Project Created: Venimos Unidos
Quote: “This residency has been an amazing experience for me. Primarily, it is one of my first opportunities as an artist to present my own work, and my own concept of music. When I began writing for this band, I was approaching the process with the goal of combining cuban music with what I consider to be the "Philadelphia" sound. As the project has progressed, it has truly become a fusion of all of my influences, both musically and spiritually, and I feel it has transcended the original concept to become the beginning of a unique soundscape. Much of this music is addressing themes of identity, whether it be the sense of unity we can achieve as human beings, or the unnecessary borders we have created amongst ourselves, both physical and otherwise. We hope to challenge your mind and lighten your soul, but most of all, we want to make you dance!” – Dariel Peniazek
Bio: Dariel Peniazek is a versatile guitarist, tresero, composer, educator, and arranger based out of Philadelphia, PA. Dariel began playing guitar at the young age of 8, immediately finding a passion for the music of such rock and blues legends as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and B.B. King. Growing up in Bryn Mawr, PA, Dariel spent time playing with a variety of local bands, ranging from rock to funk and hip hop. At 18, he moved to Montreal, Quebec, to study at the esteemed McGill University.
There, Dariel Quickly developed a passion for jazz and found himself immersed in the lively and burgeoning Montreal jazz scene. During his time at McGill, Peniazek had the esteemed opportunity to study with Montreal jazz guitar legend Greg Clayton. Peniazek later finished his degree in jazz performance and composition at Philadelphia’s own Temple University.
During his time in Philadelphia, Dariel has studied under such greats as Warren Wolf, Bruce Barth, Tim Warfield, Dick Oatts, and Peter Bernstein, and has performed alongside Philadelphia legends including Larry Mckenna, Joanna Pascale, and John Swana.
Aside from his career as a guitarist, Dariel is also recognized as an adept performer on the Cuban tres. Known for using the instrument to infuse jazz vocabulary with Latin tradition, he has shared the stage with such Latin greats as Arturo Stable, Ariacne Trujillo, and Yusa, as well as performing regularly with Conjunto Philadelphia, and the Kimmel Center’s La NOCHE house band. Dariel currently maintains a busy schedule as a performer and educator, and continues to push his career within a wide variety of musical idioms.
Project Description: Dariel Peniazek wished to create music that “combines the infectious rhythms of South America with the intellectual approach of modern jazz.” Collaborating with poet, playwright, and lyricist Maya Peniazek, his piece addressed, through its lyrics and spoken word, his experiences of discovering his cultural identity as a Latino-American. Using the tres cubano, a traditional guitar-like instrument of Cuban origin, he explored new territory of Latin jazz by utilizing the instrument in a new context, digging into modern jazz while paying homage to its Cuban roots. The work combined “Latin rhythms with the distinctly Philadelphian sounds [I have] so voraciously inhaled in the past 5 years.”
Peniazek’s music is representative of his own sense of personal identity as a first generation American. “I aim to use this project to fuse what I consider to be the 2 most significant parts of my musical identity: Latin-American music and Philadelphia . . . In my collaboration with lyricist Maya Peniazek, I plan to write lyrics that discuss my experience of discovering my cultural identity as a Latino-American.” Peniazek also enlisted the expertise of Arturo Stable (percussion, Paquito De rivera) and Cuban singer Ariacne Trujillo who was nominated for a Grammy in 2014 and was part of the PIFA 2018 La NOCHE Celebration.
Credits:
Artists
Dariel Peniazek: composer, tres, guitar
Maya Peniazek: lyricist
Ariacne Trujillo: vocalist
Arturo Stable: percussion
Tim Brey: piano
Sam Harris: bass
Chris Aschman: streel pan, trumpet
Performance Dates: Dariel Peniazek, Maya Peniazek, and Ariacne Trujillo were in residence at the Kimmel Center from November 2018 – June 2019. Their residency kick off was held on December 20, their student workshop on February 15, their public workshop on February 25, their work-in-progress on April 18, and their world premiere was held on June 8, 2019.