When Gabriel Palatchi makes his Lighthouse Bistro debut on Sept. 4, he said he’ll be bringing his audience on a “musical journey.”
The jazz keyboardist, who hails from Argentina but now lives in Mexico, said his repertoire is “always about the fusion” of the music that inspires him.
“The core of the music is Latin jazz, but it has a bunch of elements of funk and Middle Eastern and tango influences as well,” he said.
Palatchi and his trio, bassist J.P. Lapensee and drummer Juan Encinales, are in the midst of a Canadian tour heavy on B.C. shows with a few dates in Alberta and Ontario. Palatchi said he’s been spending his summers in Canada for the past decade and calls it his “second home.” His most recent album, 2018’s Made in Canada, was recorded live in White Rock.
Palatchi said about half of the concerts on his current tour are taking him to places he’s never been. But whether it’s a new audience or people he’s seen before, Palatchi said his approach is the same.
“Sometimes it’s much more of a listening concert, but some other times it’s completely on dance mode, so we like to adapt to the crowds and try to play according to the kind of venue,” he said. “I really never plan it until I am in the place and I feel the vibe and then it’s a good time to make the set list.”
Since Palatchi’s last Nanaimo concert at the Nanaimo Bar last summer he’s been performing a lot in Europe, where he’s discovered even more influences to add to his international fusion.
“I’ve been studying a bunch of flamenco music and Balkan and Eastern European, so I have some of those elements in the music as well,” Palatchi said.
At the Nanaimo show Palatchi will be performing some of that new, unrecorded music. He said he hopes to have a new album to follow, but he’s not in a rush.
“Since I want it to be a really big one, I want to take my time,” he said.
WHAT’S ON … The Gabriel Palatchi Trio performs at the Lighthouse Bistro, 50 Anchor Way, on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20, $15 for students, available at the venue, Fascinating Rhythm, Arbutus Music or online.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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