La Luz Eterna by Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble

This is the legendary group at it's finest and is the first of a series of 3 CD's documenting the groups spiritual, powerful and healing music.

The Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble Profiles

TURIYA MAREYA began studying Jazz at 15 years of age. She was originally mentored by San Diego Jazz legend Daniel Jackson, Mareya followed his example by becoming proficient on both piano and reeds and focusing on playing her original compositions. She continued her work in New York, studying at the Creative School of Music with The Art Ensemble of Chicago and studied privately with Joseph Jarman. Later she toured Mexico with the Tambu International Ensemble. All of those experiences help mold her unique approach based on World Music influences and drawing on the trance inducing and spirit calling focus of African and Indigenous approaches to music. She honed her abilities in Latin Jazz heading the Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble.Since 2003 she has been touring and performing internationally. She has performed at Venues and Festivals in Madrid, Havana, Toronoto, Vacouver, Juneau, Anchorage, Vera Cruz, Mexico City, Tijuana and San Diego. She has performed at numerous Jazz festivals opening for such artists as Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sanchez, Jane Bunnett, Arturo Sandoval and David Murray.

DAVID MILLARD performs on Alto Sax, Alto Flute, C Flute, Piccolo, Guitar and Cello. This original and innovative musician is known for his unique and passionate style. San Diego born, he studied guitar in Spain and also worked in New York, Texas and Mexico. In San Diego he has worked with Tambu, Daniel Jackson and Jaime Moran and countless others.

SKIP HOWLETT plays drums and timbales. This internationally known artist was based for 20 years in New York. He has worked with Mongo Santamaria, Dave Valentin, Jorge Dalto and Xavier Cugat, Poncho Sanchez and Tito Puente. He was an original member of Jerry Gonzalez's Fort apache Band. After moving to San Diego he quickly was in demand for his technical skills and prowess as a soloist and became known as one of San Diego's most respected and hardest working Latin Jazz Artists. Currently Skip is in the last stages of terminal cancer.

RUSSEL BLAKE has been performing professionally since the age of twelve. Thus far, he has performed, toured, taught in twenty-two countries on four continents. He has performed with many world class artists including: Hugh Masakela, Sonny Rollins, Mongo Santamaria, Wynton Marshals and Pharaoh Sanders.

STEVE FEIERABEND is a virtuoso Saxophonist and masterful composer who has just released his second CD. He received a master in Music from Brown University and presently teaches at San Diego State. He is a hard working sideman and is know for his master of his instrument and passionate soloing. He is currently living and working in San Francisco.

IRVING SOTO performs on congas. He is originally from New York and has performed with Charlie Palmieri, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Ishmael Quintana. He has a powerful and crowd pleasing style.

IGNACIO ARANGO was born in Havana Cuba where he studied at one of Havana's most prestigious Music Conservatories. He played with the Tropicana Cabaret Orchestra for 10 years and toured Europe and Mexico. Most recently in Cuba he was recording with the Havana Radio and Television Orchestra. In the USA he toured for 2 years with Giant People and has performed with Kokopelli, Unidos and Samba Brasil in San Diego. He is currently one of the most in demand bassists in Southern California.

DANIEL JACKSON is a Southern California Jazz legend. Born in La Jolla in 1937, Daniel Jackson has been studying, teaching, and playing jazz music in San Diego for many years, except when he's been touring the world-playing Saxophone in the big bands of Ray Charles, Buddy Rich, and Art Farmer. He is a jazz purist, acknowledging and respecting jazz music's spiritual ability to move and transform. He also plays piano, and can be seen playing jazz gigs throughout San Diego.

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