Jugar a la vida (To play at life)

Published on: 5 March, 2015 Published in:

The first CD of Mónica Gastelumendi, To Play at Life, was launched on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at the Cultural Center of the Catholic University in Lima, Peru. I was involved in the preparation of this CD as associate producer.

Monica Gastelumendi is a young singer, composer, arranger, choir director and musical educator. She combines an extraordinary, expressive and versatile voice with a deep knowledge of jazz, pop, Latin rhythms and musical theory. Showing a variety of styles she masters with perfection, Jugar a la Vida offers arrangements and interpretations of American composers (Cole Porter, Bob Dylan), Latin American composers (Enrique Ballesté, Fito Páez, Antonio Carlos Jobim, César Portillo de la Luz), Peruvian composers (Fernando Soria, Francisco Sagasti), and two of her own themes. In addition to arranger and interpreter, Mónica coordinates the Popular Singing Area of the Music School at the Catholic University, and has been founder and director of the feminine choir Arpegio.

Here are pictures of the CD launching event.
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Here is a video in which Monica sings Jugar a la Vida and I intervene just before she does

Here is a recording of the program “Palco Real” broadcast by Radio Filarmonia with Monica and I

To listen to some CD tracks click here , and you can also buy the album at iTunes or Amazon.

Songs included in the CD

1. It Ain’t Me Babe – Bob Dylan
2. Wave. Antonio Carlos Jobim (invited; Bryan Clancey, Saxofón)
3. El Cañaveral – Fernando Soria (invited: Manongo Mujica in percussion y 5to Boulevard en choirs)
4. It’s all right with me – Cole Porter (invitaed: Jorge Roeder in double bass)
5. Waiting in Blue – Mónica Gastelumendi (arranged by Noel Marambio)
6. Un Vestido y Un Amor – Fito Páez (invited: Sergio Pamies, piano)
7. Momentos – Francisco Sagasti (arranged by Javier Pérez Saco and Mónica Gastelumendi)
8. Ángel de mi vida – Néstor Bilbao Tello
9. Contigo a la Distancia – César Portillo de la Luz
10. Sentirse bien – Mónica Gastelumendi
11. Jugar a La Vida – Enrique Ballesté