive 15% admission prices with proof of ID. The museum is located at 3280 South Miami Avenue, Miami.
Music Musica’s “American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music” is the first major Museum exhibition designed to tell the story of the profound influence and impact of Latinos on American popular music. The other component of the exhibit is “Music: Access All Areas,” which analyzes the physics and technology of music alongside the art form’s creators and audience. While both sections have already appeared separately in various parts of the world, Music Musica’s term at the Miami Science Museum marks the first co-presentation of these intellectually complementary exhibitions.
On Wednesday, October 22, BMI songwriters Nestor Torres and Ed Calle will perform at a private preview of the exhibition for museum guests and donors. Tickets can be purchased through the museum.
On Thursday, October 23, Latin superstars Albita and Pitbull will perform at the museum’s celebrity premiere. Ticket prices are $40 and include beverage, food, the exhibit preview and the showcase. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Miami Science Museum’s programming.
On Saturday, October 25, BMI will present Enrique Hidalgo y Botija (1 p.m.), Brendan Ohara (1:30 p.m.), Origen (2 p.m.), Sito (2:30 p.m.), Alih Jey (3:15 p.m.), Javier Garcia (4:15 p.m.) and Tatiana Klauss (5:15 p.m.) at a free street festival and concert for patrons of the Miami Science Museum. The festival will be held on South Miami Avenue, in front of the museum and will include live musical performances, a variety of popular foods, community booths, giveaways, rides and a children’s activity area.
“The Miami Science Museum is delighted to bring an exhibition of this caliber to south Florida, particularly due to the universal level of interest in music and the event’s cultural relevance to the local Hispanic community,” says Gillian Thomas, President and CEO of the Miami Science Museum. “With our new museum in downtown Miami on the horizon, we are dedicated to bringing the most interesting and exciting exhibitions to our current location’s loyal membership and visitor-base.”
About the Miami Science Museum
The Miami Science Museum continues to bring special traveling exhibits to South Florida such as Amazon Voyage,Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition and The Dinosaurs of China. The Museum aims to make a difference in people’s lives by inspiring them to appreciate the impact that science and technology can have on every facet of our world. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
For more information about the Museum, visit www.miamisci.org or call (305) 646-4200.
About the Performers
Nestor Torres- nestortorres.com
If a flute could talk and sing, it would certainly be in the voice of Nestor Torres, for he speaks through his instrument. Equally fluent in jazz, classical and Latin idioms, his fluid versatility sets him apart. Nestor’s total command of his instrument allows him a freedom of expression that is at once captivating and liberating, powerful and genuine. In his new album, Nouveau Latino, Nestor returns to his Latin roots with a fresh approach, impeccable musicianship, and irresistible improvisations. Featuring songs from stars like Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades, Torres’ interpretations of these great Latin hits appeal to those discovering the songs for the first time as much as those who remember them.
Ed Calle- edcalle.com
Saxophonist Ed Calle is known for his extraordinary ability to play bebop, Latin and contemporary jazz, and pop. Born in Caracas to Spanish parents, it was obvious from the start that he was a natural player and now, Calle can be heard on hundreds of recordings both as a sideman and soloist. He appears on Grammy-award-winning albums by Frank Sinatra, Vicky Carr, Arturo Sandoval, and Jon Secada, as well as on numerous television and motion picture soundtracks. He also has recorded and performed around the world with such artists as Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Michael Bolton, Bob James, Bobby Caldwell, Rhianna, Extreme, and Vanessa Williams. Among his many solo recordings, Ed Calle Plays Santana garnered a Latin Grammy Award nomination in 2005. His latest release In the Zone (2006) features original compositions and jazz standards and earned a Latin Grammy nomination in 2007.
Albita- albitaonline.com
Albita began her artistic career at a very young age, coming from a home of parents who were famous singers. As a young artist she turned heads as a revivalist and renovator of traditional Cuban music, composing, arranging and singing with very personal style. While performing in Little Havana she began to attract the attention of celebrities including Gianni Versace, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Sly Stallone, Paco de Lucia, Marco Antonio Muniz, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, among others, which led to her first contract with Emilio Estefan and Sony Music. In 2004, she created her own label dubbed Angel’s Dawn Records, under which she recorded and produced Albita Llego. The project was a critical and commercial success, winning two Grammys for Albita as artist and producer in the Best Contemporary Tropical Album of the Year category.
Pitbull- planetpit.com
When the Southern-flavored party rap called crunk took over urban radio in 2004, Miami rapper Pitbull decided it was time to seek stardom. The way Pitbull sees it, “crunk ain’t nothin’ but bass music slowed down” - Miami bass music, that is. His parents were first-generation Cuban immigrants who didn’t let their son forget about his culture. They required him to memorize the works of Cuban poet José Martí, and Pitbull understood the power of words right away. In 2002, a Pitbull freestyle landed on Lil Jon’s platinum-selling Kings of Crunk album, and the rapper’s “Oye” track appeared on the 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack in 2003. Pitbull unleashed his debut, M.I.A.M.I., in 2004 on the TVT label with the Lil Jon-produced single “Culo” leading the way. Soon Pitbull was making guest appearances on tracks by everyone from the Ying Yang Twins to Elephant Man. The 2005 compilation Money Is Still a Major Issue collected the best of these collaborations along with some remixes and unreleased tracks. In 2006, the single “Bojangles” prepared fans for his next album, El Mariel. As the album landed on the shelves it was announced that his next effort would be entirely in Spanish and titled The Boatlift.
Alih Jey- myspace/alihjey
Singer, songwriter and vibrant musical bon vivant Alih Jey is very proud of her newly released independent EP Necia, a high-octane, six-song mini-compilation of material written over the past two years. It has now garnered a 2008 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Rock Solo Vocal Album. Alih Jey started singing when she still wore diapers. By the age of two, she was traveling all over her native Dominican Republic with her parents and sisters, singing in harmony (“it was like a Dominican version of The Partridge Family”). She began writing songs at an early age, too. Her wit and musical dynamism is amply displayed in song “Ingrata.” Edgy, seductive, intoxicating, and totally original, “Ingrata” is a no-holds-barred, hear-me-roar performance. Its snarky lyrics spawned a fun metaphor of a soon-to-be-released video that’s sure to please. “I like to think of it as the ultimate homage to cattiness,” Alih says with a smirk.
Tatiana Klauss- tatianaklauss.com
Leading the way with a desire to conquer the world, Tatiana Klauss wakes you up with a painless slap in the face. With a mix of sweet irony and tender aggressiveness, this 18-year-old bewitches you and makes you an accomplice in her distorted world. Tatiana’s project is being developed and managed by Ramón Arias (peermusic), Germán Ortiz (producer – Rayito, Fulano, Sacha Nairobi, Social Klash) and Sebastián Krys (associate producer – multiple Grammy® award winner, including the 2007 Latin Grammy for “Producer of the Year” – JD Natasha, Jeremias, Carlos Vives, Luis Fonsi). Tatiana is presently writing for the Sony BMG / Sony Entertainment Television program, Prom 1001, as well as for her own debut album scheduled for release in 2009.
Javier Garcia- javiergarcia.net
To explain why he isn’t afraid of naming his second album 13, Spanish rocker Javier García brings up something Stevie Wonder says: “When you believe in things that you don’t understand and you suffer, that’s not the way, superstition ain’t the way.” García firmly believes that the feared number can bring him good luck, explaining, “Sometimes those things that people fear are quite interesting to me.” Lately, García has seen the number 13 almost everywhere. His sensitivity to the number is heightened, especially considering that his frenzied friendship with the late singer Rodrigo, a popular Argentinean cuarteto (danceable folk songs) artist, still continues, somehow, and has left a scar on his soul. Javier simply talks about “repeated coincidences” after the car accident that took his friend’s life in 2000, and says that since the fatal event, the number 13 has rolled over and over in front of his eyes.
Origen- origenweb.com
After the successful launch of their first album this summer, Origen has been accurately described as “a gateway drug into rock in Español”. Origen’s four members represent three different countries and cultures coming together to fuse their varied influences into pop-rock of the highest order. Their first single, “Te Quiero,” debuted on CNN En Español, and was covered by both local, and national Hispanic media outlets and radio. “Coexiste,” their second single from the self-titled debut, will be released in early 2009.
Sito- gosito.com
Sito’s infatuation with music was inspired by his father and four uncles, who were all musicians and singers in a salsa band in the late seventies. Having music in his life at such a young age made an impact on his life, and being raised around the multi-cultural streets of Miami have also influenced Sito’s diverse style. “I experienced the best of both worlds. Having a father who’s a percussionist led to my early education in the sounds of my Hispanic roots, and growing up in the streets of south Florida in the early 80s introduced me to the world of hip-hop,” he says. “I learned to appreciate all styles of music and was motivated by it all – I guess that’s why I feel my style is versatile.”
Brendan O’Hara- myspace.com/brendanohara
Brendan O’Hara makes music meant to move the masses: Whether that movement is out of their seats and on to the dance floor or into the streets to stand up for things worth fighting for, movement is, and will always be, O’Hara’s goal. A versatile singer/songwriter, Brendan beat boxes, plays the piano, guitar, harmonica, percussion, and even mimics a pretty good trumpet while delivering cleverly calculated lyrics and simple honest hymns. His vocal approach is soulful yet straightforward and at times, spoken with spitfire articulation. Borrowing from many genres including jazz, blues, folk-rock, and hip-hop, he wields an amalgamated a style all his own, original yet familiar. Brendan performs regularly along the eastern seaboard, comfortable on stage as an ingratiating storyteller, or a brash, badass bandleader.
Enrique Hidalgo- myspace.com/enriquehidalgo
Originally from Venezuela, poet and songwriter Enrique Hidalgo is the co-founder of Botija. Along with band members Yuly Asfar, Alejandro Lopez, Veleda Giron, Natalia Lovera and Jesus Rodriguez, Hidalgo explores Venezuelan folklore and embraces his Latin roots, creating expressive and innovative jazz-infused musical explorations of the everyday experience.
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