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California Vocalist Debora Galan Shares Spanish Roots In "All About Love"

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With a powerful voice and soul in spades, Debora Galan is a true talent. —The San Diego Troubadour
With her album, All About Love, composer and vocalist Debora Galán shares original jazz and pop compositions inspired by her Spanish and Cuban ancestry and her abiding love of melody, rhythm and groove. Aided by Emmy winning and GRAMMY nominated producer and multi-instrumentalist Allan Phillips, she shares a compendium of smooth and tasteful Latin- flavored jazz tunes with lyrics in English and Spanish.

A large team of notable California instrumentalists and singers give life to the recording. The album single, “Arms of Love” and the corresponding music video are already attracting attention from fans and receiving airplay in the U.S. and abroad, where English radio seems particularly appreciative. The quality of the recording led Jazz Beyond Borders to add the performer to its roster of international recording and performing artists.

Born in Brussels and raised in Madrid, the bilingual songstress inherited her love of music from her grandfather and mother, who both sang flamenco. She moved to the States near the end of primary school and began singing professionally in her teens. By the 1980s, Galan was living in Washington, D.C., performing with leading bands in Latin jazz and salsa clubs, and opening for major Latin stars.

Now at home in San Diego, the stunning vocalist performs widely up and down the West Coast, with occasional forays to Las Vegas. Having mastered R & B, Gospel, Jazz and Latin styles, she lends her talent to numerous collaborations. She has recorded with singer songwriter Steven Ybarra and pianist Greg Manning and collaborated with Greek guitarist Vassilis Sotiriou among others. (Stay tuned for news of an upcoming venture with Christian de Mesones.) In her first album as a leader, she infuses her appealing brand of world music with passion and optimism.

All About Love reveals the strong song-writing ability of a singer better known for belting out American jazz and rhythm and blues. Full of fire and a high level of rhythmic and melodic content rarely heard these days, the disc features nine tracks in English and two in Spanish. Reviewers are beginning to weigh in. Jazz Quarterly praised her “passion, style, charm and equally energetic and delicate tones.” The San Diego Troubadour says, “With a powerful voice and soul in spades, Debora Galan is a true talent.” Heartened by the response to date, Galan is poised to embrace a worldwide audience.

Noteworthy tracks include Galan’s composition “Arms of Love” on Track 2. A contemporary jazz piece with sophisticated Latin elements, it also appeals to adult contemporary listeners. Vocals are warm and intimate, carrying the song from simple beginning to powerful conclusion.

Penned by Galan and Phillips, “Luz Del Sol” on Track 5 is similar in genre but sung in Spanish, adding a touch of fire to Galan’s vocals. Nathan Brown’s bass is intriguing and hypnotic. Superbly orchestrated horns enhance the dynamics and reinforce the uplifting chorus of this salsa, pop and funk hybrid.

“Love Sublime” on Track 6 is an arrestingly beautiful ballad with an engaging melody in which the singer/songwriter shares her very own love story. Galan’s tender, angelic vocals have driven several critics to wax poetic about her vocal ability. Subtle bass and soft tropical percussion fuse beautifully with touches of classical guitar.

The two tracks with Spanish lyrics are a perfect example of how a song can transcend the boundaries of language. Says WolfpackMusic.com, “I’ve always appreciated and admired how good music is capable of crossing language barriers and “Luz Del Sol” and “¿A Esto le Llamas Amor?” do just that…you do not need to understand Spanish to move and groove to these songs…they grab you and pull you in!” Galan credits the great team of players who backed her. In addition to musicians already noted, All About Love features compelling rhythm players: bassist Michael Kennedy; percussionist Munyungo Jackson; drummers Duncan Moore, Chad Right and Ricardo “Tiki” Pasillas. Guitarists include Tim Kobza, Michael Ripoll, Evan Marks, Jay Gore, and Fred Clark. Kevin Flournoy plays Rhodes, and John Rekevics and Kamau Kenyatta play sax. Derek Cannon plays trumpet and flugelhorn, Daniel Regan plays trombone, and the French horn player is Doug Hall. Stephany Gudeman plays English horn and oboe. Rudy Stein plays cello. Background vocalists include Kenyon Turner, Brea Baltrip, and Natalya Phillips.

Sample and purchase album tracks from your choice of vendors on deboragalan.com. Read Debora Galan’s popular “Take Five" interview on All About Jazz. For booking and touring information visit Jazz Beyond Borders.

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Track Listing

Unconditional Love; Arms of Love; So This Is Love; I'll Be Here; Lúz Del Sol; Love Sublime; Something's Changed; Letting Go of Me and You; Through the Eyes of a Child; Always Faithful; A Esto Le Llamas Amor.

Personnel

Additional Instrumentation

1. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Debora Galán - lead and background vocals. Kenyon Turner- background vocals. Brea Baltrip- background vocals. Allan Phillips- bass, keyboards, percussion and guitar. Duncan Moore- drums. Derek Cannon trumpet. John Rekevics- sax. Daniel Regan- trombone. 2. ARMS OF LOVE Debora Galán - lead and background vocals. Natalya Phillips- background vocals. Allan Phillips- keyboards,percussion, guitar and background vocals. Kamau Kenyatta- soprano sax solo. Tim Kobza- guitar. Ricardo‘Tiki’ Pasillasdrums. Nathan Brown- bass. Stephanie Gudeman- english horn. Derek Cannontrumpet. John Rekevics- sax. Daniel Regan- trombone. 3. SO THIS IS LOVE? Debora Galán - lead vocals. Kamau Kenyatta- soprano sax solo. Allan Phillipsac. piano, keyboards and percussion. Kevin Flournoy- ac. piano. Munyungo Jackson-shaker. Michael Ripoll- classical guitar solo.Tim Kobza- electric guitar. Ricardo 'Tiki' Pasillas-drums. Nathan Brown- bass. Derek Cannon- trumpet. John Rekevics- sax and flute. Daniel Regan- trombone. 4. I’LL BE HERE Debora Galán - lead and background vocals. Natalya Phillips- background vocals. Allan Phillips- keyboards, percussion, guitar and background vocals. Evan Marks- guitar. Ricardo ‘Tiki’ Pasillas- drums. Nathan Brown- bass. Derek Cannon- trumpet and flugelhorn. John Rekevics- sax and flute. Daniel Regantrombone. 5. LUZ DEL SOL Debora Galán- lead and background vocals. Kenyon Turner- background vocals. Brea Baltrip- background vocals. Allan Phillips- keyboards, percussion, guitar,and background vocals. Tim Kobza- guitar. Ricardo 'Tiki' Pasillas- drums. Nathan Brown- bass. Derek Cannon trumpet. John Rekevics- sax and flut. Daniel Regan trombone. 6. LOVE SUBLIME Debora Galán - lead vocals. Kenyon Turner- background vocals. Brea Baltripbackground vocals. Allan Phillips keyboards, percussion and guitar. Kevin Flournoy- ac. piano. Jay Gore- guitar. Chad Rightdrums. Munyungo Jackson - percussion. Michael Kennedy- bass. Derek Cannontrumpet and flugelhorn. John Rekevics- flute. Daniel Regan- trombone 7. SOMETHING’S CHANGED Debora Galán- lead and background vocals. Kenyon Turner- background vocals. Brea Baltrip- background vocals. Allan Phillips- keyboards, percussion, guitar, tres and background vocals. Evan Marks- guitar. Ricardo‘Tiki’ Pasillas- drums. Nathan Brown- bass. Stephanie Gudeman- oboe and english horn. Derek Cannon trumpet. John Rekevics- sax. Daniel Regan- trombone. 8. LETTING GO OF ME & YOU Debora Galán- lead vocals. Kenyon Turner- background vocals. Brea Baltripbackground vocals. Allan Phillips keyboards, percussion and guitar. Tim Kobza- classical guitar and electric guitar. Ricardo ‘Tiki’ Pasillas- drums. Nathan Brown- bass. Doug Hall- french horn. Rudy Steincello.Derek Cannon- trumpet. John Rekevics- sax and flute. Daniel Regantrombone. 9. THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD Debora Galán- lead vocals. Allan Phillips- keyboards, bass and percussion. 10. ALWAYS FAITHFUL Debora Galán- lead and background vocals. Kenyon Turner- background vocals. Brea Baltrip- background vocals. Allan Phillips- keyboards, percussion and guitar. Kevin Flournoy- Rhodes. Evan Marks- guitar.Fred Clark- guitar. Ricardo 'Tiki' Pasillas- drums. Nathan Brown- bass. Derek Cannon- trumpet. John Rekevics- sax. Daniel Regan- trombone. 11. ¿A ESTO LE LLAMAS AMOR? (bonus track: So This is Love [Spanish Version]) Produced and arranged by Allan Phillips Executive producer: Debora Galán All songs written by Debora Galán, with collaboration of Allan Phillips on Through the Eyes, Something’s Changed, Luz del Sol, and Letting Go of Me & You; and Kenny Smith on I’ll Be Here. Photography: Marissa C. Boucher, Boudoir Divas Photography. Hair and Make up: Veronica McGrath. Album Cover Design: Denis Roy

Album information

Title: All About Love | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced

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