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The rhythm is gonna get you...
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Alex Acuna & Justo Almario


Photo: Carsten Weide

Engqvist Orkester live with
Alex Acuna & Justo Almario

Great gigs with the Koinonia guys: "Engqvist Orkester" with guitarist Uffe Steen did a Denmark tour in November with Alex Acuna on percussion and Justo Almario on Sax/Flute. The tour was a great music celebration !!!

The band just sounded great with the world class support. The musicians had a great rehearsal the night before the tour started. Justo Almario was a bit attached by jet lag. He just returned from a Sheila E tour in Japan. Alex Acuna had some private students the same day and was also suffering a bit from the jet lag.

No matter,- both guys were very fresh and did a great rehearsal with the band supporting the music with great ideas and they got us all set for the tour. The first venue was at "Cafe´ Malurt" in Frederikshavn. The venue were sold out and the place were sizziling of expectation. All the musicians just played the very best, and off course the two talented guests surprised the audience with their great performances.

Also the band kicked great and the compositions of Jens Norholm just sounded fantastic. Our guest from Aarhus, guitarist Uffe Steen just kicked the band......Great playing. The play list was supported by two off Justo Almarios tunes. "Count me in" and the vocal tune " Luz De Mi Camino" Justo just made the audience sing loud "Jesus is the light off the world" to celebrate the music ! The second gig was at "Cafe´Smaglos" in Aarhus. The cafe` was totally packed and sold out. Same thing happened, -The band just kicked and the highlight off this evening was when Justo and Alex again got the audience to sing loud "Jesus is the light of the world" The two guys took over and did an extra performance for 10 minutes just jamming on drums and sax.

Kenneth Bremer from "Bluedesert.dk" told me after the gig: This is the Baked Potato in Denmark. You just brought the Baked Potato to Denmark..... He was so right !!! The last gig on the tour was at "Krudttonden" in Copenhagen. This night was also sold out and the audience got what they came to see. A great group of musicians celebrating their gift of music !!!!.

Alex Acuna did a clinic for Yamaha drums at "Copenhagen Jazz house" the last day he and Justo was in Denmark. 300 people attended the clinic. Alex performed with his fantastic musician ship 3 hours. The clinic ended up jamming with the great percussionist "Solomon" the drummers Niclas Campagnol and Henrik Engqvist. Alex Acuna also did Masterclasses in Aalborg, Aarhus and Copenhagen for the Danish Musicians Union, DMF. All sold out. Justo did private lessons for local musicians.

So the whole project just ended up as a huge success........ Thanks to all the great musicians in the band for contributing with their great talents on this tour !! Band line up: Jens Norholm: Keyboard. Kim Bang: Bas. Jacob Rose: Sax. Uffe Steen: Guitars. Henrik Engqvist: Drums. Justo Almario: Sax, flute. Alex Acuna: percussion and drums.

A BIG thank to the supporters: The tour was supported and sponsored by: Yamaha drums. Slagtojscentret. PJ Percussion. DMF. Dansk Jazz forbund. Nordjyllands Amtsmusikudvalg. Musik Centret Aalborg. Kenneth Bremer - Bluedesert. Thanks to the venues having us: Malurt Frederikshavn-Karen Bagge. Smaglos in Aarhus- Kim Lykke. Krudttonden in Copenhagen-Peter Jonnson. THANK YOU for believing in the project.......!!!

Justo Almario and Alex Acuna will be back in Denmark. Next time in summertime,-They were both freezing in the cold Danish fall