On Sunday, February 10 in Los Angeles, Cuban-born drummer, composer, bandleader, and 2011 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Dafnis Prieto and his 17-piece Dafnis Prieto Big Band (DPBB) won the GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for their debut record, Back to the Sunset.
Prieto's label, Dafnison Music, which celebrated ten years as an independent record label in 2018, released the big band's debut album on April 6, 2018, to universal acclaim. On this project Prieto collaborated with GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY-winning producer Eric Oberstein, heralded for his work producing large ensemble recordings. Earlier this fall, the project also earned a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album.
In a statement, Prieto wrote, "The making of this album has been quite exciting, challenging, beautiful, and gratifying in so many ways. Thank you to all the supporters; we could not have made it this far without YOU. Thank you to the Academy for this recognition, to the musicians who played amazingly on the album, and to everyone involved."
Oberstein wrote, "We're grateful to our community who encouraged us and helped to make this dream happen over the last three years. It's been a joy to collaborate with Dafnis on this project; I'm thrilled that his vision and this remarkable band have been recognized in this way."
One of the leading musical voices of his generation, Prieto composed and arranged nine works for the album — called “one of the best recordings of the year" by DownBeat — showcasing his talents as a trailblazing composer while honoring his musical heroes and mentors. Back to the Sunset is Prieto’s seventh recording as a leader, and is a deeply personal, handcrafted statement, as well as an acknowledgment of the musical figures that shaped his development.
The DPBB's upcoming performances include:
Friday, March 29
Duke Performances at Duke University
Durham, NC
Saturday, March 30
Savannah Music Festival
Savannah, GA
Wednesday, May 29
Spoleto Festival USA
Charleston, SC
Thursday, July 11
*Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Copenhagen, Denmark
Friday, July 12
*North Sea Jazz Festival
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Wednesday, July 17 thru Saturday, July 20
*Ridehuset
Aarhus, Denmark
Sunday, August 4
Newport Jazz Festival
Newport, RI
*Dafnis Prieto Big Band feat. the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
:::
DAFNIS PRIETO BIG BAND
BACK TO THE SUNSET
PERSONNEL
Mike Rodríguez, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Nathan Eklund, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Alex Sipiagin, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Josh Deutsch, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Román Filiú, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Clarinet
Michael Thomas, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Piccolo
Peter Apfelbaum, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Melodica
Joel Frahm, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax
Chris Cheek, Bari Sax
Tim Albright, Trombone
Alan Ferber, Trombone
Jacob Garchik, Trombone
Jeff Nelson, Bass Trombone
Manuel Valera, Piano
Ricky Rodríguez, Acoustic & Electric Bass
Roberto Quintero, Congas, Bongos, Percussion
Dafnis Prieto, Drums & Music Director
Special Guests:
Brian Lynch, Trumpet
Henry Threadgill, Alto Sax
Steve Coleman, Alto Sax
Produced by Dafnis Prieto & Eric Oberstein
Executive Producers: Lindsay Evans, Harsha Murthy
Associate Producer: John Hahn
Assistant Producers: Roy P. Torres & Mappy Torres
Recorded August 28 & 29, 2017 at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, NY
Recording & Mixing Engineer: Joe Marciano
Mastering Engineer: Max Ross
Assistant Engineers: Max Ross & Andrew Cavaciuti
Mixing: Joe Marciano, Max Ross, Dafnis Prieto & Eric Oberstein
Production Coordinator: Danny Martinez
Video: Makoto Matsuo
Photo: David Garten
Cover & Package Design: Michael Quanci
Marketing Consultation: Justin Goldberg
Booking: Hans Wendl
Publicity: Chris DiGirolamo, Two for the Show Media
Radio: Neal Sapper, New World 'n' Jazz
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Learn More: https://dafnisonmusic.com/bigband
Videos:
The Making of Back to the Sunset (EPK): https://youtu.be/Cpdx_5Gh6cQ
‘Danzonish Potpourri’: https://youtu.be/kx0q5J1AuvA
‘Out of the Bone’: https://youtu.be/rWm1s3ze8d4
Press:
"one of the best recordings of the year"
— DownBeat Editors' Pick
"a 17-piece big band ... alternately playing with heat and heart"
— JazzTimes Editor's Pick
"The group pulls down snugly around [Prieto's] elaborate compositions, creating a fluid momentum in a range of styles"
— The New York Times
"expresses the sheer force and depth of field that only a big band can achieve"
— The Wall Street Journal
"The success of [Prieto's] experiment is clear"
— WBGO
"big band gold"
— The Huffington Post
"masterful"
— All About Jazz
"invigorating, imaginative, and rhythmically exhilarating"
— All About Jazz
"The 17-member ensemble roars, rollicks, rumbas, and purrs its way through nine original pieces.... Back to the Sunset is a treasure"
— Step Tempest
"Prieto’s gifts as a composer, arranger and ensemble-driving drummer are on full display throughout a set of swirling, color-filled compositions"
— Venice Magazine