Sofia Tosello

Sometimes the best journey is the one that takes you back home. Sofia Tosello has been singing all her life, since making her professional debut at age eight in her hometown of Cordoba, Argentina. Following a quest to perform the big band music she came to love at home (Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne), Sofia came to New York City in 1999 to pursue her dream, getting to know the Northern currents of jazz. Yet in New York, something unexpected happened. Playing with different Latin ensembles in the Big Apple, she began to hear the music of her homeland in a new way. A return trip to the north of Argentina cemented this new interest in folkloric traditions, as she discovered her true identity in the beauty of her culture and its deep rhythms. A later trip to Cuba brought her to the richness and emotion of bolero and son. Now living and performing in New York, she has evolved a brand new musical synthesis, finding a big-city approach to tango that mixes in the rich variety of Latin American cancion traditions, including chacarera, bolero filin, vals, son and zamba. One also hears shades of the downtown "world" jazz scene, and a bit of New York funk in Tosello's performances. With the guitarra, contrabass and bombo leguero as her starting point, Tosello creates an original musical synthesis, a personal vehicle that is honest, passionate, and full of beautiful stories. Ms. Tosello has had the opportunity of performing and recording with talented and renown musicians such as Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Grammy Winner Thalia, Grammy Nominee Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, Aquiles Baez, Christos Rafalides, Alex Cuba, Folklore Urbano, La Cumbiamba Eneye, Marta Gomez, Jose Conde y Ola Fresca, Julio Santillan Septet, Pavel Urkiza (Gema y Pavel), Retumba, Cocomama, Don Pancho Terry, Paul Carlon Octet, Osvaldo Brizuela “Cielo De Judas”, Yuri Juarez, among others. Her debut album, Alma y Luna (Sunnyside Records), is a potent collage, authentic and innovative. The CD brought immediate accolades and invitations to perform, starting with a starring role in a Mercedes Sosa tribute concert. Sofia writes her own music and has gathered a stellar group of Latin composers and musicians. Produced by Fernando Aponte, Alma y Luna showcases Tosello's talent as a songwriter and as an interpreter of Latin American composers Alberto Rojo, Chato Diaz, Ana Robles, Julio Santillan, Pavel Urkiza and others. An impressive list of international musicians backs Tosello on the CD, including Yosvany Terry, Julio Santillan, Yayo Serka, Pedro Giraudo, Jorge Roeder, Osmany Paredes, Aquiles Baez, Miguel Rivaynera, Mauricio Herrera and Anat Cohen. In 2012 Sofia has released her secon album project, a collaboration with Peruvian guitarist Yuri Juárez entitled Tangolandó exploring a refreshing fusion that connects musical styles such as tango, milonga, lando, festejo, waltz all in one unique and innovative sound. Sofía and Yuri spent January and February of 2012 touring in Peru and Argentina for the launch of the album there. The album is now out digitally worldwide and the CD will hit the streets in the USA on October 9, 2012. Throughout the years Ms. Tosello has also developed a passion for educating. In the fall 2011 she had the great experience of teaching vocal technique, jazz improvisation, music theory and Latin American rhythms and songs at the renowned Swarnaboohmi Academy of Music in Chennai, India alongside with elite musicians such Dafnis Prieto, Victor Wooten, Jason Lindner, Ferenc Nemeth, Magos Herrera, and has returned there to teach the Fall 2012 session. She is also teaching privately in New York. Highlights of venues, festivals and theatres where Sofia has performed in North & Latin America, Asia and Europe include: NYC: Other highlights: The Heckscher Theatre Michigan Women’s Festival , MI Madison Square Garden New Troubador Music Festival, CT United Nations Spoleto Music Festival, SC Queens Theatre in the Park The Art Museum of Philadelphia, PA Summerstage Central Park Ryles Club, Boston, MA The Harlem Mier Stage Macau Jazz Festival, China The Blue Note Teatro San Martin, Argentina The Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA) Teatro Real, Argentina Joe’s Pub Geoffreys, Chennai, India Birdland Bangalore, India The Jazz Standard The Jazz Gallery BAM Café Iridium APAP Convention St Marks Church Argentine Consulate Aaron Davis Hall Zinc Bar NJPAC In 2011 Sofia as also as performed in all parts of a trilogy written by Juan Rulfo entitled “El Paso del Norte” y “Diles que no me Maten,” directed by Germán Jaramillo at the Theater for the New City in Manhattan. Performances on national and international radio and TV programs include: NY 1 Noticias (TV) Canal 10 Argentina NYC Noticias Radio Nacional Argentina Univision (NYC) LV2 Argentina Telemundo (NYC) Radio Mitre Argentina Jazz Not Jazz on Radio 42 Radio Universidad Argentina WNYC Soundcheck Radio Reves Argentina Hitn TV (NYC) DISCOGRAPHY 2012- Tangolandó (Yuri Juarez and Sofia Tosello) 2012- Tatum Greenblatt 2011- Banda, Juancho Herrera 2010- Hola Niños! Vol 1- Naomi Bloch Schartz, feat Sofia Tosello 2010- Un Instante, Tribute to Borges- Sofia Tosello and Julio Santillan (JS Records) 2010- La Palma, La Cumbiamba Eneye (Chonta Records) 2010- Musiquita, Marta Gomez (Aluna Records) 2010- Transcend- Jonathan Powell and Nu Shanga 2010- Amazon Thirty Five – Toshi Reagon (JUCA Music) 2009- Alma y Luna – Sofia Tosello (Sunnyside Records) 2005- Desconsuelo- Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra (PGM Records) Jingles: Dr. Pepper (Sony), Popeyes (JSM), McDonalds (Alma DDB Argentina) Latin/jazz/folklore singer and composer from Argentina based in NYC.