This year’s Berkeley World Music Festival is just a couple weeks away and we wanted to make sure you know about the great Latin rock band that will be taking the stage. This year, MANZO RALLY will be performing and if you are not familiar with them, allow me to introduce you to some fun rock music infused with Latin flair and will have you moving and shakin in no time. MANZO RALLY is the brainchild of the amazing Gabriel Manzo of Malo. The 11th annual festival is scheduled for June 22nd at Telegraph and Haste St. and will be a day filled with music, dance, crafts and promises to be a lot of fun.
We had the chance to briefly chat with Gabriel about his performance at this year’s festival and are pleased to bring that to you here:
Music Junkie Press: It is great to hear about MANZO RALLY performing at this year’s Berkeley World Music Festival. Can you tell us about the lineup you have planned for us?
Gabriel: I’ve played in the legendary Latin Rock group Malo since 1984, and still perform with them. Although Malo does a couple of my compositions, (Techno Rumba and Ritmo Tropical), I still had a lot of music I wanted to bring out. So, I began MANZO RALLY as a recording project, as a vehicle for my own material. I chose musicians I knew would do it justice by creating the strong support I needed for my guitar work. Musicians that understand Latin rhythms, rock and jazz with pop sensibility. The result led me to realize this needs to be taken to the stage.
Because we are all professional musicians, each with many obligations, the personnel for live MANZO RALLY shows varies from show to show, much as Fagan & Becker did with Steely Dan. The lineup for this year’s Berkeley World Music Festival on June 22, 2014 is:
- Gabriel Manzo – lead guitar, vocals
- Jorge Pomar – Grammy Award winning bassist
- Johnny Gunn – Grammy nominated singer/songwriter on lead vocals and guitar
- Tony Menjivar – long-time Malo conguero
- Gibby Ross – timbales (Malo, Journey, Sammy Hagar)
- David George – long-time Malo drummer
- Latin Jazz pianist Victor Bejarano on piano
- Dawn Livingston-Manzo – keyboards
- And my recent find of a diamond in the ruff, vocalist Peter London.
Music Junkie Press: That is an exciting lineup! We are glad to see the addition of Peter London, amazing artist that we shared with our audience in the past. What is exciting is the energy that your Latin Rock sound brings. The music literally comes alive and creates such a vibrant atmosphere. For those who have never seen you perform, what can you tell them to expect from your show?
Gabriel: A rock concert with a Latin twist, music that will move your feet and take you on a journey. No frills, just great music played by great musicians.
Music Junkie Press: Everybody needs some Latin rock to get them moving and I have no doubt you guys will deliver a full on energetic set. We understand that you started at a very young age playing guitar. With so many schools discarding their music programs, do you have any advice on how we can keep the youth active and passionate about playing instruments? With the technology today it seems they know how to play the guitar on an iPad or iPhone but not an actual guitar.
Gabriel: First of all, have the real instruments for them in their own homes. That’s the beginning. Secondly, teaching music theory and composition. Thirdly, never quit studying – I myself still study under the great Carol Kaye. Musicians need real tools and knowledge of their craft to express their own creativity. And that’s the most important thing. I notice lately so many imitators, when we are all born to be originators. I encourage young musicians to have their own voices, and set trends rather than follow them. Lastly, be about the art, and not the stardom.
Music Junkie Press: I love that advice and hope more will try to set their own trend. Reminds me of my favorite quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not go where the path will take you, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ” Will there be more shows for MANZO RALLY and what else are you working on?
Gabriel: There are a few more festival appearances in the works for this year.
Right now our primary focus is to gain wider interest in the music through internet and on-air radio play, as well as networking, so that larger audiences will become familiar with the songs and want to come see us in concert.
Music Junkie Press: Lastly, is there anything else you would like to share with our audience?
Gabriel: I’d like to invite everyone to check out our full-length CD, MANZO RALLY “Give Love.”
Top-notch musicianship, no studio tricks or autotune – just real music, played with passion, by real musicians. Visit our website at www.manzorally.com to hear some of the music, as well as purchase the CD or download the songs or album. Also, please join us on our MANZO RALLY Facebook page for latest news and events. Thank you so much! Hope to see you in Berkeley on June 22nd!
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We hope you all have a chance to head over and catch MANZO RALLY at this year’s festival and also pick up their full length CD, Give Love that promises to bring back the passion into music. Definitely something we could all use more of these days.
~ Marisol
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