Album Notes

Beatriz Malnic, born in Brazil, graduated in music at Sao Paulo University, where she studied singing, composition, choir conducting and piano. She worked with the composer, guitar player and partner of Vinicius de Moraes (Girl from Ipanema) Toquinho, in tournees in South America, Italy, Germany and Spain. Worked with artists like Chico Buarque, Lucio Dalla and Roberto Menescal. Living now in the United States, Florida, for 10 years, she performs in jazzclubs , local events and international festivals, singing Brazilian jazz, sambas and American standards. In October 2002 she performed in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts with Joao Bosco and Toquinho. Her first CD of bossa-nova and samba songs was produced by Roberto Menescal for Warner Music of Brazil, programmed by Nelson Motta. Her recent CD with Don Wilner and Mike Orta , "Estrada do Sol" is going to be released in August 2006. With Loren Dae, Beatriz created a Brazilian female vocal ensemble, the "Brazilian Voices " that performs in local events and was awarded in 2003 , 2004, 2005 the Brazilian International Press Award for outstanding group in the US. Their CD "Brazilian Voices" was released in May 2005. Their performance at the Broward Center brought tears to the eyes of the honorary composer in attendance, Mr. Ivan Lins. Don Wilner- bassist, performs in both the classical and jazz genres. He earned a Doctorate in music at the University of Miami, was the Principle Bassist and a featured soloist with the Palm Beach Pops, and the Assistant Principle Bassist with the Miami City Ballet for many years. Don can be heard on his CD's- Figments of my Imagination, Mysterious Beauty, Eddie Higgins’ Picture in Black & White, and Annette Sanders collaboration with Mike Renzi, Everything I Love, as well as on many other recordings. He is the author of several articles on jazz bass, including "Interactive Jazz Improvisation in the Bill Evan’s Trio." Don was named "Best Jazz Musician" in Miami New Times Magazine Best of Miami Issue. An outstanding accompanist and soloist, he has performed and recorded with George Coleman, Maureen McGovern, Mark Murphy, Carmen McRae, James Moody, Ceder Walton, Tom Harrell, Fred Hersch, Toots Theilmans, Hubert Laws, Eddie Harris, Dizzy Gelespie, Nat Adderley, Peter Nero, Harry Allen, Scott Hamilton, John Abercrombie, Michell LeGrand, Marion McPartland, and many others. Dr. Wilner is the Director of Musical Entertainment at the Van Dyke Cafe. Named Best Jazz Musician in Miami New Times Best of Miami. Dr. Wilner takes pride in his music program at the Van Dyke, which New Times labeled Best Jazz Club in Miami "Wilner is one of the rare symphony musicians capable of first-rate jazz. His solos and interchanges . . . are lovely, and his upper-range arco playing has the vocal-like quality of a ‘cello. Much of the program (with Higgins) has a Blanton-Ellington feel, rather than the usual ‘piano with rhythm’." critic Art Hilgart Doug Ramsey, the well-known music critic for Jazz Times Magazine, wrote "Wilner is an astonishing bass player whether bowing, walking, interacting . . . or covering the instrument from top to bottom in his pizzicato solos. His purity of tone and breadth of technique may come from his classical background. They are matched by a time feeling achieved only by musicians with a bone-deep jazz sensibility."