đˇâ¨ Rhythm of the Nightâ¨đˇ
Every Friday at 6:30pm, let the sultry sounds of The Collective’s Jazz Supper Club transport you to a world of smooth grooves and timeless sophistication. These evenings promise to be an unforgettable blend of elegance and soul.
Sink into a new musical act each week, sip something exquisite, and let the mood take you away. Perfect for a date night, a celebration, or simply indulging in the art of jazz.
Your Friday nights just got a whole lot sexier. See you there. đ¤â¨
The collaboration with the town of Snowmass.
This event is limited to guests 21+.
TONIGHT’S ENTERTAINMENT
The February 14th performance at the Collective will feature mainly the music of Astor Piazzolla with some jazz favorites added in. This group will feature Josefina Mendez on vocals, Mintze Wu on violin and Walter Gorra on piano.
Josefina Mendez began studying music and voice training at the age of 15 in her home town of Buenos Aires Argentina. Although her education began with Italian Opera she soon followed her passion into the world of jazz. At the age 18 she was the youngest person ever invited to perform with the Argentine National Jazz Orchestra. Josefina moved to Aspen in 2001. She began collaborating with her soon-to-be mentor Tim Fox and with many other local musicians in the Roaring Fork Valley. In 2013 she took Tim, along with Mike Facey back to Buenos Aires to collaborate with musicians on what would become her first album, Todo Llega. In 2014 Josefina began collaborating with local musician Mark Johnson on songs which will become her second album. In 2014 Josefina was also asked to write a song and record with Scott Martin, a Denver musician. Aquel a Gorrion released in 2015 and in the process Josefina was introduced to bassist Gonzalo Teppa. Gonzalo and Josefina, along with Garbriel Santiago, and Alejandro Castano make up an original latin jazz group named The Gonzalo Teppa Quartet – Origins. In 2022 Violinist Mintze Wu invited Josefina to perform a Tango Show featuring the music of Astor Piazzolla. As her father used to tell her “One day Tango will knock on your door”. The show combined live tango music and dancers and was a great success.
Josefina has also been continuing her studies while receiving scholarship and a certification of Voice Technique, Ear Training and Musicianship at Berklee School of Music. The music performed by Josefina combines rhythms, melodies, and different performance traditions that surpass the boundaries between language and culture.
MinTze Wu is a violinist of many passions, and a visionary with illuminating artistry. A native of Taiwan and deeply rooted in the richness of chamber music tradition, MinTze interweaves words, movements, and other theatrical elements to create a compelling narrative and a multi-dimensional experience for performers and audiences alike. She has been heard on stages from the pubs in Poland, opera houses in Italy, concert halls in Australia, the United States, Taiwan, and the remote villages in Newfoundland. She was a member of Azmari Quartet from 2003-2005, enjoyed a short stint with Australian Chamber Orchestra, involved as the artist-in-residence at Gros Morne Summer Music from 2006-2013, and founded Sounds of Lyons in 2009. Her driving force is to make music accessible, attainable, and available for all.
Infused with spirit, precision, and soulfulness, MinTze founded BenFeng Music Productions in 2013 and played the role as producer and artistic director to several signature productions including the revolutionary production of Benjamin Brittenâs Opera âThe Turn of the Screwâ (2022) performed BenFeng style (barefeet, memorized, onstage, and without a conductor).
Since moving to Carbondale with her family in 2018, Wu has been involved in the creative scene of the Roaring Fork Valley as concertmaster of Aspen Choral Society, the curator of Garden Music Series, and collaborator with Dance Initiative & DanceAspen, among many others. She stepped into the role of the Executive & Artistic Director of VOICES in the fall of 2022, dedicating her artistry and leadership in discovering the layers of humanities within us and our community through arts. On her bucket list are hiking Colorado Trail, dancing Tango, and making pottery. Her motto is âLife is too short for bad beer!â
Walter Gorra is an award-winning pianist, composer and arranger based out of the New York/New Jersey metro area. Currently 30 years old, Walter graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder Magna Cum Laude and High Honors in May 2017 with the following three degrees â MS Structural engineering, BM Jazz Piano and BS Civil Engineering. He then pursued a masterâs degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging at William Paterson University in New Jersey, graduating in May 2019.
In 2016, Walter led his Colorado quartet in a two-month residency at the Denver jazz club â Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club; performing his original music and arrangements. After completing this residency, he and his group, the Walter Gorra Quartet, dove into the studio to record Walterâs debut album âIn Due Timeâ which was released August 1, 2018. âIn Due Timeâ was nominated for the 17th annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs) as âBest Jazz Instrumental Albumâ and in September of 2018 was selected as CD of the month by KUVO Jazz in Denver, CO. In Walterâs own words âmusic is a way to express oneself in a way that is often more powerful than words. Through my compositions and my playing I can describe people, places and experiences in the best way that I can. My debut album, âIn Due Time,â is really a snapshot of many of the events and people that have influenced me as a musician and as a person.â
In 2015, Walter was one of 30 young artists selected by KUVO during their 30th Anniversary year, as part of their â30 Under 30â campaign giving them the spotlight and opportunity to have their audience become acquainted with them and their music. In February of 2015, Walter received a grant from the Boettcher Foundation to present and play with NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera in a master class and concert. The group, “The Walter Gorra Septet” played with Paquito D’Rivera at the KUVO radio studios in Denver, at the University of Colorado Boulder during a masterclass, and at the Mount Vernon Country Club in Denver.
Walter has worked with Billy Childs, Rufus Reid, Pete McGuinness, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Douglas, Bill Charlap, and Harold Mabern, to name a few. Walter has performed with various ensembles at Dizzyâs Club Coca-Cola-Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ravinia Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival, the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival, the Telluride Jazz Festival with the Telluride All-Stars and at the Five Points Festival in Denver. His compositions have won first rate awards. âJazongo,â the third cut on âIn Due Timeâ earned a 2014 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composerâs Award. In 2018 his original composition “Bandwidth” was the Downbeat Student Music Awards Graduate Winner. In the performance category, he collaborated with the Mariela Versola Quartet winning the Latin Group â Graduate College 2019 Downbeat Student Music Award.
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