Primary Instrument: Saxophone
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Catarina New
Catarina left Sweden, for New York to study at the “New School of Jazz”. Studying with world renowned artists as: Reggie Workman, Kenny Werner, Hal Galper, David Liebman, Bob Mintzer and Bill Evans, she became deeply involved in Jazz. Prior to studying in New York she had several years of studying piano, guitar, vocals, violin and bass in Sweden. Ms. New has a Master’s Degree in Music Education and was offered a full scholarship for a Master’s Degree in Jazz at University of Southern California while attending USC. From 1995-2000 Catarina performed with her own six piece band in the Los Angeles area and also served as the musical director for “L.A. Women in Blues”. New produced, composed and arranged her first CD “Don’t Stop Now” in 1999. Around this time Ms. New also incorporated her soulful vocals on her performances and recordings and has since been successful with her intimate connection with the audience. Catarina has an impressive track record of performances: The House of Blues, B.B. Kings, La Ve Lee, Playboy Jazz- Fest in Los Angeles. Idyllwild Jazz festival, New York, New Orleans, Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, Brazil, Tahiti, Hawaii, Germany and Scandinavia. The Swedish radio broadcasted a series of performances and interviews from a live concert in 2001. Ms. New has performed with world famous trumpeter Bobby Shew, pianist Chuchito Valdez , guitarist Kenny Burrell, saxophonist Justo Almario, trumpeter Bobby Rodriquez, drummer Thelonious Monk Jr., vocalists Barbara Morrison and Anita O’Day to name a few. Catarina’s second CD, in collaboration with pianist Marty Steele,“The Point of No Return” was released in 2004 and got great reviews. Well known entertainment editor Bruce Fessier from the “The Desert Sun” (daily news paper) is saying “Catarina New, deserves being mentioned in the same breath as saxophonists Mindi Abair and Candy Dulfer.” In 2006 Catarina won the “Southern California Music Awards” in the category “Best Jazz solo artist”. 2010, Portland, Oregon became her new home and Catarina has since been awarded “Jazz musician of the month” by the magazine Oregon Jazz scene, in July 2012. In Portland she started her own band, featuring her melodic and rhythmical originals, strongly influenced by Brazilian music along with music by Toninho Horta, Jobim, Ivan Lins and Tania Maria. Catarina is also co-leading the Latin Jazz band “Picante”with Trumpeter Bryant Allard , a seven piece band featuring the best of the Latin Jazz musicians in Portland.
