FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
San Francisco, CA - April 30, 2015 – Bill Banfield’s Jazz Urbane Recordings (JUR) has signed 3 stellar new jazz/urban artists: songwriter/cellist Shana Tucker, Cuban pianist/composer Zahili Gonzalez Zamora, and Cuban rap duo Doble Filo. All recordings will be distributed by Sugo Music Group via their network of 1200 digital music retailers and broadcasters in 125 countries.
"Shana Tucker’s music is an original gumbo of jazz, folk and R&B," said Cliff Bellamy of the Herald Sun, Durham, NC. Ms. Tucker is the cellist and mezzo-soprano for Cirque de Soleil’s gravity-defying production, KÀ, at the MGM Grand Hotel. She has also opened for numerous renowned artists including Norah Jones, Lisa Fischer, Blind Boys of Alabama, Indigo Girls, and more. Her stage persona, versatility and unique talent have contributed to her popularity with both audiences and concert promoters. Shana Tucker is recognized for her innovative vocal style, poignant song writing and adroit cello skills, all of which deliver an unparalleled trifecta in music performance.
"Zahili Gonzalez Zamora is a skilled pianist, an appealing singer and a talented arranger and composer,” said jazz critic Scott Yanow. Ms. Zamora was born in Cuba and graduated from Havana’s National Conservatory of Music. She continued her post graduate studies at the New York Jazz Academy and subsequently toured extensively in Canada, Asia and the United States. Last year, Ms. Zamora came to the attention of music entrepreneur Bill Banfield and soon signed an artist agreement with his Jazz Urbane Recordings label. This year, Berklee College of Music and Jazz Urbane Recordings will sponsor Zahili Gonzalez Zamora at the Montreal Jazz Festival.
“Doble Filo’s pro-gender lyrics, anti-discrimination message and positive empowerment tenets are fresh and timely, especially these days,” said Stevan Pasero, CEO of music distributor Sugo Music Group. Doble Filo is a Cuban hip-hop band featuring Yrak Saenz and Edgaro Gonzalez. The group's first US-produced single, “Rumba Symphony,” will be released May 2015 by Jazz Urbane Recordings. The group originated in the Alamar area of La Havana, the epicenter of Cuban hip-hop, and later moved to Miami. The group’s recent recording, Despierta, was awarded one of the best Cuban hip hop records in the 2014.
ABOUT JAZZ URBANE RECORDINGS:
Jazz Urbane Recordings (JUR) is a music label based in Boston, MA, and was founded in 1983 by music entrepreneur/Berklee College of Music professor Bill Banfield. The label was originally called BMagic Records, which later became the ASCAP publishing entity for JUR. In 2014, JUR garnered music industry recognition for its latest release, Playing With Other People's Heads, which was produced by George Duke, and was one of Mr. Duke’s last productions before his death in 2013. Jazz Urbane Recordings produces music that embraces jazz artistry, distinct R&B song writing, eclectic world music mixes, and collaborations with musicians who are capable of reaching the broader international music marketplace. www.billbanfield.com
ABOUT SUGO MUSIC GROUP:
Sugo Music Group is a global music distributor based in San Francisco, CA, and was founded in 1983 by artists, musicians and a savvy business entertainment team. Over the past three decades, Sugo Music Group has distributed, sold and manufactured all music media (digital, CDs, cassette & vinyl) and delivered music products through every imaginable channel: internet, mobile, satellite, cable, music stores, gift shops, big box retailers, licensees, music supervisors, and wholesalers. Sugo Music Group provides a wide array of professional services to musicians and record labels including digital downloads, radio airplay, music publishing, performance rights organizations, film & TV licensing, and video distribution. www.sugomusic.com
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If you would like more information or photos for these artists and recordings, please contact: Keath Hartley, Director of Sugo Music Group at 650-918-5713 or at [email protected], Sugo Music Group, 80 Cabrillo Hwy., Suite Q429, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, www.sugomusic.com
