Alyss Rose - Lead Vocals
James Vielma - Lead Vocals, Congas
Andrzej Baranek - Piano
Demetris Kanaris - Bass
Matt McCloud - Kit, Timbales
Rory Duffy - Alto Saxophone, Flute, Backing Vocals
Gavin Hibberd - Trumpet

DIÁSPORA 11-piece Latin funk fetish big band return to the church! Combining Afro-Latin, salsa and Brazilian rhythms with Anglo-pop, funk and jazz, Diáspora is an explosive mix of rhythms, influences and sounds. Hot on the heels of the band's 3rd anniversary, Diáspora will be giving a performance of (mostly) original music with the full 11 piece band! Starring vocalists Alyss Rose and James Vielma, and Rory Duffy leading the brass section.
​
Alyss Rose - Lead Vocals
James Vielma - Lead Vocals
Misha Gray - Piano
Will McGee - Bass
Jack McCarthy - Kit, Timbales
Frank Mata - Congas
Rosie Toll - Bongo, Bell, Guiro
Rory Duffy - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Olly Syrus - Tenor Saxophone
Joe Stevenson - Trombone
Mark Harrison - Trumpet

- - -

DIÁSPORA was exactly what was needed to bring the Prestwich Concert Series to a rip-roaring and stunning close. Energetic, vivid, bright, bubbling with sun that was only too absent from the Manchester air, the standard of playing can only be classed as faultless, delivered with a professionalism that would I am sure leave a lot of similar bands standing. We were warned and it came true: people really were dancing in the aisles." - Prestwich Festival

DIÁSPORA - United in the Latin Beat
www.diasporamusic.co.uk

- - -

PRESTWICH CONCERT SERIES (contact for tickets)
T: 07980092311
E: white548@btinternet.com
W: www.prestwichfestival.net

DIASPORA COLLECTIVE (contact for bookings)
T: 07737760520
E: diasporacollective@me.com
W: www.diasporacollective.co.uk

DIÁSPORA 11-piece band @ Prestwich Festival

19:30 - Alyss Rose
20:15 - Diáspora

DIÁSPORA is your one way ticket to the Americas. The 11-piece lineup (2 vocalists, 3 percussionists, 4 horns, piano and bass) lends itself to an expansive 'BIG BAND' sound - without losing the dynamism and spark of a small group; and combines sensuous vocals, sophisticated horn lines and explosive percussion solos. With their vision to unite the rhythms of the Americas, their music is uplifting, inspiring and unifying, and celebrates the melting pot of cultures that arose out of the African Slave Trade, whilst focusing on the Afro-Cuban and globalised SALSA idioms which have become significant musical languages and forms of solidarity and cultural exchange among communities throughout the world. 

DIÁSPORA isn't your regular 'salsa band'... it's a Latin band, in the wider sense; freely mixing 'salsa' idioms with jazz, funk, rock and pop to create an explosive melting pot of sounds... it's a ‘big band’ by its very nature; equipped with all the credentials to make an exhilarating live outfit – engaging vocalists, a tight rhythm section and a big fat brass section. Hot on the heels of their second birthday bash, DIÁSPORA is developing an original body of material that brings together a tight core of driving, pulsating Latin rhythms with the sophisticated harmonies of Bossa Nova, pop, soul and acid jazz - effortlessly combining English lyrics with strains of Spanish and Portuguese - to create a sensational Latin fusion.

"...a young band set to ignite and inspire listeners and dancers wherever they appear."
Manchester Jazz Festival

"...great fun, and well received by our audience - who simply didn’t want to stop dancing..."
Cultural Collage World Music Festival

"Tight, professional, and above all, FUN..."
Royal Northern College of Music

Starring:

Alyss Rose - Lead Vocals
James Vielma - Lead Vocals
Rory Duffy - Piano, Backing Vocals
Demetris Kanaris - Bass
Dave Simpson - Kit, Timbales
Frank Mata - Congas
Rosita Toll - Bongo, Bell, Guiro
Sam Healey - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Olly Syrus - Tenor Saxophone
James Ball - Trombone
Gavin Hibberd - Trumpet

Tuesday 7th June, 2011 from 7:30pm
St Mary's Church,
Prestwich,
M25 1AN

Ticket prices:
£7.50 on the door
£6.00 in advance (contact Philip White @ Prestwich Festival - details below)
FREE for under 18's.
Drinks and light refreshments will be served at the concert.
Proceeds from the concert will go towards the Roof Fund.
This gig will be recorded live by Mr Paul Ashton.

- - -

DIÁSPORA - United in the Latin Beat (contact for bookings)
T: 07737760520
E: diasporamusic@me.com
W: www.diasporamusic.co.uk

Prestwich Festival (contact for tickets)
T: 07980092311
E: white548@btinternet.com
W: www.prestwichfestival.net (ignore the Harmony Gospel Choir)

​Salsa night with Salsa de Cuba - not to be missed!

Diáspora @ Matt & Phred's
Sunday 1st May bank holiday weekend
8:30pm until late
£5 entry
Full band


​MOVE TO THE MUSIC. LIVE TO 100.
...under the shade of the coconut trees, the band plays you into a trance. As crickets pulsate in the sweet summer breeze, and the fireflies, they delicately dance...

DIÁSPORA is your one way ticket to the Americas. The 11-piece lineup (2 vocalists, 3 percussionists, 4 horns, piano and bass) lends itself to an expansive 'BIG BAND' sound - without losing the dynamism and spark of a small group; and combines sensuous vocals, sophisticated horn lines and explosive percussion solos. With their vision to unite the rhythms of the Americas, their music is uplifting, inspiring and unifying, and celebrates the melting pot of cultures that arose out of the African Slave Trade, whilst focusing on the Afro-Cuban and globalised SALSA idioms which have become significant musical languages and forms of solidarity and cultural exchange among communities throughout the world. 

DIÁSPORA isn't your regular 'salsa band'... it's a Latin band, in the wider sense; freely mixing 'salsa' idioms with jazz, funk, rock and pop to create an explosive melting pot of sounds... it's a ‘big band’ by its very nature; equipped with all the credentials to make an exhilarating live outfit – engaging vocalists, a tight rhythm section and a big fat brass section. Hot on the heels of their second birthday bash, DIÁSPORA is developing an original body of material that brings together a tight core of driving, pulsating Latin rhythms with the sophisticated harmonies of Bossa Nova, pop, soul and acid jazz - effortlessly combining English lyrics with strains of Spanish and Portuguese - to create a sensational Latin fusion.

The band have gone down a storm at Manchester Jazz Festival and Cultural Collage World Music Festival, as well as being a firm favourite at Matt & Phred's Jazz Club over the last 2 years... And what better way to celebrate bank holiday weekend than to witness the Latin big band in its full glory - to salsa your way into the summer!

Starring:
Alyss Rose - Lead Vocals
James Vielma - Lead Vocals
Andy Stamatakis-Brown - Piano
Demetris Kanaris - Bass
Dave Simpson - Kit, Timbales
Franklin Mata - Congas
Rosie Toll - Bongo, Bell, Guiro
Rory Duffy - Alto Saxophone, Flute, Backing Vocals
Olly Syrus - Tenor Saxophone
James Ball - Trombone
Mark Brazier - Trumpet

If you're bringing friends/family then be sure to book your tickets in advance as this event is likely to get very busy! Just phone 01618317002 or email club@mattandphreds.com.

- - -

DIÁSPORA - United in the Latin Beat
www.diasporamusic.co.uk

"...a hugely talented and energetic band..."
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club

"...a young band set to ignite and inspire listeners and dancers wherever they appear..."
Manchester Jazz Festival

"...highly reccommended!"
Salsa de Cuba

"...a great energy showing through..."
Salsa Direct

Latin Thursday at Matt and Phred’s! 

Salsa classes from Salsa de Cuba and Music from Diáspora, one of Manchester’s foremost Latin bands! 

Salsa - 7pm for beginners, 8pm for improvers. 
(£6 per lession). Free entry!

​The sizzling sounds of 7-piece band Diáspora make them one of the most exciting new projects in the contemporary UK Latin scene. Their critically-acclaimed fusion of Afro-Cuban and Clave music is guaranteed to set the dance floor on fire.

This evening will feature the sexiest, most sophisticated Salsa and Sandunga music in the city. A chance to kick off your shoes and dance your way into the bank holiday.

Featuring:

Alyss Rose - Lead Vocals
Rory Duffy - Alto Saxophone, Flute, Backing Vocals
Dave Cullen - Piano
Demetris Kanaris - Bass
Dave Simpson - Kit, Timbales
Owen Williams - Congas
Rick Farrow - Bongo, Bell, Guiro

Entry: £10
Get your tickets here!
www.youreventmusicians.co.uk

DIÁSPORA
United in the Latin Beat
www.diasporamusic.co.uk

"DIÁSPORA are a hugely talented and energetic band that blew the roof off Matt & Phred's on their first ever gig at the club. The band has a great natural fusion, and the ease in which they commanded the stage was a joy to behold. This is a band we will definitely be booking again and again."
Matt & Phreds Jazz Club Manchester

So this is it! THE BIG ONE. Headlining Manchester Jazz Festival, two of Manchester's biggest Latin bands join hands for what promises to be a scorching, sizzling double-bill fiesta of Salsa and Latin Jazz.

When? Sunday 25 July, 2010
Where? Festival Pavilion, Albert Square, Manchester
How much? For just £7.50 you get 2 bands!
There's a bar onsite, so come along for the fiesta!

- - -

DIÁSPORA
8:00pm

"Clave... To us the word goes beyond explanations and definitions. It means life, salsa, the food of our leisure time, the motion of intense rhythm, the emotion of 20,000 people simultaneously grooving to the natural sounds of life. It’s being played in the beat, on key, on clave... It means to be on top of things, to be playing it right... Clave is history, it’s culture. African drums from far off places like Nigeria, Dahomey and Ghana married the Spanish guitar to bring us clave. The seeds were planted in the Caribbean and now their grandchild is Salsa."

Formed in March 2009, DIÁSPORA is an 11-piece band bringing you the most sizzling sounds from Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Starring:
Alyss Rose - Lead Vocals
James Vielma - Lead Vocals
Andrzej Baranek - Piano
Demetris Kanaris - Bass
Dave Simpson - Kit, Timbales
Rob Turner - Congas
Rick Farrow - Bongo, Bell, Guiro
Rory Duffy - Alto Saxophone, Flute, Backing Vocals
Olly Syrus - Tenor & Soprano Saxophones
Heider Nasralla - Trombone
Gavin Hibberd - Trumpet

The 11-piece line-up lends itself to a big band sound, without losing the dynamism and spark of a small group; and combines sensuous vocals, sophisticated horn lines and explosive percussion solos. With their vision to bring together the rhythms of the Americas, DIÁSPORA is one of the most exciting new projects to emerge on the UK Latin scene today.

"...a performance that was both great fun, and well received by our audience, who simply didn’t want to stop dancing..."
Cultural Collage World Music Festival 2010

"...a hugely talented and energetic band that blew the roof off Matt & Phred's on their first ever gig at the club. The band of 11 musicians has a great natural fusion and the ease in which they commanded the stage was a joy to behold..."
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club, Manchester

“...a great energy showing through; the arrangements are clever and innovative...some good musicians...”
Salsa Direct

“...Faithful enough to the traditions of Latin music to satisfy even the most diehard purist, but with enough energy and diversity for an amazing party band...”
Royal Northern College of Music

www.diasporamusic.co.uk

- - -

MOJITO
9:30pm

MOJITO bring the true taste of Cuba to Manchester and the North West of the UK, playing authentic and inspiring mixes of salsa, timba, merengue, son, reggaeton and chachacha. They have created our own unique style, guaranteed to pack the dancefloor.

Now firmly established on the UK salsa scene, MOJITO Salsa Band has been playing together for 5 years and during that time have been constantly working to perfect their sound, whilst playing at numerous salsa events such as Salsa Feel The Heat Wigan, Dance Cubana Nottingham, Funkysalsa Chester, a sell-out night at Copacabana Manchester and festivals such as Manchester Jazz Festival, Lancaster Jazz Festival, Kendal Brewery Summer Festival. Recently they played at Blackpool Tower Ballroom (in conjunction with Salsafever) for 500 salsa dancers and went down a storm.

This band likes to mix it up and they're not afraid to experiment and push the boundaries - you will hear salsa with reggae, funk and hip-hop. In the same way as these styles influence the contemporary sounds of Cuba they also naturally feed into the sound of Mojito. Versatile and always grooving, their vibrant style and energy are guaranteed to provide an electric atmosphere wherever they go.

"Mojito have developed over the years into a perfect unit for the UK salsa scene. A small band (7 piece) with a full sound, they specialise in Cuban salsa but cover all bases including Puerto Rican salsa, merengue, mambo and salsaton. With Rich Sliwa leading from the drumkit and Cuban singer Damian Castillo Diaz fronting the band, they are guaranteed to rock any salsa club, festival or party with great musicianship, a tasteful set plus an energy and enthusiasm which will make it impossible NOT to dance!"
Lubi Jovanovic, Salsa DJ, compiler and promoter

www.mojito-salsa.co.uk

​Salsa night with Salsa de Cuba - not to be missed!