Maria Alejandra Rodriguez

Maria Alejandra Rodriguez, producer, composer and performer,  emigrated  from Venezuela several years ago and has been  entertaining her audiences, in Spanish, with bossa nova, cha cha and Latin jazz. It is, however, her program of boleros, (the torch like love songs first popularized at the  end of 18th century  Spain and spread extensively throughout 19th century Cuba) and many originals written by her, that embraces her audience and leaves them asking for more. Maria moves about the stage with the lightness of a gentle fawn exhibiting her solid musicianship that  ranges from lyrical and bright to a slow whisper.  At times she accompanies her band on a cuatro (a small Venezuelan guitar) with warmth all the while capturing her  audience with her  first class musicianship and  highly expressive charm. Band Members: Maria Alejandra Rodriguez, vocalist, cuatro; Paul Meyers, guitar;  Leo Traversa, guitar; Machek Schejbal, drums.March 22, 2019; Club Bonafide, New York City


Review and photos by Maria Passannante-Derr