Description
A pure, compelling and original voice hailed by the LA Times as an "instrument of wonder", Chilean singer/songwriter/arranger CLAUDIA ACUÑA draws upon the culture of her homeland by fusing Latin rhythms with her instinctive jazz sensibilities. Singing mostly in her mother tongue, Acuña makes it clear that music crosses all barriers - particularly when sung with her distinctive brand of authentic emotion.
Moving to Santiago in 1991, she immediately gravitated to the local musicians and soon made a name for herself on the jazz scene, being featured on the club's live radio broadcast while sitting in with visiting musicians Wynton Marsalis, Michel Petrucciani, Joe Lovano and Danilo Perez. In 1995 Acuña made the move to New York City to fulfill her dreams, where she immediately became a fixture at local jam sessions and stints at infamous New York haunts with pianist Harry Whitaker at Arturo's and guitarist Ron Affif at the Zinc Bar. It was at the Greenwich Village hotbed of up-and-coming talent, Small's, where Acuña befriended pianist Jason Lindner, her closest collaborator to this day.
Acuña was signed to Verve Records in 1999, and recorded her critically acclaimed debut WIND FROM THE SOUTH, followed by the much welcomed follow-up, RHYTHM OF LIFE. In 2004, MaxJazz recorded the beautiful LUNA, where, as noted by the Daily News, "Acuña transforms classics into something provocative and unexpected".
For more information, visit www.claudiaacuna.com/