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Sofia Rei

Sube Azul

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Sofia Rei Koutsovitis Intro Sube Azul Subtitulada
Sofia Rei , 'Instante de vos'
Chongoyapana by Sofia Rei Koutsovitis
Sofia Rei Vocal Masterclass Usina del Arte 2017
Sofia Rei: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
Sofia Rei The Stone NYC 2018 Residency (Teaser)
1 Coplera  
2 Sube Azul  
3 Cardo O Ceniza  
4 Instantes de Vos  
5 El Lio  
6 Las Cascaras  
7 El Mayoral  
8 Segundo Final  
9 Chongoyapana  
10 Imaginaria  
11 Jardines de Asfalto  
12 Entre Paredes  
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Sofia Rei Koutsovitis is one of New York's most passionate, charismatic and inventive vocalists, but she brings more than the depth and fullness of a riveting voice to her second album, Sube Azul. She also serves as the album's composer, arranger, lyricist and - with bassist Jorge Roeder - producer. Following up on Ojalá, her polyglot and multilingual debut, she offers this time a collection of mostly original Spanish-language songs, building on a new set of growth experiences since moving to New York in 2005.

The result is a fully formed synthesis, reflecting Sofia's immersion in modern and progressive jazz while also responding to the pull of ancestry and the appeal of organic, pan-musical connections. A native of Buenos Aires, Sofia brings to bear the folkloric traditions of Argentina and its regional neighbors (Peru, Colombia, Uruguay), tying together diverse influences in a program full of complexity, melody and romance. The songs speak of heartbreak, individuality, special characters in Sofia's life, the challenges of life abroad. There are tributes to Argentina's copleras (female folkloric singers), and comments on what Sofia terms "the end of the utopia of the upcoming Latin American revolution." And yet even as Sube Azul spans the continents, it transcends its origins and gathers force as a self-contained narrative, more than the sum of its parts.

Throughout the 12 beautifully conceived tracks, we find Sofia conjuring a melodic purity that haunts even as it uplifts. She also harnesses the same vigor and self-possession she brings to the bandstand, where she often joins in as an instrumentalist, augmenting the power of her voice by playing percussion such as the bombo leguero, cajita and cajon when the moment demands. Her poise as a leader, too, is striking, and she certainly summons the best from the impressive roster on Sube Azul. The musicians hail from many countries, and along with chops and finesse, they bring to the date a palpable sense of commitment, as well as a broadmindedness instilled by richly varied musical and life experiences.

Just as Sube Azul reconciles Sofia's worlds, her North and South American homes, the album strikes other balances in turn: the polish and professionalism of a seasoned artist, but also the hunger and wide-eyed energy of youth; the technical demands of music conceived on the cutting edge, but also the simple, sensual qualities that can spring only from the heart.
David R. Adler

  • 'World Music Institute At Home' features Sofia Rei / CT Examiner
    Posted At: September 30, 2024 12:00 AM
    Folklore and futurism, graceful elegance and raw passion, virtuosic precision and spontaneous exploration – all merge together in the music of two-time Grammy nominated vocalist, songwriter and producer Sofia Rei. Redefining authenticity from an intensely personal perspective, she’s carried diverse Latin American traditions from her native Buenos Aires to the multi-cultural mecca of New York City, where she...
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  • World Music Institute to present Sofia Rei in 'Folk & Futurism' / BroadwayWorld
    Posted At: September 23, 2024 12:00 AM
    Folklore and futurism, graceful elegance and raw passion, virtuosic precision and spontaneous exploration – all merge together in the music of award-winning vocalist, songwriter and producer Sofia Rei. Redefining authenticity from an intensely personal perspective, Rei has carried diverse Latin American traditions from her native Buenos Aires to the multi-cultural mecca of New York City, where she’s fused t...
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  • Globalfest Moves Online, Showcasing World Music Without Boundaries / The New York Times
    Posted At: January 16, 2021 12:00 AM

    The New York Times, Jon Pareles writes.... With 16 bands over four nights, the festival expanded its reach at a time when live music with audiences is in short supply. Minyo Crusaders set an old Japanese song, from a tradition called minyo, to a Nigerian Afrobeat groove. DakhaBrakha, from Ukraine, roved from Eastern European drones and yipping vocals to something like girl-group rock. Aditya Pra...
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  • Recording from her apartment in Brooklyn, Sofia Rei provides an opening night globalFEST concert for NPR: Tiny Desk@Home
    Posted At: January 16, 2021 12:00 AM

    NPR: Tiny Desk's Bob Boilen writes......Every January, I attend globalFEST at a New York City nightclub and see some of the most fantastic music I'll experience all year. Now, given the pandemic's challenges and the hardening of international borders, NPR Music and globalFEST moved the 2021 edition from the nightclub to your screen of choice and shared the festival with the world. We called i...
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  • 'Arts for the Soul' brings Sofia Rei to Lincoln / Lincoln Journal Star
    Posted At: January 17, 2020 12:00 AM

    The Arts for the Soul music and fine arts series will bring renowned vocalist Sofia Rei in concert on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Lincoln NE - First Presbyterian Church. Folklore and futurism, graceful elegance and raw passion, virtuosic precision and spontaneous exploration all merge together in the music of this award-winning vocalist, songwriter and producer. Redefining authenticity from an intensely p...
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  • Sofia Rei pushes boundaries at Spoleto / Charleston City Paper, Post Courier reviews
    Posted At: May 29, 2017 12:00 AM

    Calling Argentinian songwriter Sofia Rei, well... a songwriter is only part of the truth. Yeah, she's a songwriter, but also a performer, an experimentalist, and an engineer. She spent the better part of her May 27 set at the Simons Center Recital Hall showing off her virtuosic vocals, strong knack for laying out sheets of sound, and her ability to run circles around a set of loop pedals. The Rec...
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  • Sofia Rei, set for 6 different Spoleto performances / Charleston Post Courier
    Posted At: May 27, 2017 12:00 AM

    Sofia Rei, is set for 6 Spoleto Festival performances. Depending on the day, audiences might witness a full octet, a stripped-down drums/guitar/vocal trio or any variation in between. The constant will be Rei's fusion of jazz, traditional Latin American folk music and electronic music. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Rei began singing at age 9 in a local children's choir. While she appreciated...
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  • Sofia Rei. The Pan-Americanist on WBGO 'The Checkout'
    Posted At: March 12, 2017 12:00 AM

    Sofia Rei's pan-American ambitions are inspiring.  A singer born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she was exposed to the African and Andean musical inventions native to her continent: folklore from Peru, Colombia, and Uruguay. Then she settled in New York City to surround herself with artists sculpting the downtown jazz scene, like composer John Zorn and guitarist Marc Ribot. In our studio...
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  • Uncharted presents Sofia Rei at Greenwich House Music School / BroadwayWorld
    Posted At: February 28, 2017 12:00 AM

    Greenwich House Music School presents Award-winning Argentine vocalist, songwriter and producer Sofía Rei is considered one of the most passionate and inventive vocalists on the current New York music scene. Her music explores connections between the various traditions of South American folklore, jazz, flamenco and electronic sounds. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sofia ti...
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  • Sofia Rei set for New Jersey's - Blue Curtain series / HollywoodSoapbox.com
    Posted At: July 12, 2016 12:00 AM

    Sofia Rei is a singer, songwriter and producer who defies easy categorization. She's a performer who blends many different styles and constantly looks to reinvent her musical output. On her 2012 album, De Tierra Y Oro, her unique vocal skills are on wondrous display, breathing life into such tunes as the catchy "La Gallera" to the thoughtful resonance of "Noche." Rei will bring her music to the Blue Curt...
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  • Blue Curtain Concerts Presents Sofia Rei Quartet / New Jersey Stage
    Posted At: July 3, 2016 12:00 AM

    Celebrating 12 years of bringing world-class musicians from around the globe to Princeton for FREE summer concerts, Blue Curtain returns to Community Park North Amphitheater in Pettoranello Gardens on Saturday, July 16 starting at 7:00pm with Latin jazz legend Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours and Sofia Rei, who has been called "one of the best Argentine singers ever...
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  • The passionate, charismatic and inventive vocalist Sofia Rei, releases: Sube Azul
    Posted At: October 10, 2010 12:00 AM

    Sofia Rei Koutsovitis is one of New York's most passionate, charismatic and inventive vocalists, but she brings more than the depth and fullness of a riveting voice to her second album, Sube Azul. She also serves as the album's composer, arranger, lyricist and - with bassist Jorge Roeder - producer. Following up on Ojalá, her polyglot and multilingual debut, she offers this time ...
    Bookmark and Share
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