Goza Latin Band
Press Kit (EPK)
We are pleased to present to you GOZA — an engaging Latin musical ensemble comprised of Connecticut’s most seasoned and versatile musicians.
GOZA (Spanish for Joy) performs exciting music and dance rhythms from Latin America, Brazil and Spain with guitar, violin, horns, Latin percussion and beautiful, romantic vocals.
Goza rhythms include: samba, salsa, bachata, rumba, cha-cha, cumbia, flamenco, tango, and bolero.
Covers include many Latin standards plus music of Jobim, Tito Puente, Gipsy Kings, Buena Vista, Selena, Beatles, Santana, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Guns & Roses and many originals.
Goza has performed multiple times at the Mohegan Sun Wolfden, Hartford First night, Wadsworth Atheneum, Elizabeth Park, River Camelot Cruises, festivals, colleges, libraries and clubs throughout New England plus hundreds of weddings and similar functions.
Regular performances in the Hartford area include venues such as: Cotton Hollow Kitchen, OC Kitchen & Bar, La Tavola Ristorante, Arthur Murray Dance Studios and Elizabeth Park.
“Dear Mr. Giardina, Thank you for the sensational show. Through the power of your music, for one night, we weren’t just a small suburban town in Massachusetts, we became an exotic Brazilian village in South America. It was a perfect way to launch our multicultural Book Festival. If the books end up as good as the music, there’s going to be some good reading this weekend! But we all loved the songs and we’ve been samba-ing ever since. Thanks again for coming and infusing us all with the terrific sounds of Brazil.”
— M. Malcolm, Maynard Public Library, Maynard, MA
“Dave, I can’t thank you enough for such a lovely evening of Latin jazz for my family and friends. What great music! ”
— K. Skinner, Park Place Towers, Hartford, CT
“Music and charm was exuded from stage yesterday and everyone went home happy except some of us wanting more time to hear your horn and percussion talents and lots more energetic repertoire we all crave. ”
— L. Jeffery, Music Curator, Westport Library, Westport, CT
More Reviews
“We were thrilled by our choice of GOZA to perform at our wedding, their sound transported us…GOZA jazz was lively, sophisticated and elegant, our guests were up on their feet dancing the night away! ”
— J. Bell, Cromwell, CT
“Thanks for an outstanding performance and workshop! The students continued dancing and talking about the rhythms all week! ”
— G. Trilla, Haverhill MA Public Schools
“Dear Dave – This is a THANK YOU for playing at our wedding at the Aldrich Mansion. We could not have asked or dreamed of anything better. People are still telling us what an amazing band we had. I still get teary eyed thinking of walking down the aisle to Canon in D and dancing to salsa later in the evening. Thank you for being so flexible and for making our wedding so memorable.”
— P. Zerra & M. Garcia, Providence, RI
“Thank you so much for playing with your band, Goza, at the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association’s (CHBA) 17th Annual Awards Celebration yesterday evening…We got many compliments about the desert reception and the lively atmosphere you created certainly made the difference!”
— K. Goyco, CHBA
Song List
Latin Standards
Abrázame
Contigo Aprendi
Reloj
Quizás, Quizás
Sabor a mi
Solamente una vez
Besame Mucho
¿Quién Será? (Sway)
La Paloma
Sombras Nada Mas
Malagueña
Si Nos Dejan
Latin Jazz
Mueve La Cintura
Goza
Viva Cepeda
Home Cookin
Chucho
A Night inTunisia
Caravan
Song for Maura
Brussels in the Rain
Autumn Leaves
Perdido
Song for My Father
Little Sunflower
Naked if you Want To
Alonso
Guateca City
Guataca
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
Nica’s Dream
Spain
Come Candela
Sudden Samba
Days of Wine and Roses
La Fiesta
Tin Tin Deo
Enamorado
In Flight
Briancito
Latin Rock
Moondance
My Guitar Gently Weeps
Don’t You Worry
Golden Lady
Hotel California
Light My Fire
La Bamba
Guantanamera
Tequila!
Oye Como Va
Corazon Espinado
Black Magic Woman
Europa
Evil Ways
Bamboleo
Quiero Saber
I Will Survive
Mi Vida es un Carnaval
Kumbala Maldito
Triveni
Killing Me Softly
World is a Ghetto
Long and Winding Road
…And I Love Her
Sweet Child of Mine
Brazilian
Favela
Girl from Ipanema
Wave
Chega de Saudade
Desafinado
Black Orpheus
Felicidade
Agua de Beber
Latin Lovers Bosco
Blue Bossa
Saco Samba
Saki Samba
Samba de Amor
Samba de Orfeo
Double Rainbow
Batucada
Lamentos
So Many Stars
Mas Que Nada
Out of the Fog
Cha-Cha
Ojos Verdes
Oye Como Va
Flamenco
Entre do Aguas
Rio Ancho
Faena
Quiero Saber
Tres Notas
Night in Marrakesh
Cumbia
Jardin
La Vida es un Carnaval
Hotel California
Merengue
Compadre Pedro Juan
El Tigaron
La Cubanchera
Gypsy Swing
Nuages
Swing 42
Coquette
Dinette
Minor Swing
Pent Up House
Cantina
Tangos
La Cumparsita
Adios Muchachos
El Choclo
Por Una Cabeza
Uno
A Media Luz
Volver
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
Habenera from Carmen
Salsa
Cachita
Sabor
Philly Mambo
Moliende Café *
I Will Survive
Embrujo de Amor
Mueve La Cintura
Goza
La Negra Tomasa
Come Candela
El Cuarto de Tula
I Will Survive
Embrujo de Amor
Performances
Talcott Mountain Collective
Goza Latin Jazz Band
Hartford Public Library—Park
Goza Latin Jazz Band
Third Thursday Fest
Goza Latin Jazz Band
Multimedia
The Saki Samba
Abrázame
Faena
¿Quién Será? (Sway)
Enamorado
A Viable Alternative
Moliendo Café
The Saco Samba
Quizás, Quizás, Quizás
The Girl from Ipanema
Paquito's Samba
Dos Gardenias
Sleighride
Christmastime
Greensleeves
Goza Latin Jazz Quintet Demo
Mas que nada
Adiós
Manhã de Carnaval (Black Orpheus)
Lágrimas negras
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Faena
Workshops
Goza multi-percussionist Asher Delerme giving a workshop on the origin of Latin rhythms
From indigenous roots to contemporary styles, Goza’s performance/ educational workshops reinforce and demonstrate the connections Latin Music has to the history and social development of Latin American communities (Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Cubans and various other Latino groups) in the United States. Throughout this presentation, the performing Artists highlight cultural concepts, migratory history, and social development of Latinos in the US as well as provide supplementary practice with language and vocabulary building.
Goza’s approach to cultural arts learning includes dynamic, interactive and creative musical storytelling performances to engage students with Latin Music and History. In addition to exposing students to a diversity of quality performances of Latin American Music, the presentation will deepen multi-cultural awareness, encourage natural curiosity and allow students to identify the rich legacies of Latinos/as in the United State’s vibrant and evolving cultural landscape.
The band performs brief musical excerpts, demonstrating the differences between the many rhythms found in popular dances such as salsa, samba, cha-cha, bachata, tango, merengue, cumbia and bolero. Students are taught to clap and respond to rhythmic patterns and musical numbers. Often students are asked to participate on stage, by dancing, playing a percussion instrument or singing along to simple songs in Spanish.
For booking or more information on our workshops please use the online contact form or contact Dave Giardina via phone at: 860.573.0406
“Thanks for an outstanding performance and workshop! The students continued dancing and talking about the rhythms all week!”
— G. Trilla, Haverhill MA Public Schools
Client List
Fiesta del Norte has also performed at countless major festivals, First Nights, colleges, schools (K – 8), libraries, town greens, senior centers and many other venues.
Schools
Wesley School
Middletown, CT
Brewster Elementary
Durham, CT
Country School
Madison, CT
Island Avenue Elementary School
Madison, CT
CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering Elementary School
Rocky Hill, CT
Chestnut Hill Preschool
Manchester, CT
St. Mary Magdalen
Oakville, CT
Aiken Elementary School
West Hartford, CT
JFK Middle School
Enfield, CT
Mary Hooker Magnet School
Hartford, CT
Senior Centers
Essex Meadows
Essex, CT
White Oaks Senior Center
Manchester, CT
Vernon Senior Center
Vernon, CT
Shady Knoll Health Center
Seymour, CT
North Haven Senior Center
North Haven, CT
Litchfield Woods Health Center
Torrington, CT
Aaron Manor
Chester, CT
Brookdale Mountain Laurel Hebron
Glastonbury, CT
South End Wellness Senior Center
Hartford, CT
In the News
GOZA MAKES MAGIC AT TWILIGHT
Reprint from the New Haven Independent l Posted at 6:59 AM EST on July 22, 2016 by Lucy Gellman
As the first strains of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Tanga” drifted out over a series of al fresco dinner tables at Neighborhood Music School, Brian Wallace inched toward the front of the stage, his trumpet pressed to his lips with some urgency. A trilling rang out, followed by that loping Gillespie strain that is so overwhelmingly pleasant, then impossible to tear your ears away from…
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As pundits several states away declared the words twilight and sparkle to wiggle out of a certain episode of plagiarism, the New Haven-based Goza Latin Jazz Band was making magic of an entirely different kind Tuesday night, kicking off the Neighborhood Music School‘s first Twilight Tuesdays concert of the season.
Back for its 16th year in a row with new acts, NMS’ summer twilight concert series aspires to build on the organization’s robust history of engaging with the community by opening up its Audubon Street doors and taking the musical party outside. Whatever the fervent, fluttering mad pace of the world — and let’s face it, it’s kind of insane right now — the concerts are a sort of musical hiding place. They wrap themselves around the notion that they, or the music they conjure up from the ground and onto the NMS’ cheery outdoor stage, are responsible for the one thing that they can control: a joy that roots itself firmly in music making and the conversation that it spurs.
Goza personified the joy from which the group draws its name. Playing under a pale blue sky, with just the hint of a breeze, members were in full form, delving deep into pieces before coming up for applause.
The Gillespie number had New Haven’s own jazz legend Jesse Hameen closing his eyes and grinning as he joined the group. Dean Martin’s sway, performed with equal parts soul and sauciness from a guest vocalist, had Wallace and sax player Jeff Taylor making sultry moves between parts, while percussionist Asher Delerme whooped in the back. An indefatigable Matt Dwonszyk was totally one with his bass while band leader Dave Giardina saved his broadest, most soulful smiles for an original composition, performed to head-bobbing audience members early in the evening.
It was more than the fact that they couldn’t not have a good time. They seemed determined to have an exceptionally fun one, that they could share with a crowd already feeling the workweek’s toll. Dancing, though few in the audience partook, was explicitly encouraged. Smiles were too, and they spread quickly through a wine-warmed crowd as 7 p.m. turned into 8 p.m., and then 9. Goza’s practiced musicians displayed how to move and clap along with the beat, keeping time, and responded when audience members did. No wonder, then, that almost everyone went home smiling long after twilight had turned to dark, and the concert’s magic, still palpable, had ended for the night.
TWILIGHT TUESDAYS: AL FRESCO MUSIC, DINING IN NEW HAVEN
Reprint from the Hartford Courant l Posted at 10:00 AM EST on July 11, 2016 by Angie DeRosa
Twilight Tuesdays, an al fresco dinner and concert series, is being presented by the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven.
For the next four Tuesday nights, live music, food trucks and a cash only beer and wine bar come to the Park of the Arts (located behind the school), 100 Audubon St., New Haven. Guests can bring their own picnic dinner and alcoholic drinks.
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Doors open at 6:30 p.m., concerts start at 7:30 p.m. rain or shine. $10 general admission. Table seating available at a higher cost.
For more information please visit: www.neighborhoodmusicschool.org
GOZA LATIN JAZZ BAND AT THE FRIENDS OF SIMSBURY LIBRARY COFFEEHOUSE
Reprint from the Hartford Courant l Posted at 3:11 PM EST on May 14, 2016
Guitarist Dave Giardina picked the word “goza” – Spanish for Joy – as the name of his group, the Goza Latin Jazz Band. Their performances – classical, flamenco, samba, modern jazz, and more – have been referred to as “odes to joy” and one venue where they appeared said, “Their sound transported us. Goza jazz was lively, sophisticated and elegant!”
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This program will take place on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 8:00 to 9:30 pm at the Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St. Doors open at 7:30. Reserve a seat now at 860-658-7663 or www.simsburylibrary.info. Please include an email address if you have one. Free and open to all.
THE GOZA BAND TO PERFORM IN BRISTOL
Reprint from the The Hartford Courant l Posted at 6:02 AM EST on July 27, 2015
BRISTOL – The city’s Rockin’ Out at Rockwell concert series continues with a performance by The Goza Band on July 28.
The group performs Latin and Brazilian music.
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The shows are funded with grants from the Barnes Group Foundation, ESPN, the Jay & Elizabeth Tyrrell Fund for the Arts at the Main Street Community Foundation, the Forestville Village Association, Oakland Mechanics and Tilcon Inc.
A JAZZY BRUNCH BUFFET AT WADSWORTH
Reprint from the Hartford Courant l Posted at 3:18 PM EST on March 19, 2015 by Amy Ellis
Goza Latin Jazz performs at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art’s Jazz Brunch event on Sunday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Tickets, $35, include museum admission, jazz, brunch and one complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa. Information: 860-838-4100 and thewadsworth.org.