FindaStringQuartet

Latin Piano Trio - London ID506

Styles String Quartets • Strings and Piano

Counties Bedfordshire • Berkshire • Buckinghamshire • Cambridgeshire • East Sussex • Essex • Greater London • Hampshire • Hertfordshire • Kent • Northamptonshire • Surrey

Biography

This trio is a project which demonstrates the universal and cross-cultural nature of music. Although the three members of the group are classically trained, in this group they perform the popular Latin-American repertoire, drawing on the familiar Samba, Bolero and Tango as well as less-well-known rhythms such as Pasillo, Joropo and Currulao, in a unique combination of instruments and styles. Whilst maintaining the format of the classical piano trio, they express the original passion and joy of the Latin-American rhythms.

The ground-breaking arrangements combine the passion of Latin America with the virtuosity and traditions of classical music. Their music has an extraordinary appeal to people from all cultural backgrounds, a fact which is largely due to the universal nature of its message. The idea of love features frequently in these songs, as does that of simply having a good time. It is this uncomplicated approach, combined with memorable tunes and catchy rhythms, which makes their music so accessible. It is music for all people.

Two worlds collided when, in 1997, the Colombian Ivan invited the very English Graham to play Latin-American music with him whilst they were both students at St John’s College, Cambridge. It seemed unlikely that two musicians, with such disparate temperaments and from such different traditions, could combine to produce successful results. However, their reputation spread, and by the time of their first formal concert not even standing room remained. In 2000, violinist Elizabeth was invited to join the group, and together they have gone on to perform across the UK, Europe and Colombia. This success, alongside their unique approach to the music, has led to their being invited to perform in venues as diverse as St John’s, Smith Square, Bogota’s Teatro Colon in Colombia, and Akkra, Ghana.