Booking Dexter Payne, Downbeat poll-winning clarinetist:

Dexter is available for musical engagements with several exceptional groups, performing in different genres and configurations. Email: net(AT)dexterpayne.com POBox 4104 Boulder, CO 80306 Or call 303.604.2040

BECO DO CHORO

Beco do Choro (Choro’s Alley) is Brazilian music at its best: instrumental virtuosity combined with traditional folk elements to generate fresh and exciting arrangements of old and contemporary songs of Brazil, including Antonio Carlos Jobim, Pixinguinha, Baden Powell, Jorge Benjor, and Caetano Veloso. Beco does not stop there - their original compositions are strikingly beautiful and also deeply rooted.

The members of Beco combine instrumental virtuosity on violin, clarinet, saxophone, acoustic guitars, cavaquinho (Brazilian ukulele) with an authentic infectious singing style and the irresistible rhythm of traditional batucada (percussion ensemble): surdo (the largest drum), pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine), tamborim (the smallest drum), ganzá (shaker), tan-tan (mid-size hand drum), reco-reco (scraper), and repinique (the lead drum in the batucada/samba-school style).

Brazilian music has undoubtedly caused a tremendous impact on international popular music, more influential worldwide than any musical style (aside from North American music.) It has been successful abroad for its intrinsic qualities: swing, joy, struggle, sadness, melancholy, nostalgia (“saudade”) and excitement. Brazil has exported various influential musical genres, although very few countries speak its national language, Portuguese. Beco’s music offers all the outstanding qualities that Brazilian music has, plus it shares great educational content with its audiences. Combining entertainment with education and cultural awareness, its music has all the essential qualities of Brazilian Popular music: intense lyricism, singing in Brazil’s native tongue, showcasing themes that present the heritage of traditional folk elements of Brazilian culture. Its melodies are beautiful, highly expressive, enhanced by some of the most captivating rhythms on the planet. Beco’s songs present a high level of poetry and vibrant Afro-Brazilian rhythms, portrayed by traditional percussion instruments, which energize listeners from a diversity of communities.

Beco do Choro plays different styles of Brazilian music: Choro, a vibrant, fast, melody driven instrumental style that originated in the late 1900’s and reached its popularity peak in the late Twentieth Century with the mandolin of Jacob do Bandolim; Samba, originally an Afro-Brazilian drumming style that became popularized through the Samba-canção (Samba-song) style during the 30’s and 40’s and currently energizes the entire Brazilian population in Samba-school street Carnival parades. Samba became a fundamental part of virtually all Brazilian repertories; Baião, a rhythm born in the Northeast region of Brazil, that reached national attention through the accordion and voice of Luiz Gonzaga; and Bossa Nova – an innovative way of playing Samba introduced in the 50’s by the guitar and voice of João Gilberto - the style considered by many an aesthetic revolution that achieved worldwide attention with the success of Jobim’s Girl from Ipanema.

Beco do Choro is:
Kailin Yong – violin, vocals, and percussion
Dexter Payne – clarinet, saxophones, vocals, and percussion
Francisco Marques – guitar, cavaquinho, vocals, and percussion
João Junqueira – guitar, vocals, and percussion

Listen to Beco Do Choro:
1. Noites Cariocas
2. Eu Só Quéro Um Xodó
3. Aquarella do Brasil

Click here for Beco Do Choro


BARO SWING

Django inspired "gypsy jazz" at its best, featuring:

Adam Auriemmo - guitar
Sam Fuqua - bass
Dexter Payne - clarinet
Dave Willey - accordion
Don Yaffe - guitar

Listen:
1. Puttin on the Ritz
2. J'attandrei

www.baroswing.com





MEG YORK and VEELAH

Meg's clarinet/sax lead an exciting ensemble in the gypsy/balkan brass band style including Jesse Mano, Dave Willey, John Erickson and Dexter Payne. Veelah plays in the MIDDLE... and you dance around us! Call 303.670.8293



DENVER JAZZ ORCHESTRA

A 20 piece big band, jazz and blues in the tradition of Ellington and Basie, arranged and conducted by Sam Bivens who has credits from Ellington to Sony Stitt's Jazzmobile. Soloists Freddy Rodriguez and Al Herman and Dexter Payne among others. www.dmamusic.org/musicians/denver_jazz_orchestra


DEXTER PAYNE QUARTET
A group whose sound ranges from that of a classical quartet to a samba-funk dance groove, 
focused on the Brasilian choro tradition.

Listen to  the Quartet LIVE! At KUVO and Dazzle Supper Club:

1	Coração Latino	A. Mello (Clean Slate BMI)	4:36
2	Doce de Coco	J. Bittencoourt	5:55
3	Cochichando	K-Ximbinho	5:46
4	Feel Good	T. de Mello (Gau Music BMI)	6:37
5	Pagão/Assanhado	Pixingunha/Bittencourt	1:13
6	Bijoux's intro/Pra Voce	S. Araujo	1:49
7	O Morro/Guanabara	Jobim/D. Salvador	1;57

DEXTER PAYNE 
was recognized nationally last year in the 69th Annual Downbeat Readers Poll as a top clarinetist:  #8 in the company of players like Don Byron, Paquito de Rivera, Alvin Batiste. With over 30 years of professional experience including the NBC Today Show and Prairie Home Companion, Dexter effortlessly and reliably generates musical pleasure, always informative and entertaining.

Bill Kopper
is an amazing guitarist, first call for jazz and studio and arranging work as well as classical. Bill lived in Madrid playing with world-class Brasilian musicians and has 2 CDs released under his own name. His high standard and love for Brasilian music are central to the quartet.

Eduardo "Bijoux" Barbosa,
originally from São Paulo, Brasil, is fast becoming known for his virtuosic and lyrical bass work. A very talented man whose expertise and enthusiasm for this music add a wonderful depth to the project.
                           
Raoul Rossiter
is an exceptional percussionist and drummer. His fluency in the Brasilian percussive art enhance his ability to open up the music, and the earth's energy flows in.

Download Dexter Payne Quartet presskit





SEÑOR GATO

Afro-Cuban latin jazz at its best, with Dexter on clarinet and alto. Visit senorgato.com for more info, or call 303.604.2040



BOUBACAR DIEBATE & DIALY KOUNDA

Senegalese griots, Boubacar Diebate, Malang Jobarth and Papis form the heart of this west African dance groove, one of Dexter's favorites for the last 4 years, Dialy Kounda is a glowing spectacle. It doesnt just move you, you become part of the music. Call 303.604.2040




DEXTER PAYNE & CHORANDO

Dexter shares his love of Brasilian choro with Dave Horgan and Beth Lo, long-time compatriots of the Big Sky Mudflaps. Their many years of colaboration make this a pleasing and exciting group. Call 303.604.2040 or 406.543.7966



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