Latin jazz pianist Michel Camilo featured in opening night of the Basque National Orchestra's new concert series KlasikAT

Latin jazz pianist Michel Camilo is set to launch the Basque National Orchestra's new concert series KlasikAT. (The name is a fusion of the Basque words klasikoa, meaning 'classical', and at, meaning 'outside'.) KlasikAT, the Orchestra's major initiative this year, will feature distinctive repertoires and well-known artists, giving audiences the chance to sounds that reach far beyond the realm of classical music.

Joined by the Orchestra, Camilo will be holding four concerts: September 7th in Bilbao (Teatro Arteria Campos Elíseos), September 8th in Pamplona (Auditorio Baluarte), September 9th in Donostia (Auditorio Kursaal) and September 10th in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Teatro Principal Antzokia).

Maestro Rubén Gimeno will conduct all of the concerts. Tickets are now on sale for a single price of €15 at all of the regular outlets and at the ticket offices located at each of the concert venues.

Michel Camilo, piano

Michel Camilo, was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is a technically brilliant pianist and composer who peppers his melodies with Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz harmonies. Most of his music is associated with traditional jazz trends, while pulsing with a contagious Latin beat and sense of contemporary swing, all of which reflect his cheerful personality and upbeat manner.

Camilo is a regular at festivals in the United States, Europe, Japan, Asia, the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean. So far he has recorded 18 CDs, many of which have been won awards including a Grammy, two Latin Grammys, two Grammy nominations, several Casandra Awards and the Soberano Award (Dominican Republic), and two "Premios de la Música" (Spain). He has recorded as soloist, in duos and trios, with Big Bands and symphony orchestras, in addition to appearing in soundtracks. Camilo moves seamlessly between jazz, Latin music and classical music.

Highlighted among his trophies is Best Latin Jazz Album, awarded at the 2000 Latin Grammys for his recording made with Flamenco guitarist Tomatito. In 2009 his DVD/CD box set CARIBE - Michel Camilo Big Band was released in Spain by Calle 54 Records and Sony Music/BMG. His live concert recorded at the Altos de Chavón Amphitheatre in the Dominican Republic was filmed by Spanish director and filmmaker Fernando Trueba.

He has performed concerts with prestigious orchestras including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Gulbenkian Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Spanish National Orchestra, Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, the orchestras of Barcelona, Cadaqués, Sevilla, Bilbao and Tenerife, the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.

Michel Camilo has also composed the score for a number of films including "Amo tu cama rica" and "Los peores años de nuestra vida", both directed by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro, and Fernando Trueba's "Two Much".

Concerts
September 7: Teatro Arteria Campos Elíseos. Bilbao. 8:00 pm.
September 8: Baluarte Auditorium. Pamplona. 8:00 pm.
September 9: Kursaal Auditorium. Donostia-San Sebastián. 8:00 pm.
September 10: Teatro Principal Antzokia. Vitoria-Gasteiz. 8:00 pm.

Programme:
Arturo Márquez (1950): Danzón nº 2* [10']
Michel Camilo (1954): Suite for Piano, Strings and Harp* [25']
Orchestrated by Joseph Gianono
Michel Camilo (1954): Concert No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra* [32']

*Premiere performance by the BNO

Michel Camilo, piano
Rubén Gimeno, conductor