Fuensanta & Ensamble Grande

The Mexican singer, composer and bassist Fuensanta gathers musicians from many corners of the world in her Ensamble Grande. Their folk-jazz songs, inspired by traditional Mexican music, convince with balanced compositions, Fuensanta's melodic singing and the joy of playing of some of Amsterdam's outstanding jazz musicians.

Fuensanta & Ensamble Grande

(MX, IT, TR, LV, UK, PT, KR, IL)

Few European cities can hold a candle to Amsterdam when it comes to jazz. Musicians from all over the world are drawn to this creative melting pot - a circumstance that makes Fuensanta's Ensamble Grande possible in the first place and also explains the diversity of the sound worlds from which the singer and bassist draws. Fuensanta, who composes, plays double bass and bass as well as sings, moved from her native Mexico to Amsterdam in 2015 to study at the conservatory, where she assembled this remarkable band. The musicians of Ensamble Grande come from Turkey, Latvia, Scotland, South Korea, Italy, Portugal and Israel. A mixture that fits perfectly with the bandleader's musical aesthetic in that her folk-influenced melodies are stretched and stretched by global musical trends. Despite the multitude of influences, the result never sounds like a world music mash-up; Fuensanta's carefully balanced compositions make sure of that. Her band features some of the city's most outstanding jazz musicians, including trumpeter Alistair Payne and drummer Sun Mi Hong, who shared the stage last year in Mi Hong's own band at Jazzfest Berlin. While the pieces are improvised - but always with care and sensitivity - the musicians primarily place themselves at the service of the ensemble sound. This supports and surrounds Fuensanta's singing, which is characterized by melodic warmth and nuanced phrasing. The same dedication to the overall sound is also found in the four background singers, who play around the band leader's vocals with almost casual ease.

Line-up

Fuensanta - vocals, double bass & others

Marta Arpini - vocals, analog synthesizer

Sanem Kalfa - vocals

Līva Dumpe - vocals, small percussion

Laura Polence - vocals

Alistair Payne - trumpet & other instruments

José Soares - alto saxophone & other instruments

Sun Mi Hong - drums, Korean percussion

Guy Salamon - drums, percussion