In a concert full of music and Venezuelan flavor, harpist Leonard Jacome and his ensemble Cuerdas Bajo Presión performed in the Bolivarian Hall of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Repubilic of Venezuela in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, July 16. The concert was part of the seventh edition of the Venezuelan Sounds concert series promoted by the Venezuelan embassy in the U.S. and sponsored by the Chevron Corporation. Venezuelan Sounds started on June 23 with a Venezuelan night in the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
During the concert, Jacome, with his Venezuelan harp, varied in genres such as tango, joropo (a musical style similar to the waltz with African and European influences) and Zuliana dance (rhythm similar to the Spanish dance “lanceros”). He performed together with prominent musicians Darwin Guevara (cuatro), Everth Rodríguez (bass), Cheche Requena (clarinet), and singers Fátima Sulbarán and Yosmar Cabrera.
“It was a journey, a musical trip of the Venezuela harp playing different styles and genres, improvising with a versatile performance as Leonard Jacome did in this concert. I really had a great time with the audience, the people of the embassy and the residents of Washington, D.C.,” said clarinetist Cheche Requena.
Jacome noted, “The message that we want to give to the audience, not only from the U.S., but from Europe and our South American continent, is that we have culture, feeling and expression for the world, because we are a land of free men, of great men.”
The Venezuelan and U.S. audience was touched by the improvisational performance of these prodigious musicians. At the end of the show, the audience gave a standing ovation to the rhythm of Pajarillo, one of the most popular joropo songs from the Venezuelan plains typically known for its speed and ardor, which allowed the harpist to show his virtuosity.
Jacome and his Cuerdas Bajo Presión also performed at the Folk and Roots Festival in Chicago, from July 7-9, as part of the tour organized by the Venezuelan embassy.
Well-known Venezuelan songs such as Alma Llanera, Caballo Viejo and Alma Bolivariana were part of the repertoire.
Jacome, who is also harpist of the recognized Venezuelan signer Reynaldo Armas, was given an award in the World Festival of Harp, held in Paraguay, informed the manager of the ensemble, Gabriel González.
Venezuelan Sounds will continue its agenda of events in the U.S. with a concert of Jacome and his Cuerdas Bajo Presión in the Boston’s Festival Betances on July 17; performances of Venezuela’s musicians Alcides Rodríguez on July 22, in Washington D.C.; and Marcos Granados on July 23 in St. Louis, as well as the Santoral Group, whose agenda has yet to be announced.
Photos:
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the U.S Press and Communications Office / July 16, 2010
