Album Notes

Natalie Michán is an artist who recognizes music as a manifestation of the transcendent. She sees in music, the power to unite the world and its’ people. Drawing on her Middle-Eastern and Latin roots, and inspired by the vitality of New York, Natalie has woven a lush musical tapestry evocative of this rich cultural heritage.
Natalie's formal music training began when she was a young teen with several years of opera study. She then made a departure into the jazz world and began studying jazz with Jane Getz. Shortly afterwards she went on to attend The New School University’s Jazz and Contemporary music program in 2001 in New York City.
During this time she decided to further explore her Latin roots and went to Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts. It was four years ago at the Harbor Conservatory that she met double grammy nominated artist David Oquendo with whom she studies Afro-Latin music. Natalie has performed with David's groups Habana Tres and Raíces Habaneras -- Afro-Cuban folklore. Her love of Afro-Cuban folklore lead her to Cuba where she studied folkloric music and dance with living rumba legends, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.
In the past couple of years, Natalie has begun her formal learning of Middle-Eastern music. She studied with Israeli reed player and composer, Harel Shachal. Again prompted by her love of music, she traveled abroad to Israel for further training in Middle-Eastern music.
Natalie has recently recorded her first album entitled, Madrugada (the Spanish word for dawn) which she produced, arranged and composed the majority of the songs. It is a rich and seamless fusion of Latin and Middle-Eastern music. The arrangements are complex yet engaging with their mysterious melodies and alluring rhythms. They are poems, prayers, and celebrations of the spirit. This is music whose essence comes alive and penetrates all expectations. And it is Natalie’s voice – pure, haunting and human that carries the listener on a journey through exotic traditions of the past to arrive into a truly transcendent moment of the present.