Album Notes

"If Lionel Hampton joined '80s King Crimson, he might've played vibraphone like Lalo." -Village Voice

Biography:

New York based vibraphonist/ composer Lalo fuses traditional jazz with world music influences and a modern edge. Her original sound and approach to the vibraphone has led to a recent feature on NPR Weekend Edition Sunday, drawn international media attention, and caused the Village Voice to dub her "the Vibe Queen". Lalo's debut CD, featuring legendary bassist Kermit Driscoll and drummer/percussionist Todd Isler, was released January 2003 at the Blue Note in New York City.

In February 2003 Womanrock.com made Lalo their "cover story", and in May Jazziz magazine listed her among the "20 Fine Vibists" in the world. In August 2003 Jazztimes magazine ran a feature on the vibraphonist and described her music as "a playground made of sound". Lalo has received rave reviews from Bass Player Magazine, All About Jazz, Indie-Music.com, and Sounds of Timeless Jazz among others. She recently signed an endorsement deal with European custom vibraphone manufacturer VanderPlas Percussion.

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Lalo commenced her studies with world-renowned vibraphonist Mike Mainieri and began performing in festivals and clubs in the southeastern United States while still in high school. She subsequently enrolled in Berklee College of Music and graduated Summa Cum Laude two years later. While at Berklee, Lalo toured throughout Europe and the United States with the group Dzaesmin as a performer, composer, and co-leader. In 1999 she premiered an original composition with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra as a featured soloist and subsequently began touring colleges and universities on the East Coast. Later that year she moved to New York City and began performing with a ten-piece percussion ensemble led by Cyro Baptista (percussionist with Sting, Paul Simon, Cassandra Wilson).

Lalo has recorded with legendary jazz pianist Kenny Werner for BMG Japan, led her band on numerous tours up and down the East Coast, and plays regularly in New York City. Her jazz festival appearances include the Rochester International Jazz Festival, Savannah International Jazz Festival, and Hartford International Jazz Festival. She is part of the "Women Rock the Road Tour", a group which tours in association with the American Cancer Society to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

Visit www.lalovibe.com for more information and to hear samples of Lalo's music.