Album Notes

“Tales of la Juana” is an exciting and unique album, integrating contemporary jazz with the rich and varied traditions of Venezuelan folk music. To tell these stories,Venezuelan-born-Canada-raised Padron has brought together some of Canada’s
greatest jazz talent – all Juno Award nominees or winners – in Andrew Downing (acoustic bass), Marilyn Lerner (piano and accordion), Mark Duggan (marimba/congas/percussion), Justin Haynes (electric guitar) and Alan Hetherington (drums/maracas/percussion).

From the near traditional renditions and arrangements of “La Juana” and “Quirpa”, to the abstract “El Jabillo”, the songs cover a wide spectrum of stylistic and improvisational blending.

Bio: After graduating from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music Performance program in 1987, Padron moved back to Venezuela where he played with thecountry's top pop and jazz artists (Frank Quintero, Kara, Luz Marina, Biela DaCosta, and Martes 8:30, among others). There, he recorded his first CD
of original compositions, “Seadance", to critical acclaim.
After 16 years, he returned to Canada, where he has led several groups playing his original compositions, as well as performing with the likes of HawksleyWorkman, David Alexis Baro, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Marc Sepic, David Buchbinder, Evaristo Machado, Rubén Vasquez and Friends and many others.

This CD is for jazz, world and folk music enthusiasts alike!