Tag: North America
Crossways is composer/pianist Myriam Alter‘s third production for Enja Records (licensed to Justin Time Records in North America). Her mother grew up in Saloniki, which has given Greece some of its greatest musicians, artists, poets and thinkers, thus providing a rich background for Alter to draw upon. Her father was born in Istanbul and lived there until he was 17 when he moved to Belgium. Being brought up around these different cultural influences left an imprint on Alter and has influenced her music and compositions throughout her life.
Alter gathered a standout ensemble, with diverse cultural backgrounds like her own, to come from all over the world to produce the tight overall sound on Crossways. At the center of the music is Italian accordion virtuoso Luciano Biondini. He is joined by American (now Netherlands based) clarinetist John Ruocco, who fulfills an important soloist role in a similar fashion to his role on Alter’s previous albums. Belgian bassist Nic Thys always impresses with his strong acoustic bass foundation, and the liquid tuba of Belgian Michel Massot will be a discovery for many. The creative young Dutch percussionist Landers Gyselinck provides steady rhythmic support and is making a name for himself in both the jazz and the avant-garde rock scene, and Italian Michel Bisceglia provides subtle, crisp piano solos with his arrangements that truly balance and support the compositions.
“I chose Crossways because of my own upbringing. I came from a Judeo-Spanish family and lived in Belgium,” says Alter in a news release. “Once you add that to the background of these musicians, all those cultures meet in the music.” Crossways not only refers to the diversity and eclecticism in the musicians’ backgrounds but also to the instrumentation for the album. The unique combination of accordion, clarinet, and tuba along with the traditional instrumentation adds a distinctive element to Alter’s music that is undeniable and also adds succinctly to the warm melodies throughout the recording.
Although most of the performances were improvised, the melodies were arranged to evoke a certain feeling of peacefulness and tranquility. For Alter, it’s the feelings of nostalgia in the arrangements that provoke these feelings that she hopes draw the listener back. “I want these melodies to create a warm and loving feeling so the melody really sticks with the listener,” explains the composer.
Ready to giggle, snicker, whoop and chuckle? Royalton Luxury Resorts has announced its inaugural “Just For Laughs Resort Week,” a comedy event in partnership Montreal-based entertainment group Just For Laughs, which produces the world’s largest annual comedy festival. This Nov. 8-14, comedy’s crème de la crème, including a Saturday Night Live alumnus, will take over Royalton’s newest addition, Royalton Riviera Cancun, for seven days of non-stop laughter and light-hearted fun.
Complimentary to all resort guests, the weeklong event will feature stand-up comedy performances, busker-style sidewalk shows, and “sleight-of-hand” workshops. Noted headliners include Saturday Night Live’s Jim Breuer, Last Comic Standing’s Alonzo Bodden, Vegas magician Ben Seidman, and more soon-to-be announced Just For Laughs comedians.
“This partnership brings guests a uniquely entertaining experience to enjoy the world’s best comedy without ever having to leave our luxurious all-inclusive resort,” said Francisco Jorge, general manager at Royalton Riviera Cancun, in a news release.
“We’re thrilled to bring our popular entertainment to Royalton Luxury Resorts vacationers in Cancun,” said Christine Melko-Ross, vice president of operations and business affairs for Just For Laughs. “As one of the top comedy brands in the world, we produce festivals and large-scale tours across North America. This time, we’re very excited to pack our bags and head south with some of our funniest alumni for the inaugural edition of Just For Laughs Resort Week – which we’re confident will be the first of many.”
At Royalton Riviera Cancun, luxury accommodations range from family-friendly suites to adults-only rooms at the boutique hotel within a hotel, Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun. All guests can enjoy Royalton’s All-In Luxury™ offerings, which include reservation-free gourmet dining at nine restaurants, free WiFi throughout the resort, and an onsite à la carte Royal Spa which features a hydrotherapy circuit and full selection of pampering treatments. For an enhanced experience, the resort offers the Diamond Club®, which includes a room upgrade and amenities such as personal butler service, an exclusive beach area, a mini-bar restocked daily, and more.
For more information or to book your next vacation, visit www.royaltonresorts.com/en/