Monday, December 2, 2013

Special Award and Medal of Honor from my hometown!

(portuguese) 
É com muita honra e felicidade que agradeço a Câmara Municipal de Rio Claro e em especial o vereador João Zaine pela bela homenagem e medalha de Honra ao Mérito a mim concedidas na solenidade da semana passada . São oportunidades como essa que me deixam extremamente feliz, não só pelo reconhecimento da minha carreira e meu trabalho, e de todos os outros homenageados, mas também o devido reconhecimento e a apreciação da arte e cultura como um todo -  sempre valorizando o enorme talento que a cidade Rio Claro já produziu e continua produzindo. Para mim, é sempre uma honra e motivo de muita emoção poder carregar o nome de Rio Claro comigo. Obrigado a todos e parabéns aos outros músicos homenageados! 

(english)
Last week I received a beautiful plaque and medal from my hometown in Brazil, Rio Claro, as an award honoring my career and work as an artist,  as well as my efforts in carrying my hometown's name and artistic tradition with me wherever I go. Needless to say I am extremely honored for the award, and humbled by the opportunity to contribute a very tiny bit to the dissemination of the arts and culture, always bringing my beloved city's name with me. My big THANK YOU to Rio Claro's City Hall and all those involved in such an important award, specially city councilman João Zaine. My congratulations to all the other artists awarded as well! 



Monday, October 21, 2013

New Record - preview

Hello friends!
I am currently working on a very cool trio recording, live in the studio, with the fantastic Leo Genovese (keys, piano, melodica, effects, sax) and Amanda Ruzza (bass, effects).
Earlier this year, we got together for a relaxed 2 minute video session at the always cool Astoria Soundworks Studio in Astoria, NY, and set up and just pressed "REC". We ended up leaving the studio with a full album! Well, almost.... we did go back for another day to do a couple more tracks... but it's all live improvised in the studio!
I can't wait to share this with you all when it's all done. We'll be mixing/mastering soon, and by early next year we'll have it. Stay tuned here, and also at www.mzdrums.com
Here is a little video of us in the first session, listening back to one of the songs:




Dom Salvador Sextet @ Columbia University NYC!

Samba Jazz Night with Dom Salvador & Samba Jazz Sextet

Here is an amazing opportunity to attend a performance of this legendary Brazilian Jazz Pianist, Dom Salvador!
Tickets are very limited and are available online HERE.

-$7 CUID holders
-$10 non-CUID Students
-$20 General Admission

The event will be at  555 Lerner Hall - Columbia University and it features:

Screening of the short documentary, "Dom Salvador, Endless Soul," followed by Q&A with the filmmakers and Dom Salvador

Intermission - Refreshments will be served

Performance with the Dom Salvador sextet, winner of the 23rd Brazilian Music Award featuring:

Dom Salvador, piano
Laura Dreyer, alto sax
Dick Oatts, tenor sax
Michael Dease, trombone
Itaiguara Brandão, bass
Mauricio Zottarelli, drums


Saturday, August 24, 2013

Dom Salvador Sextet Live in NYC on Sept 5th!

Dear friends!
This is a show you don't want to miss..... A very rare opportunity to see a living legend of Brazilian music and piano, DOM SALVADOR,  perform with his award winning sextet. The show is at Metropolitan Room in NYC, on Sept 5th, at 7pm. The band will perform music from their critically acclaimed and award winning recording, "The Art Of Samba Jazz".
The album won the prestigious Brazilian Music Awards (Prêmio da Música Brasileira) in 2012 for Best Instrumental Record of the Year. The group was also nominated as Best Group.
The show will feature some of Dom Salvador's timeless compositions, and his incomparable style of writing, arranging and performing. The band also features amazing artists, and I am honored to be participating on drums.... So, mark your calendars, do call ahead of time, reserve your tickets and groove along with us!

DOM SALVADOR SEXTET - "THE ART OF SAMBA JAZZ"
Live in NYC - September 5th, 2013 at Metropolitan Room
(34 West 22nd street - between 5 & 6 avenues)
212-206-0440
7:00pm (Doors at 6:15)
more info/get tickets - club website

Dom Salvador - piano
Laura Dreyer - alto sax
Rodrigo Ursaia - tenor sax
Michael Dease - trombone
Itaiguara Brandão - bass
Mauricio Zottarelli - drums

Event produced by ASUOS Productions


Friday, August 16, 2013

MZ Quartet live in NYC on August 21st!

Dear friends, please come and support our group on Wednesday August 21st, 9:30pm at Terraza Seven Café, In Queens NYC. We'll be playing some brand new music, a bunch of our favorites and a few covers, this will be a fun show! And, for this special night we'll have the amazing Rodrigo Ursaia joining us on sax! 

Mauricio Zottarelli Quartet: 

MZ - drums, percussion
Oriente Lopez - flute
Klaus Mueller - keys
Itaiguara Brandão - bass

Special Guest: Rodrigo Ursaia - sax

Live at: Terraza Café 
40-19 Gleane St. Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 803-9602
www.terrazacafe.org


Friday, June 21, 2013

Tours - Carmen Souza and MOZIK

Hello friends! Here are some of my upcoming dates on the road with the Carmen Souza 4et and MOZIK, hope to see some of you on these! To see all the dates and for more info visit my website, www.mzdrums.com



JUNE

14
Carmen Souza 4et
Drom, NYC
15
Carmen Souza 4et
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
7:30pm - tickets/info
20
Carmen Souza 4et
Pasadena, CA
8pm - tickets/info
21
Carmen Souza 4et
Kirkland Performance Center
Kirkland, WA
7:30pm - tickets/info
22
Carmen Souza 4et
Vancouver Jazz Festival
Vancouver, CANADA
7:30pm - tickets/info
23
Carmen Souza 4et
Victoria Jazz festival
Victoria, CANADA
9:30pm - tickets/info
25Carmen Souza 4etOttawa Jazz Festival
Ottawa, CANADA
10:15pm - tickets/info
26Carmen Souza 4etJazz Bistro, Toronto, CANADA8pm - tickets/info
27Carmen Souza 4etRochester Jazz festival
Rochester, NY
6:15pm & 10pm
tickets/info
28Carmen Souza 4etRochester Jazz festival
Rochester, NY
6:30pm & 9pm
tickets/info
29Carmen Souza 4etFREIHOFER'S Saratoga Jazz Festival
Saratoga, NY
tickets/info



JULY
02Carmen Souza 4etMontreal Jazz Festival
Montreal, CANADA
8pm - tickets/info
06MOZIKMetropolitan Room - NYC7pm - tickets/info
reserve early!
07MOZIK+special guest: KeniaTwin Jazz - Washington DC8pm and 10pm
tickets/info
09MOZIKBeehive - Boston MA8pm
11MOZIKNighttown, Cleveland OH
(special performance for LatinJazz
Camp and Tri-C camp attendees)
7pm
Nighttown website
12MOZIKMOZIK clinic at Tri-C camp
Cleveland, OH
9am to 11am
12MOZIKNighttown, Cleveland OH8:30pm
Nighttown website
13MOZIK + KeniaNighttown, Cleveland OH8:30pm
Nighttown website

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

2 cool videos

Here are a couple of cool videos I posted recently.... check them out, share them, enjoy....
:-)


This one is a drum solo shot during MOZIK's concert in Boise, ID, in Dec 2012.



 - Last week I was in a super fun recording session for Brazilian saxophonist Sérgio Galvão's upcoming record, featuring Amanda Ruzza, Aruan Ortiz, Leni Stern.... and some more special guests coming... we're finishing up the tracks in the next few weeks and then it's on to mixing.
I made a little clip of one of the tunes we recorded, "Vou Deitar e Rolar" (Qua Qua Ra Qua Qua), a song well known from a great version by Elis Regina. This is from the actual drum take that will be on the record....


Some photos from the session:
Aruan Ortiz, Sérgio Galvão, Leni Stern, Amanda Ruzza, MZ

Shot from the drum booth

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Carmen Souza Europe dates - March 2013

This month I was on the road again for a few dates with the Carmen Souza 4et, and it was a lot of fun!
Great music, beautiful landscapes, and awesome people attending all the shows. Looking forward to some more dates with them soon, check out www.mzdrums.com for more news.
March 2 - Treibhaus, Innsbruck, Austria
March 3 - Altes Kino Kulturzentrum, Landeck, Austria
March 5 - Moods, Zurich, Switzerland
March 6 - Bee Flat - Turnhalle im Progr, Bern, Switzerland

The band: Camen Souza, Theo Pas'cal, Filipe Melo and MZ

Some photos from the road!
Soundchecking in Bern, Switzerland

The band in Landeck, Austria

Soundcheck - Altes Kino Kulturzentrum, Landeck, Austria
After the show @ The Moods, Zurich

The drumkit and percussion set (cajon missing from shot)

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Brazil Camp in California, August 2013

Hello friends!

I am very happy to announce that I am part of the faculty for the California Brazil Camp 2013, which takes place every year in Cazadero, CA.
I will be there teaching drumset for the 2nd week of the Camp, Agust 25th to August 31st, 2013.

The California Brazil Camp is an incredible experience, it's a 24/7 immersion on Brazilian culture, music, rhythms, dance..... and it's taught by some of the very best teachers out there. Don't miss out.... You can find out more information and register clicking: http://www.calbrazilcamp.com
For either the 1st or 2nd week, or both.
Check out the faculty members here.
Hope to see some of you there! Cheers.....

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Video Interview for Vic Firth

Here is a recent video interview I did with Vic Firth drumsticks - where I talk about a game-changing moment in my career. Check it out!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Two NYC shows this week - Jan 14th and 19th!

Hello everybody,

Here is the info on these 2 upcoming special performances NEXT WEEK in NYC. If you live in the area, don't miss them!!

JAN 14th - Monday - MOZIK live @ Le Poisson Rouge NYC, 10pm
(par of the Brazilian Explorative Music Showcase)

MOZIK will join curator Pedro Moraes and 4 other groups on arguably the best new Brazilian music show of the year! 6 different bands will be playing their experimentations and unique sounds, and continue to push the envelope on the new modern Brazilian music! Check it out!
Get your tickets/more info here - Le poisson Rouge event page 

If you can't make it to the show - you can watch it at home! Live Stream Broadcast at this website: (10pm EST - NYC time!)
http://www.concertwindow.com/shows/brazilian-explorative-music-2013






JAN 19th - Saturday - MZ Quartet live @ Cornelia Street Café NYC
Doors 8:30pm
Show 9pm

Featuring:
Oriente Lopez - flutes
Klaus Mueller - piano
special guest: Mike Pope - bass

We will be playing original tunes from my "7 Lives" CD, as well as some special covers/arrangements and will be premiering a brand new tune!
Cornelia is a very cool listening venue, and they have a full dinner available.

Saturday Jan 19th
doors: 8:30pm / show: 9pm (1 set only!)
29 Cornelia Street, NYC
Reservations recommended - (212) 989-9319
tickets/info

MZ Quartet event on Facebook




Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Best Jazz of 2012 - Jazz Station Blog

Dear friends! We are kicking off the new year with fantastic news!!

The recording by Oriente Lopez, "Aguas Profundas" made it to the Best of 2012 poll conducted by the prestigious Jazz Station Blog - written by journalist/writer/historian/producer Arnaldo deSouteiro.
The CD is listed on the top 10 in many categories......
Acoustic piano
Keyboards
Electric Bass
Guitar
Harmonica
Composer
Best Instrumental Group
Best Instrumental Recording

and... Best Drummer of the year. Based on my work on this album, I am listed as #3, among many of my heros.... such as Steve Gadd, Lenny White, JackDeJohnette, Paul Wertico, Billy Hart.... I am extremely honored and humbled by it!!

Many thanks to Oriente Lopez and to all the other musicians and artists involved on this project: Itaiguara Brandão, Romero Lubambo, Paquito D'Rivera, Felipe Lamoglia, Hendrik Meurkens, Michael Brorby, Dave Darlington.... and all the people that helped this project come together. Congrats Oriente and everybody!

Here is a link to CDBaby where you can check out the album -
CDBABY - Aguas Profundas (Oriente Lopez)

Here is the link for the JAZZ STATION blog - check out all the final results!
Jazz Station - Arnaldo deSouteiro

And, lastly, here is a recent review of the record, by Modern Drummer Magazine Brazil.
Aguas Profundas - CD Review

Thanks for the support!  MZ
I am a drummer - percussionist - composer - artist based in New York City, NY. Please visit my website: http://www.mzdrums.com