Fuensanta
Ensamble Grande
A full performance extravaganza of voices, drums, horns, and ‘strings’. A homage to Fuensanta’s upbringing in the water forest of Mexico: colorful, beautiful, brutal, and raw. Poetry is the guiding principle. The members of the ensemble are all bright and free-spirited musicians and a large part of the music is left to improvisation – this makes the compositions accurate and alive because our kindred minds make the truest decisions together based on intuition. The summit of my musical universe yet.
Fuensanta is a vocalist, contrabassist, and composer born in Mexico, currently living in the Netherlands. A love for poetry manifests within her songs: sometimes refined and colorful, sometimes avant-garde and raw. Music that has the freedom, richness, and colors of contemporary jazz, but preserves the effectiveness of a popular song.
She has performed in numerous settings (from soloist of a symphonic orchestra, big band, small ensembles, to solo) and venues throughout Mexico and Europe (North Sea Jazz/Bimhuis/Paradiso) with her band. In 2016 she won 1st place, Press Prize, North Sea Prize, and HVC when singing her compositions during the Princess Christina Jazz Concours. She is currently the artist in residency at the BIMHUIS, Amsterdam.
Track List:
1. Cuándo Te Voy A Decir (live)
composer: Fuensanta Méndez
lyricist: Fuensanta Méndez
performers: Guy Salamon, Sun-Mi Hong, Fuensanta Méndez, Isabel Mirallas, Marta Arpini, Sanne Rambags, Laura Polence.
2. Olas (Waves) [live]
composer: Fuensanta Méndez
performers: Fuensanta Méndez, Isabel Mirallas, Marta Arpini, Sanne Rambags, Laura Polence.
3. Perspectiva (live)
composer: Fuensanta Méndez
lyricist: Fuensanta Méndez
performers: Teis Semey, Alistair Payne, José Soares, Guy Salamon, Sun-Mi Hong, Fuensanta Méndez, Isabel Mirallas, Marta Arpini, Sanne Rambags, Laura Polence.
4. Yo Te Buscaba Tanto (live)
composer: Fuensanta Méndez
lyricist: Fuensanta Méndez
performers: Alistair Payne, José Soares, Fuensanta Méndez.
5. Ascensión (live)
composer: Fuensanta Méndez
performers: Teis Semey, Alistair Payne, José Soares, Guy Salamon, Sun-Mi Hong, Fuensanta Méndez, Isabel Mirallas, Marta Arpini, Sanne Rambags, Laura Polence.
6. No Será Regresar (live)
composer: Fuensanta Méndez
lyricist: Fuensanta Méndez
performers: Alistair Payne, José Soares, Guy Salamon, Sun-Mi Hong, Fuensanta Méndez, Isabel Mirallas, Marta Arpini, Sanne Rambags, Laura Polence.
7. Ariles del Campanario (live)
composer: David Haro
lyricist: David Haro performer: Fuensanta Méndez
8. Canción Contra Mi Apatía (live)
composer: Fuensanta Méndez
arranger: Fuensanta Méndez, Brodie Jarvie.
performers: Youngwoo Lee, Teis Semey, Alistair Payne, José Soares, Guy Salamon, Sun-Mi Hong, Fuensanta Méndez, Isabel Mirallas, Marta Arpini, Sanne Rambags, Laura Polence.
Line Up:
voices: Fuensanta Méndez (+ double bass),
Marta Arpini,
Isa Mirallas, Laura Polence
drums: Guy Salamon
Korean drum and percussion: Sun-Mi Hong
trumpet: Alistair Payne
alto saxophone: José Soares
guitar: Teis Semey
piano Youngwoo Lee