As I Travel Donald Vega

• 1¡Baila! Dance Like No One’s Watching03:54
• 2As I Travel05:03
• 3I Know You Can Fly07:02
• 4Tomorrows II06:16
• 5Alegria03:48
• 6Disturbios07:09
• 7Isabel: The Enchanting Nature of You05:58
• 8Dear Mayra06:01
• 9Beautiful Ladies04:56
• Total Runtime50:07

Info for As I Travel

Donald Vega is far from being an unknown figure. Having studied directly under jazz legends such as John Clayton, Billy Higgins, and Kenny Barron, being an integral part of the legendary Ron Carter Golden Striker Trio, and recently being selected as a Guggenheim fellow, Vega has had an impressive and diverse career that has consistently propelled him to the heights of the jazz landscape. Originally from Nicaragua, Vega immigrated to the United States at the age of 14 and was deeply influenced by the people and experiences that accompanied him from his childhood to becoming the musician and person he is today.

With this album, one is immediately immersed in highly structured jazz, and it must be said that the musicians featured on this album are all equally fascinating – Lewis Nash (drums), John Patitucci (bass), and Luisito Quintero (percussion). The story behind “As I Travel” began long before the album was conceived as an idea. At the age of 14, guided by his mother, who had already started the process of moving to America to pave the way for her family, Vega fled the civil war in Nicaragua and immigrated to the United States. “This album tells an American story,” says Vega. “The subject of immigration has been debated in the United States since its foundation. Regardless of where you stand, every immigrant’s story is unique, full of hope, and often sorrow.”

The strength of his story is found in this album, in the form of journeys, melodies that sometimes feel familiar, which are merely a reflection of this shared artistic consciousness that captures sounds from wherever they come and reinterprets them in different forms, on the fly, shaping a work of art. During his early years in America, Vega spoke little to no English, and his primary form of intercultural communication was through music. This multifaceted reliance and joyful liberation that Vega found in music pushed him to deepen his passion for the discipline and art, eventually allowing him to study at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School.

Just by the titles of this album, you embark on a journey, even an invitation to travel. The richness of Vega’s music is that of every migrant in the land of the USA – the ability to overlay their own culture on an artistic quest that encompasses that of the host country. The same applies to all other forms of art for every artist who arrives here. This album is fascinating in all these aspects, thanks to Donald Vega’s rhythmic and melodic sensibility. It easily takes us to the end of this album, making it clear that if, like the editors of Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move, you appreciate spicy and well-structured jazz, you’ll understand why we consider it an “Essential.”

Donald Vega, piano
Lewis Nash, drums
John Patitucci, bass
Luisito Quintero, percussion

Donald Vega
was trained classically in piano in his native Nicaragua. He emigrated to the United States at age 14 and found a musical home with the Colburn School of Performing Arts (CSPA). He began his studies there in classical piano with Teresa de Jong Pombo and Dr. Louis Lepley. Vega began learning the language of jazz from mentor Billy Higgins at The World Stage and continued at CSPA with Jeffrey Lavner, then later with bassist John Clayton at the University of Southern California. During his time in Los Angeles Donald was mentored by and performed with the celebrated conguero Francisco Aguabella as well as notable bassist Al McKibbon. He went on to graduate from Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School where he studied with piano great Kenny Barron, Phil Markowitz and Gary Dial.

Vega currently performs internationally as the pianist for world renowned bassist Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio with whom he has recorded several albums. Mr. Vega is also a professor at The Juilliard School and Hofstra University and sits on the board of BackCountry Jazz, a non-profit organization which provides music education programs and performances to underprivileged youth.

Vega’s debut album, Tomorrows, was released in 2008 to rave reviews. In his sophomore album, Spiritual Nature (Resonance Records, 2012), he was joined by the regal rhythm tandem of bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash. Vega teamed up again with Lewis Nash on his third album, With Respect to Monty, (Resonance Records, 2015) along with Hassan Shakur, the great bassist and former Monty Alexander band member, and long time friend and grammy nominated artist, Anthony Wilson on guitar. Donald recently finished recording his latest album, As I Travel, with Lewis Nash on drums and John Patitucci on bass and featuring Luisito Quintero on percussion.

This album contains no booklet.