MERIDIAN 71 is a music and a cross-cultural project created and led since 2012 by Italian and Boston-resident drummer, composer Giuseppe Paradiso. The name Meridian 71 comes from Boston's longitude - the Meridian 71 West that passes exactly through East Boston; "location where I met musicians from different parts of the globe with whom deeply connected and spoke a same language. It felt like I had known for a long time that at some point in my life I would have met musicians just like them, ... view more »
MERIDIAN 71 is a music and a cross-cultural project created and led since 2012 by Italian and Boston-resident drummer, composer Giuseppe Paradiso. The name Meridian 71 comes from Boston’s longitude – the Meridian 71 West that passes exactly through East Boston; “location where I met musicians from different parts of the globe with whom deeply connected and spoke a same language. It felt like I had known for a long time that at some point in my life I would have met musicians just like them, from way before moving across the Atlantic in 2008” (G. Paradiso). The Meridian 71 becomes then the creative laboratory and space to develop this music.
Featuring a very eclectic and international ensemble of well-established musicians Boston based, “Metropolitan Sketches” is their second release, following the debut album in 2012 “Otherness Collection”, both featuring original compositions by G. Paradiso. A music that crosses boundaries, characterized by a very unique voice and a global sound with influences that range manly from Jazz and improvised music to Mediterranean and West African music traditions, it is the representation of an extensive and ongoing research into various traditions and cultures.
“Metropolitan Sketches” has received support and recognition from many people in the community as well as support from donors and sponsors for the production and publication of the album.
The current line-up features some of the finest musicians in the Boston area including guest jazz trumpeter PHIL GRENADIER, internationally touring musician, Berklee and New England Conservatory faculty MARK ZALESKI; internationally re-known Turkish pianist and composer as well as Berklee faculty UTAR ARTUN; Senegalese griot from the Gewel tradition and Sabar musician MALICK NGOM; in high demand jazz guitarist PHIL SARGENT; world music, electric fretless bassist GALEN WILLETT; GIUSEPPE PARADISO on drums.
Their official CD Release show is scheduled for Feb 13, 2020 at Regattabar in Cambridge, MA following their online release date on Feb 12, 2020.
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