nothin Harpist Takes Care Of Unfinished Business | New Haven Independent

Harpist Takes Care Of Unfinished Business

Several years ago, in a Brooklyn that was largely new to him, Edmar Castaneda was picturing his ideal jazz setup: A clean, long stage in a performance hall or bar, ready for a night of music. But no upright bass. And certainly no saxophone.

Instead, one instrument, bathed in angelic light, stood out to him as a clear choice: the harp, just waiting to be caressed with fast fingertips, a spirit moving through them as they played.

This Saturday evening, audiences will see that vision come to life in New Haven as he plays with his trio at Sprague Hall (details here). Profits from the event, the brainchild of Yale Bands and Creative Concerts, Inc., will go toward to the 2015 International Festival of Arts & Ideas.

What sets Castaneda apart is his mission to make people feel different” through his craftsmanship. Having chosen the harp partly because it is one of the instruments named in the bible,” the artist, who calls his music a worship to God,” didn’t stop there.

He couldn’t, not when the harp seemed to have so much unfinished business with the rest of the musical world.

How was it that it so often stood on the sidelines, relegated to early music or symphony orchestras? he wondered. Where were its smoldering breakaways, fast, fresh intervals and full-bellied jazz standards? What had the past done to this glorious instrument that the future could not break through?

So Castaneda looked back to go forward. To a strong foundation laid by the Colombian harp traditions of his native Bogotá, he added flamenco, Brazilian music, Joropo, transcontinental percussion histories and most recently jazz past and present. The exquisite and colorful result (click on the videofor a sneak peek) is what viewers will experience Saturday evening.

I’m very happy and honored to be a harpist and to play the harp in a different way. I believe that I’m giving a different face of the harp to the world. And it’s fun,” he said in an interview.

It was transformative. I just couldn’t believe how beautiful the music was. Right from the very beginning of seeing him perform, it was like … wow, this is exactly who we should be bringing in,” added Creative Concerts’ Co-President Sam Goldenberg, who pushed for Castaneda to perform here after seeing him play in Perugia.

Castaneda hasn’t gotten away from the idea that his playing is spiritual work, though. To the contrary, he sees each performance as a blank slate, as open to musical revelation as it is to new improvisation (or talking,” as he sometimes refers to it) with his drummer and trombone player.

He explained it simply: The spirit already moved him towards Sprague.

My practice, my purpose is to get to the heart of people. That surrounds everything. When you start playing what you feel, everybody brings something to the table.”

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