Lupa Santiago and Carlos Ezequiel started their partnership in early 1996. Having both already developed solo careers, the idea of signing a project together occurred due to their sharing the same compositional concept: one with strong roots in Brazil but under influence of the North-American and European Jazz, of contemporary Classical music, and of post-modern artistic movements.
Since then the group under Lupa and Carlos’ leadership performed extensively in the United States, having several renowned musicians as guest artists, such as Greg Badolato (Assistant Vice-President, Berklee College of Music), Larry Baione (Guitar Dept. Chairman, Berklee College of Music), and the Venezuelan guitarist Aquiles Baez. Many of these performances were held at prestigious venues or events, including the Berklee Performance Center, Ryle’s Jazz Club and the Best of Berklee Festival in Rhode Island.
After four years of development, the duo moved naturally towards the creation of its debut album, images. Aiming to expand not only musical frontiers (by flowing from Brazilian to jazzistic and classical sonorities) but artistic ones in general, the title of this project refers to the visual quality of music - an idea already embraced by composers of the likes of Wagner, Debussy and Villa-Lobos, but now integrated to contemporary concepts such as the ones established by Egberto Gismonti, Keith Jarret and Dave Holland.
Images was recorded in April, 2000 at the BlueJay Studio in Carlisle, Massachusetts (U.S.A.). It showcases the talent of the American saxophonists Jaleel Shaw (Berklee full-tuition scholarship/performances with Jeff Tain Watts, Roy Haynes and Nicholas Payton) and Robert Stillman (Kurt Rosenwinkle, Jamie Haddad), the Brazilians Fernando Brandao (flutist for various New England orchestras and Jazz artists/faculty member at Berklee College of Music) and Gustavo Amarante (sought-after bassist in Boston/New York for Jazz and World Music artists), and the Armenian pianist Vardan Ovsepian (Berklee full-tuition scholarship/numerous European awards). Besides performing in the recordings, Carlos Ezequiel and Lupa Santiago also sign the production having Larry Baione as their co-producer.
Since their return to Brazil in August 2000, the duo has been recognized by prestigious artists such as Egberto Gismonti, Rodolfo Stroeter and Luciana Souza. In October 2000 Lupa and Carlos were selected by the Itaú Cultural Institute as one of Brazil´s best musical works. In March 2001, Carlos Ezequiel was indicated to the famous Brazilian Visa Music Award – Instrumentalist’s Edition.
Released in Brazil in April 2001 by Mix House and Ouver Records, images is an album of original compositions and arrangements which intends to make listeners appreciate each track from multiple cultural perspectives. Just as a landscape may be looked at from countless points of view, being all of those equally innovative experiences. The cd images was indicated for the Grammy Latino/2002, best Latin Jazz album.
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