The Sunday Afternoon Jazz Series begins its twelfth season September 25 at 4:00PM with The Debbie Orta

Quintet: Debbie Orta (jazz vocalist), Ed Maina (sax/ute/EWI), Nicky Orta (electric bass), Carlomagno Araya (drums), Mike Orta (piano)
Singer Debbie Orta performs a terric jazz repertoire from the Great American Songbook in swing, Brazilian, and Latin jazz arrangements, as well as some jazz/funk, effortlessly exing her range and feel in these varied rhythms. With her onstage energy and versatility, she explores jazz styles, offering something fresh and new. Educated at the University of Miami and Florida International University, Debbie has performed at premier Jazz Festivals and clubs, including The Deering Estate Summer Cabaret, The Van Dyke Caf in South Beach, Blue Jean Blues, The SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch, Hollywood ArtsPark, Arturo Sandovals, The Seminole Hard Rock Casino, and the Setai Hotel on South Beach, among others. With her smoking band, she is a Founder of the Miami Jazz Coop and a featured performer of the prestigious Sunshine Jazz Organization of Miami. Debbie was the only South Florida jazz artist invited to perform at South Floridas premier music festival, SunFest 2009, opening the Sunday Jazz Brunch for jazz fusion group, Spyro Gyra. In addition to the virtuoso Orta-Araya-Maina combination, she often sings with other local jazz masters, including Turk Mauro and Othello Molineaux. In June, 2011, Debbie collaborated with, and performed alongside, Wendy Pedersen and a stellar live band in the highly successful KCC Production, Jazz Gals: Celebrating the Music of Peggy Lee and Billie Holiday at Sunrise Civic Center, Sunrise, Florida. Debbies cultural experiences add to her style and choice of material, providing an eclectic mix. CDs will be available for purchase after the concert. Visit Debbies website,! http://www.debbieorta.com/! and nd her on Facebook. ! Mike Orta is Director of Jazz Performance at Florida International University teaching jazz piano, jazz improvisation, and directing both jazz and latin jazz ensembles. Michael has released his debut album, FREEDOM TOWER on the Fantasy/Contemporary label. This CD features Paquito D'Rivera, Nicky Orta, Gary Campbell and others. His book, "Jazz Piano Etudes," is available on Warner Brothers Publications.Visit Mike's website at: http://www2.u.edu/~ortam/ Nicky Orta's current musical project is the Araya Orta Latin Jazz Quartet, a group consisting of two pairs of brothers: Michael & Nicky Orta along with Carlomagno & Ramses Araya. This group has performed at the FIA in Costa Rica in March 2010, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival in Tulum, Mexico, and most recently at the Teatro Nacional in Costa Rica where the quartet performed two concerts with special guests Paquito D'Rivera and Diego Urcola. Nicky is on the adjunct faculty at University of Miami Frost School of Music teaching Electric Bass and directing several ensembles.Visit Nicky's website at:! http://www.nickyorta.com/ Carlomagno Araya has performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, and the Montreux Jazz Fest, among many others. He toured extensively with dynamic Latin singer/actor/composer/activist Ruben Blades, with whom he performed on two multiple-Grammy nominated albums. His diverse touring experience includes such luminaries as Eddie Gomez, Paquito d'Rivera, Victor Mendoza, Richard Bona and Bob Mintzer to name just a few.! Visit Carlo's website at:! http://www.carlomagnoaraya.com/ Ed Maina is very active as a woodwind soloist and clinician as well as an educator. Just a sampling of his performing and recording credits include Linda Eder, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Jaco Pastorius, Louie Bellison, Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme and The Maynard Ferguson Orchestra. Visit Ed's website at: http:// www.songsofdavid.com/ChristianJazzArtistsMaina.html Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for minors (cash only).