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Guitarrist, singer, composer Cecilia Zabala was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1975. She is guitarist, singer and composer. Throughout her career, she has expressed her musical creativity using her guitar and her voice, creating original compositions that blend sensitivity, emotion, technique and intuition. Her music draws on a rich mixture of influences, from Argentinian folklore, the contemporary language of the twentieth century, jazz, tango, and Brazilian music.
Cecilia is an active participant in the musical scene of Buenos Aires, with a variety of projects as a performer, composer and arranger. She plays as a soloist and was also a member of several different chamber ensembles, such as the guitar quartet “Cuatro en punto”, the tango group “Mala Junta”, and the duos “Las Morochas” and “Alvarezabala.” With “Alvarezabala”, she released the album “Halo de luz” -2004- (www.alvarezabaladuo.com.ar) and with “Las morochas” she released “Milonga sin palabras” -2005- (www.lasmorochasduo.com.ar) With this duet she made a tour in the U.K., playing at the National Theatre and the Lewes Guitar Festival in 2006.
Her solo recordings highlight her as an original, deep and “feminine” song-writer, a virtuoso guitarist performing the 7 strings guitar. In a tradition of guitarists and writers her roots are from Atahualpa Yupanqui to the minimalism of Juana Molina, Zabala`s work combine traditional, classical and pop elements.
Her first solo recording, “Aguaribay” (indie 2007), mixed Argentinian folklore repertory with original instrumental and vocals compositions, creating a new sonic landscape. Special guests for this recording include Juan Falú (www.juanfalu.com.ar), Quique Sinesi (www.quiquesinesi.com) and Silvia Iriondo (www.silviairiondo.com.ar).
Soon after, Zabala released “Pendiente” (MDR Records 2008) with original compositions and her arragments of works by contemporary composers. Pendiente mooves away from pure folk roots to reveal unusual rhythms and unique melodies with contemporary compositions by American-Russian Regina Spektor, Marcela Biasi (Brazil), David Aguilar (México) and Diego Penelas (Argentina). Special guests included Marcelo Moguilevsky (bass clarinet), César Lerner (accordion), Luciano Dyzenchauz (double bass) and Rodrigo Quirós (percussion), among other instrument as soprano sax, violoncello and bassoon.
With her second release Zabala consolidate as an unusual creator, singer and guitarrist.
Since 2006 she plays at international venues with her duo “Las Morochas” (UK) and as a soloist artist in Germany, Switzaerland, Spain. In 2008-2009 she was part of “International Guitar night”, a project created by American guitarrst Brian Gore wherein four internationally renowed guitarist offer an evening of their own music as well as collaborations among themselves. She participated in three different tours – UK, Canada, United States – the last sharing the bill with renowned guitarists Benjamin Verdery (USA), Pierre Bensusan (France) and Brian Gore (USA). In adition to her performance tours Cecilia Zabala presents workshops and master classes focusing on Argentinean music, songwriting and arragements for guitar.
In 2010, she did her first solo tour in the United States with concerts in New Orleans, New York City and Boston. She also made a recording of her own music with two musicians from Boston, the pianist Joe Deleault (www.joedeleault.com) and the wind player Don Davis (www.myspace.com/dondavis), this album is going to be released in 2011. She also taught master classes on Argentine music for Guitar at the New York City Guitar Society and Yale University. In her forth European tour in 2011 she introduced her music in new venues in Paris (France), Fribourg (Switzerland) and Leipzig (Germany) and she also tough master classes in Geneva (Switzerland)
Cecilia has produced four independent productions as a performer, composer and arranger: “Halo de luz” (alvarezabala duo) with the wind player Emiliano Alvarez, “Milonga sin palabras”, along with the flutist Ianina Pietrantonio (las morochas duo), “Aguaribay”, her third album and first soloist work. This production includes her own music and own versions of Argentine music for solo guitar and guitar-vocals, where participated as guests Juan Falu, Quique Sinesi and Silvia Iriondo.
Her second solo album was chosen for the series “Toque Argentino” (MDR records), curated by guitarist Ernesto Snajer. It’s called “Pendiente” and includes more versions of their own music and new artists like Diego Penelas, David Aguilar and the Russian-American Regina Spektor. As guests participated in this production Marcelo Moguilevsky, Cesar Lerner, Luciano Dyzenchauz and Victoria Zotalis among others.
Since 2007 she tours as a soloist in several European countries and in 2008 she was chosen to be part of the “International Guitar Night”, sharing shows with Benjamin Verdery, Pierre Bensusan, Dale Kavanagh, Miguel de la Baside, Andy Sheppard and Brian Gore, visiting with her music countries like Canada, England, Scotland and America.
Currently with her new group with Eliana Liuni (winds), Mariano Martos (fretless bass) & Mario Gusso (percussion) she released “Presente Infinito” her third album and they’re preparing the recording of a live DVD.
