Ettore Stratta Birthday Gala

Stratta-Phillips Productions, Inc.
Patmusic2@aol.com

with
Many Featured Musicians, Dancers, Stars, and Guests

at
Birdland
315 West 44th Street, NYC
212.581.3080
www.birdlandjazz.com
Gianni Valenti and Andy Kaufman, Owners
Tarik Osman, Manager
(See Other Birdland Reviews)

By Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
March 31, 2003

When Pat Phillips, musical productions partner and wife of Ettore Stratta, throws a party, it's a five-hour-long event, with Singing, Classical, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Tango, and Surprise Guests, including children and grandchildren. The Photo Essay and related text below speak for the wide range of talent and musical genres that were represented in this Birthday Tribute to an acclaimed Producer of Music and Dance events. Ettore Stratta is a former composer, pianist, and conductor of international orchestras. I first met Pat and Ettore at Birdland, when ExploreDance.com reviewed three nights at the Django Reinhardt Festival (See Reviews). I also reviewed the Pablo Ziegler Quintet at Jazz Standard (See Review), another Stratta-Phillips Production. On March 31, Pat and the owners of Birdland, Gianni Valenti and Andy Kaufman, created a once-in-a-lifetime event, with a sold-out party and fusion jam of Classical, traditional and contemporary Jazz, Brazilian, new Argentine Tango, with the likes of Paula Robison on flute, Michel Legrand on piano, Cesar Camargo Mariano on piano, Regina Carter on violin, Hector del Curto on bandoneÛn, Brian Torff on bass, Grady Tate and Gal Costa as vocalists, James Carter on saxophone, Leonardo Suarez-Paz on violin, Borislav Strulev on cello, Romero Lubambo on guitar, Bill Charlap on piano, Pablo Aslan on bass, Alvester Garnett on drums, and Mariela Franganillo dancing Tango onstage with Junior Cervila. And, moreover, this is a small sample of the many esteemed musicians and special guests that performed or attended this special Gala Birthday Party.

For five hours, we were all entertained to rehearsed performances, solos, jam sessions, champagne, and birthday cake. There were few announcements and speeches, as the music was the tribute and the illustration of the numerous awards and accomplishments in the prolific career of Maestro Ettore Stratta, now partnered with the lively and lovely Pat Phillips, who darts around the room, during all their productions, to network musicians and to make guests feel welcome. Kudos to Pat Phillips for arranging this exciting event. Kudos to Birdland for creating just the right sound and space and ambiance. And, kudos to Ettore Stratta, for his accomplished and diverse career in music and musical productions. Happy Birthday, Ettore, and warm wishes from ExploreDance.com for many, many more celebrations.

The Party Begins

Ken Peplowski, Clarinetist (See Django Reinhardt Reviews)

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Ettore Stratta -- Happy Birthday!! (See Other Stratta-Phillips Productions Reviews, Django Reinhardt and Pablo Ziegler Quintet)

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Regina Carter, Violinist (See Carter Review)

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Pablo Aslan, Bassist (See Avantango Review and Pablo Ziegler Quintet Review)

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Brian Torff, Bassist (See Django Reinhardt Reviews)

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Chris Lightcap, Bassist, and Vana Gierig, Pianist (See Regina Carter Review)

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James Carter (See Django Reinhardt Reviews)

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Kevin Prendergast, Jazz Video Producer

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The Performances Begin

The New York Voices

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Alvester Garnett, Drummer (See Regina Carter Review)

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Grady Tate, Vocalist and Drummer (See James Moody Review)

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Bill Charlap, Solo Piano

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Gordon Lane, Drummer

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Borislav Strulev, Solo Cello

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Gianni Valenti, Birdland Owner (See Other Birdland Reviews)

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Regina Carter's Quintet and Guests.

Regina Carter and her Quintet

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Borislav Strulev and the Carter Quintet

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Regina Carter on Violin Begins Jam of "Lady Be Good".

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Alvester Garnett on Drums

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Vana Gierig on Piano

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Chris Lightcap and Alvester Garnett

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Ken Peplowski

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James Carter

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Leonardo Suarezz-Paz, Violinist (See Avantango Review)

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Leonardo Suarez-Paz and Vitali Imereli on Violins

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Vitali Imereli

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Pat Phillips, Event Organizer, and Husband/Maestro, Ettore Stratta

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James Carter, Leonardo Suarez-Paz, Vitali Imereli

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Offstage

Mariela Franganillo, Dancer (See Avantango Review)

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Oscar Feldman, Saxophonist (See Avantango Review)

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Andy Kaufman, Birdland Owner, and Friend/Colleague, Jim.

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Spanish, French, and Brazilian Moods

Romero Lubambo, Guitarist

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Cesar Camargo Mariano, Pianist

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Michel Legrand (See Bio), Pianist, Vocalist, Friend, and Composer

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Paula Robison (See Bio), Flautist

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Paula Robison

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Hector del Curto, Bandoneonist (See Avantango Review and Pablo Ziegler Quintet Review)

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Junior Cervila, Dancer (See Avantango Review)

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Gal Costa, Vocalist (See Website), Sings in Portuguese

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Romero Lubambo

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Michel Legrand

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Gal Costa and Michel Legrand

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The Party Continues

Michel Legrand Sings and Plays Piano for Ettore

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Ken Peplowski and Colleague

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Grady Tate Sings

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Mike Rienzi, Pianist

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James Carter on Sax

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Pat Phillips and Monuka

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Akiko Tsuruga, Organist, Pianist

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Grady Tate

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Avantango Performers and Presentation

Junior, Hector, Mariela, Roxana Fontan (Tango Vocalist, Performer)

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Oscar Feldman

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Hector del Curto on Bandoneon

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Dario Eskenazi, Pianist

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Hector del Curto

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Pablo Aslan on Bass

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Oscar Feldman, Pablo Aslan, Leonardo Suarez-Paz

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Jorge Calandrelli, Pianist (Guest)

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Hector del Curto, Oscar Feldman, Leonardo Suarez-Paz

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Junior Cervila and Mariela Franganillo Dance Argentine Tango

Junior Cervila and Mariela Franganillo Dance Argentine Tango

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Mariela and Ettore, After the Dance

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Ettore's Birthday Celebration

Birthday Toast

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Ettore and Isabella Stratta

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Pat Leads Happy Birthday!

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Ettore's Speech

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Ettore's Thanks

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Mariela, Junior, Pat, and Pat's Son

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Ettore, Monuka, Pat

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The Cake

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Roxana Fontan, Tango Vocalist (See Avantango Review)

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Roxana Fontan and Gal Costa

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The Guests Jam and Party On.....

Michel Legrand Signs Autographs

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James Carter and Leonardo Suarez-Paz

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Oscar Feldman, James Carter, Leonardo Suarez-Paz

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Leonardo Suarez-Paz

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Hector del Curto and James Carter

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James Carter

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Ettore Stratta and Friend

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Jorge Calandrelli Plays

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Hector del Curto

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Brian Torff

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James and Maureen, Bartenders, Tango

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Brian Torff

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Borislav Strulev and Ettore

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Borislav Strulev

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Jorge Calandrelli

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James Carter

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Liz Magnes, Pianist/Composer, and Michele Taylor, Publicist

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David Altman, Photographer

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Pat Phillips and Friends

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Birdland Sound Man and Romero Lubambo

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Cesar Camargo Mariano, Pat Phillips, and Friend

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Oscar Feldman and David Altman

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Cesar, Ettore, Jorge, Pat, Son, and Friend

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Roberta, Cesar, Ettore, Jorge

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Leonardo, Cesar, Oscar, Ettore

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Vana Gierig, and Pat

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Ettore, Jorge, Vana, Pat

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Vana and Cesar

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The 4 Pianists: Mike Rienzi, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Vana Gierig, Jorge Calandrelli

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Ettore and the Pianists

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Pat, Ettore, and Gianni Valenti Join the Pianists

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