Press Release - Conjunto
Listen to This!                 Music Consultants

   Denise Ardizzone
   Caleb Dube

News Release

For Immediate Release

James Sanders & Conjunto

Present their latest CD

Chicago Sessions

May 20, 2005, the Hot House becomes the Hot! Hot! Hot! House when
Conjunto, the Latin jazz-inspired ensemble led by brilliant violinist James
Sanders, introduces their latest CD Chicago Sessions.  

Chicago Sessions has been a labor of love from concept to composition
to recording.  In addition to regular members, Steve Eisen, Donald Neale,
Jose Porcayo, Jean-Christophe Leroy, Roel Trevino and Joe Frau - Angel
d’Cuba, Alfonso Ponticelli and Tito Carillo lend their considerable talents to
a number of tracks that make this cd a feast of Latin expression.  

Conjunto came together in 2000.  Their fan base steadily grows as word
of their amazing rhythms, melodies and original jazz-inspired music gets
around.  This is Conjunto's second CD.  Their first and very well-received cd,
Conjunto – Live in Little Village, was released in September, 2002.  They
perform every other Friday at La Jacaranda, 3608 W. 26th St., Chicago.  They
have also performed at Green Dolphin Street, Rhythm, Pete Miller's
Steakhouse, Hot House, Rogers Park Jazz Festival, Taste of Chicago,
Columbia College, University of Illinois Champaign, and the Jazz Fair
sponsored by the Jazz Institute.  

James Sanders is an accomplished, versatile and inspired violinist and
composer.  His music education is traditional and classic.  A full scholarship to
DePauw University in Indiana, where he became concertmaster of their
Symphony Orchestra, led to Yale University Graduate School and a Masters
degree in Violin Performance. Since then he has returned to Chicago and
become very active in the live music scene.  He regularly performs with the
Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Symphony II and the New
Quartet.  He's also performed concertmaster duties for visiting talents, Smokey
Robinson, Roberta Flack and Manhattan Transfer.  In addition, he has his own
string ensembles available for private and corporate events.              

But another golden vein in this mother lode of musical talent that is James
Sanders is his love, his passion for Latin music.  His family background is
Latin American and this moves him to exciting musical places.  Conjunto
is known as a Latin Jazz Ensemble.  However, this is not completely accurate.  
It is more accurately defined – if this music can be defined at all – as
jazz, blues and Cuban Charanga inspired.  Clearly the rhythms performed by
Roel Trevino on Congas, Jean-Christophe Leroy on Drums and Joe Frau on
Bongos are Afro-Cuban.  As well, Jose Pocayo on Bass brings a quietly
commanding authority to the rhythmic side of this music.  On all tracks of this
latest CD they provide an enthralling foundation for melodies and
improvisations played by Sanders on Violin and the inestimable Steve Eisen on
Flute and Tenor Sax.  Steve Eisen is known throughout Chicago, throughout the
country, as a superior musicians one whose technique is always right on.  He's
recorded cd's with artists as diverse as Jesus Enriquez and Styx, from the
Beach Boys to the blues.  On the Chicago Sessions cd Eisen is incomparable
in delivering his music elegantly and with such depth you are compelled to sit up
and take notice.  Donald Neale on keyboards brings a real vitality and
dynamism to the bands music that allows it to become an ensemble in the
truest sense of the word.   

In addition to the bands regular performers, Sanders invited a few guests to
appear on Chicago Sessions.  Angel de Cuba brings his amazing voice to
two of the tracks.  It doesn't matter if you understand the words.  It's the
feeeeeling he brings to the music.  The contrast between his voice and
solos by Sanders on Violin, Eisen on Flute and Neale on Keys is at times fun
and playful, sometimes serious, but always exciting and absorbing.  And
always, always the rhythm section is there backing up the soloists, coming to
the forefront now with exuberant energy and spirit, stepping to the side now
again to let the Angel soar.  

Alfonso Ponticelli on Gypsy Jazz Guitar…wait, what?...gypsy jazz guitar?  Not
something you hear every day.  But it’s fabulous.  Ponticellies
performance is simply breathtaking. Coupled with Sanders’ violin it is a
highly unexpected sound.  It is the kind of thing that makes this ensembles
music impossible to categorize. It's appealing and fresh and somehow also
familiar and easy to fall in love with.  

Tito Carillo's Trumpet is, as always, a sound to be reckoned with.  On both
tracks that he appears, Carillo shows considerable restraint.  You know
it's Tito ¦he's there giving it everything.  But he knows he's playing as part of an
ensemble.  He allows all members to shine, which makes his sound
brighter, more brilliant.  

For more information, a press kit including Chicago Sessions CD and to
arrange an interview, please contact Denise Ardizzone, information
listed below.  



168 W. Menomonee D2                     312.649.9625
Chicago  IL  60614                          312.399.2712
listentothis@sbcglobal.net

Listen to This!                 Music Consultants

   Denise Ardizzone
   Caleb Dube