The Simon Bolzinger Quintet will release ‘Cántalo’ (the pianist, composer and arranger’s third album) on 4 December 2026 via L’Assos’Picante / InOuïe Distribution.
Pianist and producer Simon Bolzinger, a tireless champion of South American music for over three decades, blurs the lines with his new quintet: jazz or salsa? Do we listen or do we dance? Or both!
It’s called ‘Cántalo’ because it invites us to sing – in Spanish, but not only that. The main thing is that the music is a delight to listen to – “sabrosa!“ – and combines the joy of South American music with the freedom of jazz. The voice of singer Maura Isabel and the percussion of Yoandy San Martin, both Cuban, join the trio formed by the pianist some fifteen years ago. They deliver an explosive, vocalised take on the traditional grooves of their eclectic repertoire, drawn from the Caribbean and the whole of the South American continent: Cuban rumba, Uruguayan candombe, Venezuelan merengue, Peruvian waltz and Brazilian maracatu… it’s going to be a real party! By leaving room for improvisation and emotion, Cántalo surprises and sweeps us away with music that is both free-spirited and virtuosic – music that shakes us up, draws us into the dance, and catches us all singing along together.
Distribution:
–Simon Bolzinger: piano, keyboards, backing vocals, conductor
–Maura Isabel García Bravo: vocals, keyboard;
–Yoandy San Martin: percussion, backing vocals
–Willy Quiko: bass, backing vocals
–Luca Scalambrino: drums
Biography of Simon Bolzinger:
Simon Bolzinger is a pianist, composer and arranger who trained in both classical and jazz music. He is passionate about the traditional music of South America and the Caribbean, which he transcribes for the piano or rewrites for orchestra, whilst respecting traditions and striving for authenticity.
As Artistic Director of the PICANTE Association in Marseille since 1993, he works to promote traditional music from South America and the Caribbean through creation (performances, recordings), production (international artistic exchanges) and outreach (amateur workshops).
Bolzinger performs as a pianist in his own ensembles (trio, quintet – the albums ‘Ritmos Queridos’ and ‘Cie Tambor y Canto’); and as an arranger for fusion songs: ‘Cinébalad’ with Michèle Fernandez, ‘Instants présents’ with Ewunia, ‘Nougarôtrement’ with Jean-Philippe Trotobas, ‘Wayaj’ with Elsy Fleriag, and ‘Cabaret Eldorado’ with Gil Aniorte; as a composer for the vocal ensemble ‘Voix de Strass’ and the Strasbourg Philharmonic Choir; as conductor of the ‘Fiesta Salsa‘ ensembles at the Cité de la Musique in Marseille.
