"Inner Peace" Goes Into The Film World

When you write music, especially for a record you always wonder who will end up listening, how far will it go, and of course, how people will receive it. Luckily my first record was well received. The critics said great things and above all the fans enjoyed it. But now with the second record available, would it live up to the hype and surpass it, or just be another record released.

I put my heart and soul in everything that I do. That includes the music I write, and I do my best so that it comes across that way when it's recorded. Cause then again...you really never know who's listening.

A few weeks ago I was contact by Ben Crowe, a well respected, award winning film director based out of the U.K. He heard the title track of my latest record "Inner Peace" (Turnaround Records 2010) and wanted to use it for a scene for his upcoming film. I'm pleased and beyond words in telling all of you that it has come to fruition.

This is something I've always dreamed about happening and I feel this is only the beginning.  The films title is Verity's Summer and it's do out in a few months in a number of film festivals. I can't thank Ben and his producer Emma enough for wanting one of my compositions in the film.

See the thing about being positive and believing in yourself is that it has the power of opening doors that may not show itself until you do. Positive attracts positive. You yourself, generally are the only one holding yourself back. The biggest wall to climb, the excuses your mind can come up with, the countless reason why you shouldn't because that just might be easier. The moment you leave that mindset behind is the moment you begin to live.

A quote that I once read speaks volumes to me as I write to you. "It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not" -Author Unknown

So though I am truly excited for this opportunity, the thoughts and dreams I have for the future excited me just as much. I won't stop just to be the norm, instead I will continue to reach my dreams regardless of peoples ideas of what is possible and impossible.

What will be next for the life of Albert Rivera, his music and his life? I can only imagine, but for now, I'll have a smile, and give myself a pat on the back for what I consider.. a job well done.

Some pictures for those eyes of yours

 Here are some pictures I have taken in the last year or so. Some were photoshoots and one of the shots are a performance shot from Small Jazz Club. Thank you Steve Sussman, RS Berkeley, Jason Goodman and Elizabeth Leitzell for the photos (list are bottom up)

Enjoy Everyone!

 Any photographers who would like to build their portfolio feel free to contact me!

If life's randomness was so random, would you have still ended up here?

I was recently asked if I felt that life was a a whole bunch of random events that you help create and push forward, or was it carved in stone to be lived out like chapters in a book. My first reaction was simple and to the point "I make my own life, and I decide where it goes" I said, though in the back of my head a little voice said "really?" Though the conversation was a pleasant one, that went in many directions, it left me thinking about my life in its entirety from my earliest childhood memory to this very moment as I write and share my ideas with all of you. So it got me thinking..what if it's both? Random and scripted all at once...

All I have is my life to really dissect and to look back on, so I'll tell you a few things about me. See, if you would have told me that I would be a professional musician, traveling and living this kind of life when I was a child I would have laughed, and then probably got mad at you. Growing up wasn't the easiest thing to do, there were always issues with my family, whether it was close relatives or long distance ones. But being the youngest of 8, I just assumed that's how it would always be. But as Kanye West once said in a song of his "That's Family Business" So I just learned how to accept and adapt.

My mother raised me on her own, and though it was strict as a typical Puerto Rican household would normally be, she always made me take my studies seriously. I was never able to "hang out" in the neighborhood,  but instead I was home from school early, doing my homework with little playtime. Funny thing is now, when I look back, that was such an amazing thing she did for me and I'm so thankful.

I'm not sure why my mother raised me the way she did, maybe she just wanted things to be better for me when I grew up, or maybe it was just random and it was just her idea of what being a mother is. You see, I attended a public school in the Bronx, and after finishing the 3rd grade new zoning rules went into affect and they forced me to transfer. I found myself to be kinda quiet at the time, so changing didn't really make a difference to me. In fact, it was just another thing to deal with. But what I didn't know was that it probably changed my life. Before I left the first school I took a few citywide exams, and the interesting thing was I did pretty good. Actually, it was a perfect score.

When I went to the new school and they look at those scores,  they decided to put me into a program for what they called "gifted" children. Kids that excelled in all aspects. Through what ever randomness this world had put in motion for me, it allowed me to get accepted a special program for Junior High School. That's where music came in, it was meant to open my mind to expand my knowledge in my studies, but to me...I fell in love.

Because I went to that school, It paved the way for me to attend LaGuardia H.S for performing arts, which opened my ears to jazz music, which allowed me to attend the Litchfield Jazz Camp and meet some of my closest friends, which helped me get into a music conservatory, which allowed me to continually perfect my craft, which forced me to grow up and look at life different.

My outlook in life was so different 10+ years ago, I only saw the goodness and happiness every so often, but music and the last 10 years made my eyes and mind open. I learned to stop and look around and see the beauty of it all. To listen and respond, to help and to care for those I barely know. It was my mother who started the seed for all this, but it was the years of living, the individuals I met along the way that helped shape me. It was those people that made me realize success is all about a mindset, not a specific act. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every year made me who I am this very moment.

I can look back in life thus far and know that I'm happy. And there is nothing random about that. I made the decision to be happy, to live every day as it is meant to be lived, to pick up my horn and create music, to affect my fellow human beings in any positive way I can. The sadness from my past, the confusion of childhood, the search for a deeper meaning,  only makes my success in the present feel even more amazing.

It took me 27 years of trial and error to come to this point. So was it random, or was it scripted like a well written play? I say it again, it's a little bit of both. But unlike a play or a movie, I can't start from the beginning all over again whenever I deicide. But, what I can do is sketch out my next few chapters and see where it goes. I can see how clever "randomness" can be. Because it can always come to this.. "If life's randomness was so random, would I have still ended up here?"

Albert Rivera

"Creativity is the ability to introduce order into the randomness of nature." Eric Hoffer

It's February already!!! And a peak into the summer...

Wow! Where did the month go. It was just yesterday that I was sipping on some champagne ringing in the new year,  And now? It's the second month of the year, no major issues, things are moving well... In my book, that's plenty to be happy about.

With 2011 off and running, a lot of projects are in the mix. I got Latin Jazz Thursdays off and running with my buddy and B. Smith's Executive V.P Adam Caswell, and so far it's been cooking. I'm looking forward to next Thursday for the show! Well, that's saying I get back to NYC in time.

Front of Vita Muir's House(Executive Director- LPA)

As I sit down and type this I look out the window and I would guess there is about 4 feet of snow. The Front door or side doors can't open cause the snow is blocking it, and the driveway...well, you can only imagine.  I'm up here doing some work for Litchfield Performing Arts getting things situated for the summer school that kicks off July 10th. It takes tons of preparation, and I do love working for this company and for what there mission is. Bringing music to the people through education and performances.  Well, regardless of the snow it didn't stop me from making good progress. Just got confirmed that trumpeter Jean Caze (you may know him for being in Michael Buble's band) will be joining us for the full month of the Litchfield Jazz Camp. This is gonna be an amazing summer. Jean will be joining me on stage at the Jazz Festival which follows the school in the first weekend of August with my Organ Band. It's gonna be a live recording, so I am pumped! More info to follow! For more info on Jean or Michael Buble and touring click on their names.

It's amazing for things to be falling in great places, I've been feeling so inspired and I can't wait to grow some more so that I can continually positively effect others as well. I'm trying!

I'll end with a quote by the great Albert Einstein. "Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value" I will do my best Einstein and I will be my best.
Smiles from Connecticut
Albert

Take a moment and look around...It's a nice view.

When was the last time you stopped in the middle of what you were doing and looked around? I bet it's been a while. Maybe it's been a week, or a year or maybe you haven't done so since you've been a child. But I want you to look around you, and notice the little things. I know it's not a big thing to do, nor will it take much effort. But what it will do is plant a seed of realization. Some people stay away from what their reality is for many reasons, maybe it's a money issue, or a family one, maybe they just feel lonely or out a place, and their best answer is to simply dive into work, dive into an addiction, or simply dive, but when you take a moment and realize what is usually right in front of you, or right at your door, you realize life is marvelous.

Take a moment to breath, to live, to smile. Don't do it simply because someone tells you that you should, do it because it's the things that surround you, the feelings that you feel, that make you alive. It makes you human.

You eat and sleep because you are human, you love and feel because you exist. If you spend your whole life never really experiencing the little things..then what are you truly doing?

See in my eyes, noticing the little things makes doing the big things worthwhile. I once was asked a question by a lady on the streets of NYC, why I was smiling and whistling. My answer was "because I'm living". She looked at me as if she was in shock, she took a moment and looked around, looked back at me and then began to smile as she walked away. So do me a favor and take a moment to look around, notice how lucky we all are, and remember..It's a nice view out there.

Latin Jazz Thursdays starts this week!

I'm thrilled that I got the Curtis Brothers to lead Latin Jazz Thursdays at B. Smith's With Ciroc as the sponsor I got a great feeling about this series. We are running it to March 10th and possibly further. Just depends on you...the fans in coming out! 

So what else you got going on Thursday nights? The music starts at 9p.m and there is no cover. I'll be there, not to mention CIROC Models  

Have you seen these commercials. I was laughing so hard...

If you wanna RSVP to the event click here to be directed to facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=182273415128787

Hope to see ya soon!

Smiles!

A quote about reaching your goals

"Only those who have the habit of going the second mile ever find the end of the rainbow."- Napoleon Hill

It is a fact of life that most of us try and fail many times before we ultimately achieve the level of success that we desire. You can expect to travel the extra mile many times only to find fool’s gold at the end of your rainbow. But you will most certainly miss out on the great riches that await you if you quit trying. A superficial commitment to doing more than expected based only on what you expect to receive will not sustain you in the long term. Great achievement results from a commitment to do the right thing regardless of the consequences, and that commitment will ultimately lead you to the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.


For more inspirational quotes and more info on Napoleon Hill go to http://www.naphill.org

‘Inner Peace,’ Albert Rivera helps define Atlanta’s Turnaround Records

Jazz CD review: With ‘Inner Peace,’ Albert Rivera helps define Atlanta’s Turnaround Records
by Jon Ross | Jan 10, 2011

Turnaround Records had a full-blown coming out party in 2010. The two-year-old Atlanta label had been relatively quiet since its founding, only releasing the debut disc from its sole artist, New York tenor saxophonist Albert Rivera, in 2008. Last year, “Evidence of Things to Come” by local saxophonist Brian Hogans — here’s my review — rolled out; another local player, trumpeter Melvin Jones, went into the studio for a recording due out this spring. In addition to signing new talent, the label also returned its original signee in the act, releasing Rivera’s sophomore effort, “Inner Peace.”

The saxophonist’s gruff, unaccompanied tenor is the first sound on “Inner Peace.” There’s reverb — it sounds like he might be playing in a tunnel — but the short, rhythmic statement introducing “It Always Comes Back to This” is otherwise completely raw. Rivera repeats a four-note pattern twice in a commanding, low tone before the band joins in and he launches into a melodic line full of tender sentiment. The album’s foundation is a contrast between this bedroom sound and the aggression heard mostly during Rivera’s solos. In the span of a minute, the saxophonist has imprinted his two personalities on the up-tempo song, which evolves into a smooth funk tune, propelled by prodding organ pecks, frenetic brushwork and the clean guitar tone of Mark Whitfield.

On soprano, which Rivera reserves for two languid ballads (“Inner Peace” and “While You Were Gone”), he asserts his more confrontational personality on the smaller, more sensitive-sounding instrument. Rivera’s soprano sound is equally as compelling as his tenor technique; he wrestles a deep, rich tone from the bright, tiny saxophone.

Bassist Luques Curtis and pianist Zaccai Curtis, holdovers from Rivera’s last effort, are thoughtful accompanists who help bring Rivera’s ideas to fully-formed compositions. The exceptional Nick Roseboro is also heard on trumpet, his improvisations matching (and nearly exceeding) Rivera’s abilities. For the rest of his sidemen, the saxophonist uses a revolving door — Jean Caze on trumpet; Nathan Jolley and John Iannuzzi on drums; Beck Burger on Hammond B3; and Whitfield on guitar. This lineup is broken up into different combinations for each tune (everyone playing together would be a bit muddy for Rivera’s songs), and this gives Rivera the benefit of introducing new ideas into the group and receiving fresh responses in return. Each ensemble change is flawless; the many different units presented on the album work interchangeably.

“Inner Peace” typifies Turnaround Records’ musical outlook. Storied jazz companies like ECM Records and Blue Note became famous for spotlighting certain types of musicians and helping mold a signature recorded atmosphere through studio techniques. When listeners picked up a Chick Corea album on ECM, they were buying the label’s idea of jazz as well as the musician’s artistic concept. While Turnaround Records lacks the output to establish a definition of its place in the jazz sphere, “Inner Peace” echoes many of the same ideas heard from Hogans on his debut. The albums eschew traditional standards and opts for original material that incorporates a range of pop, funk and jazz influences. Through studio work, the artists have a crisp, clean sound with a presence so big it jumps out through the speakers.

Of course, two artists don’t make a label, and it’s a bit early to start writing the history of Turnaround Records. But Rivera and Hogans have gone a long way toward helping the label achieve an all-encompassing concept.

My Time at the Jazz Conference in New Orleans

I can't think of a better time then getting together in a beautiful city with thousands of people all for the love of jazz. With shows, clinics, panels, discussions and of course seeing friends and colleagues you may have not seen in a while.

I arrived early Thursday morning to New Orleans, LA even with my flight having a slight delay. The flight was packed with great musicians, from legendary pianist Junior Mance to amazing drummer Matt Wilson and a bunch of Jazz Education Conferences attendees.
I was fortunate to have Litchfield Performing Arts and RS Berkeley(my saxophone endorsement) bring me down, so I did my best to split my time spent with them both. Not to mention trying to have time to meet a whole lot of new people, But it worked out perfectly!

(L:R) Albert Rivera, Vita Muir(LPA), Todd Feldman, Don Braden 

Friday came quickly and a bunch of the RS Berkeley endorsers got together to do an impromptu performance of "When The Saints Go Marching In" Fun times for all!
I always love these conferences, cause it builds up memories that last a long time.

Saturday went quick with my flight in the late afternoon, but I was able to have a great lunch and conversation with my good friend Frank Alkyer (Publisher of Downbeat Magazine) and a number of other people including saxophonists Claire Daly and Andrew Hadro as well as PR supervisor of Alfred Music Publishing Marina Terteryan and marketer/vocalist Carri Bugbee about the future of self marketing, career building and social media. Pretty intense, but I feel like I got a lot of it.

My flight back from JetBlue was quick and easy with fellow saxophonist Victor Goines(J@LC) among others and even happen to be sitting next to some jazz fans!
I head back to NY with a refreshed mind, and some great ideas. 2011 is just in it's beginning stages and words can't express how excited I am!

Lesson about adversity from N.Hill

A word from the great mind of Napoleon Hill - Enjoy!

"If you don’t know why you failed, you are no wiser than when you began"

There’s an old adage that those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. So it is with our failures. Unless we learn from our mistakes, we are likely to repeat them until we learn from such experiences and correct our course — or give up and accept temporary defeat as permanent failure. Every setback you encounter in life contains valuable information that, if you study it carefully, will eventually lead you to success. Without adversity, you would never develop wisdom, and without wisdom, success would be short lived indeed. When you make a mistake, say, “That’s good! I?ve gotten that out of the way. I will never do that again.” You will no doubt make other mistakes, but they won’t bother you nearly as much when you treat them as learning experiences.

http://www.naphill.org/

Heading to New Orleans this week!

Well with the new year upon us, I can look back and say how amazing 2010 was. It was the year where I paid my entire student debt off (and all other debt as well) my 2nd album was released, I was endorsed by RS Berkeley and have a beautiful saxophone in my arsenal and not to mention I've never had this many gigs in a course of 1 year ever. For that I am truly grateful!
A lot to be thankful for, but I do admit, I'm even more excited by 2011.
Having in my mind all the lessons I have learned from last year, I can only hope and know that this year will be an even stronger one for myself and my career. And I'm happy to be starting it off right!
The first couple of days found me performing, and on Thursday I'll be in New Orleans, LA for the Jazz Education Network conference.
You can find me in Booth #608 with the good folks at RS Berkeley as well as running around with my great friends and family at Litchfield Performing Arts that I am proud to be the Director of Operations. (a.k.a Assistant Musical Director) promoting the Jazz Camp and a new program that started last year called "Teach The teacher"
So for all the folks that will be there, feel free to say hello, and let's catch up!

Let us all think big for this new year and make things happen.
As in the great words of Napoleon Hill
"There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge."
Smiles
Albert

Online review of "Inner Peace"

Take a second to read :) This Rob Young fellow has some great taste in music!

Back in August of this year, saxophonist Albert Rivera stepped out with his impromptu project “Inner Peace,” to shake and rattle things up a bit on the jazz scene. Recently I was drawn to reacquaint myself with the power, energy and finesse of his magnetic horn play as it blurs seamlessly through the conduit of the eclectic voice of this amazing saxophonist on his debut “Re-Introduction” released in 2008. For those of you who haven’t, you might want to consider his mind-blowing bop-infused jazz excursion on Turnaround Records. –Rob Young | The Urban Flux
http://theurbanflux.wordpress.com/

Great Interview Last Night!

Hey everyone
So last night I had the pleasure of being interviewed by radio host David May from WHFC 91.1 which is located in Bel Air, MD. Radio is always important in reaching a larger audience, so whenever I get asked to be a part of one, I'm always down.
It was nice and we touched a lot of subjects. Below is the broadcast, so feel free to check it out!

Albert Rivera Interview on WHFC 91.1 with David May by AlbertRivera

I can't believe the year is almost done..Well, I guess I can. Things have been so busy which is such an amazing feeling that time has moved so quickly. But 2011 will be a great one! Stay tuned. For new years eve, I will be performing at B Smith's to ring in the new year. I'm excited!
Feel free to post my Facebook link(www.facebook.com/albertriverajazz) or my regular website link (www.AlbertRiveraJazz.com) on any social media website and share! Sharing is caring right?
Smiles
Albert

Merry Christmas to everyone!

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  ~Charles Dickens

I leave you today with a word of wisdom about Christmas from the great Charles Dickens.
Keep in mind to use this day as a day to help others, especially the less fortunate. For the very fact that you can read this post, check your emails,  and woke up this morning with shelter proves to yourself, that without a doubt you are one of the most luckiest men/women in this world. Spread the love.

I'll be performing a special Christmas day show at B Smith's tonight (320 West 46th Street) starting at 6 p.m.

Stay Smiling!

A letter about life written by the great Napoleon Hill

I hope that everyone who takes a moment to read this letter becomes inspired as I did, as I continue to do. I am grateful for being able to learn from Napoleon Hill. For teaching people that helping...is the greatest wealth of all.

_________________________________________________________________________________

       "Life, you can’t subdue me because I refuse to take your discipline too seriously. When you try to hurt me, I laugh-and the laughter knows no pain. I appreciate your joys wherever I find them; your sorrows neither frighten nor discourage me, for there is laughter in my soul.

       Temporary defeat does not make me sad. I simply set music to the words of defeat and turn it into a song. Your tears are not for me, for I like laughter much better, and because I like it, I use it as a substitute for grief and sorrow and pain and disappointment.

       Life, you are a fickle trickster-don’t deny it. You slipped the emotion of love into my heart so that you might use it as a thorn with which to prick my soul-but I learned to dodge your trap with laughter. You tried to lure me with the desire for gold, but I have fooled you by following the trail which leads to knowledge instead. You induced me to build beautiful friendships-then converted my friends to enemies so you may harden my heart, but I sidestepped your figure on this by laughing off your attempts and selecting new friends in my own way.

      You caused men to cheat me at trade so I will become distrustful, but I won again because I possess one precious asset which no man can steal-it is the power to think my own thoughts and to be myself. You threaten me with death, but to me death is nothing worse than a long peaceful sleep, and sleep is the sweetest of human experiences-excepting laughter. You build a fire of hope in my heart, then sprinkle water on the flames, but I can go you one better by rekindling the fire-and I laugh at you once more.

     You have nothing that can lure me away from laughter, and you are powerless to scare me into submission. To a life of laughter, then, I raise my cup of cheer!”

Napoleon Hill

Such a great hang tonight...and new update on my blog!

So while I'm out here in CT for another day, tonight after having a great time hanging in a local restaurant with 2 great people, I got home feeling inspired. Probably because we spent a large part of the hang talking about life and it's random turns, I decided let's do something productive. We'll I can't say it was to productive, but since I'm trying to develop a larger online community I decided that both in my blog and my personal website I would add a twitter feed. Not life changing, but pretty cool nonetheless.

We'll if you're om twitter or Facebook for that matter be sure to "follow" me and all my travels. Who knows where the life of a musician will lead me next or who I will meet. I do know one thing for sure, that tomorrow I will have a great year end lunch with great people at Litchfield Performing Arts, I'll head back to the city and the great time of the holidays and Christmas is here!

So take a moment and look around, give a hug or simply a smile to a loved one, tell them that you appreciate them and all that they do, help someone in need, and always...remember to be happy! Life is to beautiful not to be!
Until next time,
Your buddy from the Bronx!
Albert Rivera!

Philly had a great vibe!

I arrived to Philly early yesterday afternoon. My buddy Jon Michele had hired me to perform at a club he regularly performs at, but in this case he was working another event. He promised me that the musicians n the gig were top notch and it would be a great time. On his word, I hopped on BoltBus.com and for a nice ticket price of $8 a arrived quickly and 1 piece.

It was pretty cold, well since it is the middle of December, and there was not much time to simply walk around the city of brotherly love, but in the few hours I did have, we grab some food, and a tea and we chatted. I'm always down to chat...especially if it deals with business, or helping others.

We went our different ways and I found myself at Le Cochon Noir in West Philadelphia. The spot was a bit hard to find but nonetheless I arrived with time to spare. The place is big,  I mean..like a warehouse kinda big..a nice look inside with a huge stage. I was officially super excited.

I met the band mates one by one as they each arrived separately.  I could sense they were great people..the vibe from each one of them was a loving and happy one..so as far as I was concerned the gig was already a success before our first note.

Success may be the accurate word, but the vibe on stage when we started playing was truly special. We played..and played. We hit it hard from all angles and didn't stop. Last night was one of those gigs that one wishes it would have been recorded..bootlegged, or even videoed. But it was not. So for those people listening, they had bard witness to music making in the top level. You now things were intense when, as I finished performing on the last song and introducing the band mates, I take a look at my mouthpiece and a small amount of blood was on the reed.

Yeah...It was that intense.

That's the beauty of music...you never really know who you will meet, what connections you will find, or even what music will be created. Hey, now that it is all said and done, I left Philly with a few new friends, a great feeling and a memory of a night where 4 strangers came together and created something beautiful.
Time for me to go and continue living this dream of mine I call life...let's see what today will bring about.
Help others and stay smiling
Albert

Productivity is the key!

So this week I've had a few days where I can just stay and work from home. Which as many of you many know the last 2 months, to have a day "off" is a rarity, but between me and you, it's been such a blessing to be so busy! I hope it never stops! But, with that being said, i've been focusing alot on getting new videos up on youtube.com/bronxsax as well as getting fans some new downloads of songs and of course trying to build a larger fan base..
Whew...if it sounds like a lot of work..and if you are thinking it is...then you're right!

I'm still on a soulful high from last weeks shows, and now more then ever feel so confident about where my music is heading and the band members that the future is even more exciting!
I gotta say thanks once gain to Beck Burger, Nate Jolley and Andrew Lipow for the shows and the hang!
It's only the beginning ya!

Here is a video of a solo I took on the Blues. This was cookin! Take a look and a listen!





If you want more information on the band, visit them on their own websites

www.Natejolley.com
www.WarpoldWine.com
www.BeckBurger.Bandcamp.com


Until next time..as always,
Be Happy and Stay Smiling!

This band is seriously no joke...

I think I can honestly say that I have found a style that is uniquely my own. Well I can't take full credit, it's 4 of us. 4 different brains, 4 different personalities and what I can say, is that we are all on the same frequency.
The way things feel on stage is as if we have known each other our whole lives. The connection is a tight one, and I can't imagine how it's going to be in a few months, or a few years. I'll tell this to everyone, we are here to stay, I'm going to do my best to change peoples perception on "jazz" music...and I feel like this band is as strong mentally as it is as a performance group.

For that..I am grateful!

Atlanta has been great!

We arrived Wednesday evening after a nice drive down the east coast from Washington, DC. The night before we had performed in Twins Jazz Club, which was an amazing hang and the music was right there with the feeling! We woke up early, read to embark on a car ride that would last us a little under 10 hours. I never knew 10 hours could feel that short. Armed with XM radio, snacks, and a great vibe, we headed down.

We arrived at the Waverly Renaissance Hotel in Atlanta, and let me tell you..What an amazing hotel! People are so friendly down here, I mean, it's as if they go out their way to be friendly.


It's been jammed with stuff we had to do, In the Morning we stopped by at the studios of WLCK which is one of the prominent Jazz Stations in the country and had a great time, later that night we headed over cross town to the studios of WRFG for what ended up being 2 hours on the air with an impromtu Live solo performance on air. Thanks to John(the host) for being so kind.

Tonight we are performing at the Churchill Grounds in downtown Atlanta. There sure is a buzz going on, and I just have that feeling it's gonna be another great show! I love being a musician, but above all, I love my life!
Until Next time! Stay Smiling!
    


 (Picture of the outside of  my hotel room)

JazzWise Review - December 2010

ALBERT RIVERA

Inner Peace

Turnaround Records TR 1003

* * *

Rivera (ts, ss); Jean Caze, Nick Roseboro (t); Beck Burger (Hammond B3); Zaccai Curtis (p); Mark Whitfield (g); Luques Curtis (b); Nathan Jolley, John Iannuzzi (d). Rec: January 2010

I have a very soft spot for Albert Rivera’s playing. This is the follow-up to his previous “Re-Introduction” and again utilizes the services of the multi-talented Curtis brothers pianist Zaccai and bassist Luques. There’s an empathy between the three of them that helps make Rivera’s music just that little bit different from anything else around and which is best personified on the outstanding haunting modal title tune “Inner Peace”. There are also two interesting trumpet players split between most of the tracks (Cage and Roseboro) and each shows distinctive and considerable promise. The opening track is in total contrast. A big back beat organ-based soul jazz stomper, which has been released as a single in the States. The same line-up with Whitfield and Cage is heard in a spirited all-out burner called “From All Angles”. But some of the tracks have a strong Spanish tinge, with Rivera’s soulful sound on both saxophones steeped in jazz tradition, but aware of contemporary leanings. Zaccai is a really impressive pianist and helps bring out the best in Rivera’s originals, which include an uplifting waltz (“While You Were Gone”), a heartfelt tribute on tenor to 9/11 (“Remembrance”) with sombre Roseboro trumpet, another standout track. And there’s a classic closing ballad. Nathan Jolley’s subtle sophisticated drumming fits in perfectly, while Iannuzzi really drives the organ-guitar tracks. I play this quite a lot, because, as said above, it is that little bit different.

9/11 - Albert Rivera - "Remembrance" from the album "Inner Peace"

Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson

Here is a video I did in dedication to 9/11
Something to look back reminisce on how lucky we are to be alive.

 

Heading to a few different states...

If you guys are around, I'll be in Washington DC on December 7th at Twins Jazz Club, December 10th in Atlanta, GA at the Churchill Grounds and the Brown Street Club in Greenville, SC on Saturday December 11th. I'll be performing with the Organ Quartet and we are all looking forward to it!

Interested? Click to buy tickets on the links:

www.twinsjazz.com
www.churchillgrounds.com
www.brownstreetclub.com

CD's will be available at all the shows! And if your interested in simply buying one now, just go to CDbaby.com or you can always purchase it on Itunes!
We'll that's it for now...things have been amazing this week, working on some projects that I hope I can announce to my NY friends soon! Until then...Stay Smiling!

So much done, in such a short time!

What can I say, It sure has been a busy week! From radio shows, to Live shows, to Masterclasses, and it's amazing.
Every since I truly dedicated myself 100% wholeheartedly to music, was when things got the way it was. As if it was a switch, and all it took was trust myself that things would be amazing, and sure enough that's exactly what it's been.

Once of the biggest events this week that made me smile for a long time was the feeling of selling out a venue. It was our annual Thanksgiving show out in the Hartford Area (Szechuan Tokyo) and the people came out by the masses! I thank everyone who stopped by and having standing room only. It was such an amazing feeling and the music showed that very feeling. From orginals, to dedications to John Coltrane.

Below is the video from youtube, or simply click here to be directed to Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYv4jtZlGdE

We are performing Chim Chim Cher-ee (yes the song from Mary Poppins) and all I can say to those true jazz fans..this was fire!

Another highlight of the week happened this morning. I found myself out in Brooklyn, NY as I joined an old friend on mine Diana Melgarejo from back in High School who has created an amazing program teaching kids music of all types! People like Diana is such an inspiration! Though many would say how blessed I am to travel for a living performing music, I would not be here do what I do and love if it was not for people like Diana. The Educator type, the visionary type, the person who understands and knows that music must be passed on. Because people like her is directly connect to people like me existing.

I spent time with a bunch of children educating them about music, the saxophone, jazz and how to be an overall better musician. Time flew by, and sadly it was over so quickly! But the kids left there smiling, and I hope left with a positive outlook on jazz music!

If you feel like supporting a great organization feel free to visit her company online and see if you can help out at http://www.newyorkyouthmusicians.org

Until the next day,
As Always, stay smiling!

Saying goodbye to a friend.

Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow,
May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.
~Author Unknown

Yesterday a friend who has been a part of my life since the start passed away. She was a great lady, and one that my mother considered a friend. She was born 59 years ago, strong minded and confident. She lived next door to my family, and shortly after her youngest son was born, so began my first memory of her. 


Her son and I became friends, he was a couple of years younger, but as we both got a bit older we always found time to hang out. His mother, always present, looking out after her son in any way she could, encouraged us to hang out, and even was there to witness her son teach me how to ride a bike. It's been a few years since I had seen her last, but I do admit, I'll miss her.


Just like everyone else in this world, she had her very own story. But in this case, it was a story of success. See the thing was, she learned at some point in her life, to never quit. She had 3 children, all who grew up to be great individuals, and even  more amazingly was that once the kids were old enough, she got herself back to college and graduated to begin to teach grade school children. I can't imagine how many other kids she influenced through out the years, but I bet it was alot.

The thing that is generally so sad about death is not that the person is no longer with us, but that a son, or a daughter could no longer say I love you, or even hold her one last time, or never to say goodbye once again. For this time, a "goodbye", was an actual good bye, and not a "see you later."

I'm convinced that there is something greater in our life found after we leave this existence. A place where she was no longer in pain, a place where she will can watch her children grow old, smiling from a distance.


I guess what is truly amazing, is that memories do keep peoples presence alive. Though I have not seen her in years, I'll always remember her.  She was a friend to my family and I, a mother to a few, a wife to one and a great person to many.


Rest In Peace my friend. We'll all see you eventually on the other side.

It's monday!

This weekend went super quick! I guess it's partly due to the fact that I came back to NY Saturday late afternoon then had to directly to my gig at B Smith's. Which, by the way was amazing. Drummer NateJolley who worked with me in CT for Project Poetry Live did a pit stop in NY for 2 days to play at the restaurant. He's normally playing at the B Smith's DC but it is always great to get him up here.

I'm heading to Hartford, CT now because I have a radio interview in the morning on WWUH then on Wednesday i'll be performing in West Hartford at the great Asian restaurant "Szechuan Tokyo" with my acoustic band. It's an annual gig, then I just stay with the Curtis Brother's and their family for Thanksgiving. So basically another great and packed week.

Below is information about the radio interview and show. Feel free to copy and paste the information and post it all over the web.
See you at the next show!
_____________________________________________________________

New York saxophonist Albert Rivera presents his annual Thanksgiving Eve concert at Szechuan Tokyo Restaurant in West Hartford, Connecticut this Wednesday, November 24 at 8 p.m. The venue is at 1245 New Britain Avenue at the corner of South Main Street; visit www.asianfusion.net for more details, or phone 860-561-0180. The reedman will be joined by pianist Zaccai Curtis, bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Ben Bilello at Szechuan Tokyo.

Rivera will be a guest during Tuesday Morning Jazz "Out Here & Beyond" on WWUH radio with host Chuck Obuchowski on Tuesday, November 23 at 10 a.m. WWUH broadcasts at 91.3 FM and streams live via http://wwuh.org as a community service from The University of Hartford in West Hartford. Listen for conversation with Albert Rivera and selections from his recent "Inner Peace" release on Turnaround Records. Find out more about the rising saxophone star at www.albertriverajazz.com.

WWUH offers jazz programming Monday - Friday from 9 am - noon and Tuesday - Friday from 9 pm - midnight. More information about the public alternative radio station - including recent jazz playlists and a complete schedule of programs - is available at http://wwuh.org.

Life is beautiful!.....PPL is going great!

So as Tuesday ends and it's early Wednesday morning, I find myself amazed how this program is coming together. We spent most of the rehearsal playing music with my student band as the dance got a glimpse into how it would feel to Dance to a live band, as oppose to recorded music on a CD player.

They're 7th graders, with some 8th graders in the mix, 150 to be exact, that's a lot of 12 and 13 year old running around. But the beauty of it all, is that many are new friends, form different backgrounds, and many of them having their first experiences dancing and being trained by a professional dance company.
And trust me, it's been such a learning experience for me having songs I wrote (and songs fellow saxophonist Kris Allen composed) come to life.
It's amazing to see Matthew Westerby's dance comany work with the students. I just hope the students understand the effort these teachers are putting in. The time I spent with them whether it be in the random car rides back and forth from NY or while the program has been going on have been great.

Stop by and visit Matthew and his dance company on the web.. at http://web.me.com/matthewwesterby/Site/Home.html
Kudos to everyone for doing such a great job and of course to Vita Muir and Litchfield Performing Arts www.LitchfieldJazzFest.com for being the brains of all of this and getting the funds to inspire these kids, year after year...

They (LPA) were the first company to take a chance on me, the random kid with a ruff edge from the bronx...and look it me know, the professional working musician who so happens to be an adult (time flies), who learned that life is beautiful, amazing and exciting all at once.. Yeah...that has such a great ring to it.

As someone once told me, and I pass to you guys... "love life and it will love you back"
Smiles and hugs

The week flew by.

Wow this week went fast. I guess that's what happens when your physically in 4 states in 3 days. I do admit I love it. I love the train rides, the car rides, the time spent with random
Miscellaneous conversations that you have, catching up with those friends you haven't seen in a while.

My band performed at Harford Community College to a sold out show. The band sounded awesome and what made this gig even more amazing was that it was professionally record. Good thing the band was on fire, so soon enough we will have some great free downloads for all of you.

I'm spending all of next week in CT rehearsing with students for a performance in the end of the week. It's a project I've been working on for a few months now and the kids sound great! Well I have the afternoon off so I will enjoy it before I catch this train tomorrow. So until next time.... As I finish writing this from my iTouch from B Smiths NYC as always, Stay positive and stay smiling.

A great Article written about my Album and upcoming show in West Hartford

Owen McNally-

With a fine new album just added to his impressive resume, saxophonist/composer Albert Rivera will be in an especially festive mood as he presents his annual pre-Thanksgiving show Nov. 24 at 8 p.m. at West Hartford's Szechuan Tokyo Restaurant.
The 27-year-old Bronx native has built up a loyal local fan base with his appearances at Szechuan and Black-eyed Sally's in downtown Hartford. His Connecticut connection also is accented by his role as a faculty member at the Litchfield Jazz Festival's Jazz Camp, where at 15 he studied as a scholarship student.
Once again, the New York-based musician will perform with Hartford's Curtis brothers, pianist Zaccai Curtis and bassist Luques Curtis.
Rounding out Rivera's quartet is Ben Bilello, a cum laude graduate of The Hartt School and a much in-demand freelance drummer in New England.
Starting out as a classical musician at age 10, Rivera first got hooked on jazz while studying at New York's selective LaGuardia High School for Music and Arts program. "I was speechless the first time I heard Charlie Parker and John Coltrane," Rivera has said.
Later, he was inspired by Joshua Redman's album, "Elastic," realizing, he says, that "it was only a matter of time before I adapted it to my own voice."
"In my music, when composing new sounds," Rivera adds, "I use the modal aspect of John Coltrane's works as a creative launching pad, mixing in a variety of grooves and rhythms."
Rivera's warm, eclectic debut album, "Re-Introduction" (Turnaround Records) was well-received.
His new encore disc, "Inner Peace," again on Turnaround, sweeps gracefully from the celebratory, groove-centered funk of "It Always Comes Back to This" to the introspective "Remembrance," the New Yorker's memorial to Sept. 11, 2001.
On "Inner Peace," the Curtis Brothers help keep Rivera's music flowing fluently, fitting right in among the new album's variety of shifting moods.
Remarking on the collaborations between Rivera and the Curtis Brothers, one critic has declared that "the three young artists … are part of the next wave in this jazz ritual."
Besides the Curtis brothers, Rivera's lineup for "Inner Peace" features the noted guitarist Mark Whitfield, Beck Burger on Hammond B3 organ, Jean Caze and Nick Roseboro on trumpet and John Iannuzzi and Nathan Jolley on drums.
Rivera will have a bountiful supply of tasty, nutritious servings for his Thanksgiving Eve jazz fest at Szechuan. For more information on Rivera and "Inner Peace" see http://www.albertriverajazz.com.
Szechuan Tokyo is at 1245 New Britain Ave., West Hartford. Reservations are recommended. Information: 860-561-0180 and asianfusion.net.

My visit to the RSBerkeley Factory!

It was a fun filled day, one of those days that it felt a bit more amazing then normal to be a professional musician. I woke up on the early side to catch a train out to Berkeley Heights, NJ. The president of the company Les Silver was super nice and picked me up from the station. Ive been performing on their Soprano for a few months now, and really love it, so when I got invited out here for a professional photo shoot, I was ecstatic! I wasn't sure how the place would be set up, and man..was this place big! Apparently it needs to be bigger... The guys and gals were amazing to me, and I haven't laughed as hard as I did with the guys in a long time.
That's what life is about, finding people who are not only amazing people both on a personal and professional level, but that you can tell by one look that they love life!

I spent a good amount of time trying out their Alto's and I fell in love with the Silver Plated Virtuoso Alto. I'm hoping with in the month or so, I'll head back to the factory and pick one up from them and start playing it for the world to hear! Patience is key I guess, but it will definitely be worth the wait!
Until next time! Enjoy the video, and once I get some of the photos, You guys will be the first to see them!
Stay Smiling!