Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians
, Marisala
Leal, Marisala, singer; b. Caracas, Venezuela, 5 April 1954. Her father, Gustavo Leal, was born in 1919, in San Francisco, Lara, Venezuela. In his youth, he used to play the guitar and sing with his family and friends. He graduated as a Medical Doctor Specialist and postgraduated in Neurology in Boston, Massachusetts, 1953. He died in 1993, Caracas, Venezuela. Her mother, Elvia Trina Curiel, was born in Coro, Falcon, Venezuela, in1928. From her maternal Curiel-Correa roots comes musical ancestry pianist Rosalina Correa. Her sister and brothers are Juan Cristobal (1947-1967, medical student), Carmen Leal (Computer Sistem Ingenier), Raimundo (Architecture), Carole (Anthropology), Gustavo (Marcheting), and Sara (Biology).
Marisela started her musical career when she was 11 years old. The cuatro (venezuelan musical instrument), guitar and the piano have become part of her daily routine ever since Marisela's childhood. The Brazilian rhythms that captivated her since adolescence have crossed over her bossa nova and pop like she discovered jazz. She studied theory and solfeggio in the maestro Vicente Emilio Sojo School (1965) and activities that she divided with her school and her dream of becoming a musician. As a teenager formed the group "Zig Zag"(1972), with friends, and enjoyed performing concerts, specially in the "Festival of Merida" where alterned with reconized pianist Gerry Weil.
In 1973 Marisela married and went to England where she studied English and two more years of music (1974-1975). She took piano lessons, reaching the standard required to pass in grade III, by the Royal Schools of Music. From 1975-1976, she attended Pool Technical College, Bournemouth, England. Her instruments were singing and violin. The same year at Nordoff Music Therapy Center in London, she attended 8 weekend course for teaching music for Handicapped Children. Marisela got divorced and went back to Venezuela. She furthered her musical education at the "Juan Jose Landaeta School of Music", in Caracas, (1977-1978) with professor Violeta Lares, and activities that she divided while teaching music for children, Sinfony School, and Invedin (Handicapped Children).
In 1978 she moved to the United States, living in Berkeley, California. She studied piano for 3 month, under professor Joel Tepper. Then Marisela went to Boston, Massachusetts and at Berklee College of Music studied singing, piano, arranging and composition. She graduated with degree in Professional Music (1979-1982). At Berklee, Marisela studied with pianist Mike Marra, performed with great musician, pianist Tomas San Miguel from Spain, singer Maria Fernanda Marquez from Venezuela, and with Frank Quintero, recorded on his album Pajaros y Estrellas.
In 1982, Marisela returned to Venezuela, she formed a band with recognized Venezuelan artist, including Otmaro Ruiz (piano) and Aaron Serfaty (drums). In this period she performed with trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval in a local night spot (1985) and with Frank Quintero's band (backup vocals). Also she gigs at jazz clubs, concert halls and performed on national television, a program hosted by Isa Dobles, called "Nosotros Venezuela"(1990). In 1987, Marisela moved to Margarita's Iland, Venezuela and formed a jazz trio with pianist Andres Carrasquero and soon after they married.
In Margarita, Marisela started to search for her own voice, her style, her music to find themselves with the roots of Venezuelan folklore, with their rhythms, creating new sounds that give origin to her debut production Setoconao. Back in Caracas, Marisela got nominated for "Premio Nacional del Artista" as "Cantante Femenina" (1995) and the same year, performed in one of the most important events, "Caracas Fusion Festival" sharing with great musicians including Gerry Weil, Aquiles Baez, Amereida, Alberto Naranjo and Saul Vera.
From 1977-1978, she was a Professor of Music for Handicapped Children "Invedin". From 1977-1978, she was a Professor of Music for Childrens "Sinfonia". From 1992-1994, she was Professor of Theory and Solfegio at "Roland Learning Center", Caracas, Vzla. From 1998-1999, she was a Voice Teacher at "IUDEM" (Instituto Universitario de Musica), Caracas, Venezuela. From 1992-2002 she was a private voice teacher in Caracas, Venezuela.
From 1994-1996, Marisela hosted and co-produced a weekly radio program with producer Oscar Garcia Da Rosa for the "Jazz 95.5" From this radio program, Marisela had the opportunity of gaining a deeper understanding of this music. Marisela participated in a festival hosted by the Embassy of Brazil in Caracas, called "Brasil en Caracas 97" sharing with international artist, including singer Rosa Passos and world music group Uakti. During this period, Marisela worked steadily with great musicians: Gustavo Caruci (Bass), Miguel Gonzales (Guitar), Andres Briceno (Drums), Alexander Livinalli (Percussion), Ana Valencia (Voice), Amaranta Sanoja (Voice) and pianist Andres Carrasquero, all over Venezuela in concerts, universities, jazz clubs and television programs, until 1997.
In 1997, Marisela and Carrasquero separated. Marisela started to select new compositions for her next production while singing with different jazz pianist, including recognized musician Pedrito Lopez and Victor Mesta. Another memorable event for was the "Festival Internacional de Musica El Hatillo" (29 9/97) with pianist Pedrito Lopez. But best of all was the alliance that turned out to be very productive with composer, arranger and producer Gustavo Caruci. With Gustavo, Marisela co-produced her third album. Currently Marisela teaches voice privately, studies once a year with professor Magdalena Leon from Argentina, and she has started work selecting, arranging and composing songs for her next CD.
Recordings:
Setoconao (1993); Todo Brasil (1994); Duena del Agua (2000)
As sideperson:
F. Quintero: Pajaros y Estrellas (1981), A traves de mis ojos; Jazz desde Aldemaro (1997); Amereida: Umbaye (1999); Dale Cara: A La Vida (2000)
Radio and television broadcasts:
TV Shows:
1989 En Concierto
1990 Nosotros Venezuela
1994 ldquo; Jazz"
Interviews on: Jazz 95.5 FM with Jack Braunstein - Caracas - Vzla
Jazz 95.5 FM with F. Pacannis - Caracas - Vzla.
Magica 99.1 FM with Moraima Blanco - Caracas - Vzla
Cultural FM with Silvia Aray - Caracas - Venezuela
Radio Capital 710 with Yajaira Nunez - Caracas - Vzla
91.9 FM with Luis A. Garcia - Nueva Esparta - Vzla.
105.5 FM Stereo - Barquisimeto - Vzla.
Ondas Portenas - Puerto La Cruz - Vzla.
Internet Interview - Japan - 2000.
Bibliography:
References on:
2000 "Primicia", Magazine.
2000 "Exceso", Magazine.
1999 "Exceso", Magazine.
1996 "Jazz in Venezuela", Sim"n Balliache. Book (Biograhy).
1994 "Feriado", Magazine.
1994 "El Nacional", Newspaper.
1994 "Correo del Caroni";,Guayana, Newspaper.
1994 "El Guayan's", ciudad Guayana, Vzla.
1994 "El Universal", Newspaper.
1994 "El Diario de Caracas", Newspaper.
1994 "El Impulso", Barquisimeto, Vzla, Newspaper.
1993 "El Carabobeno",Valencia, Vzla, Newspaper.
1993 "El Globo", Newspaper.
1990 "Sol de Margarita", Margarita, Vzla, Newspaper
Contact information:
www.sincopa.com
www.apiomusic.com
also at mariselaleal@yahoo.com
