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About the Author:
 Ettore Stratta Birthday GalaStratta-Phillips Productions, Inc.
Patmusic2@aol.com with
Many Featured Musicians, Dancers, Stars, and Guests at
Birdland
315 West 44th Street, NYC
212.581.3080
www.birdlandjazz.com
Gianni Valenti and Andy Kaufman, Owners
Tarik Osman, Manager
(See Other Birdland Reviews) By Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
March 31, 2003 When Pat Phillips, musical productions partner and wife of Ettore Stratta, throws a party, it's a five-hour-long event, with Singing, Classical, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Tango, and Surprise Guests, including children and grandchildren. The Photo Essay and related text below speak for the wide range of talent and musical genres that were represented in this Birthday Tribute to an acclaimed Producer of Music and Dance events. Ettore Stratta is a former composer, pianist, and conductor of international orchestras. I first met Pat and Ettore at Birdland, when ExploreDance.com reviewed three nights at the Django Reinhardt Festival (See Reviews). I also reviewed the Pablo Ziegler Quintet at Jazz Standard (See Review), another Stratta-Phillips Production. On March 31, Pat and the owners of Birdland, Gianni Valenti and Andy Kaufman, created a once-in-a-lifetime event, with a sold-out party and fusion jam of Classical, traditional and contemporary Jazz, Brazilian, new Argentine Tango, with the likes of Paula Robison on flute, Michel Legrand on piano, Cesar Camargo Mariano on piano, Regina Carter on violin, Hector del Curto on bandoneón, Brian Torff on bass, Grady Tate and Gal Costa as vocalists, James Carter on saxophone, Leonardo Suarez-Paz on violin, Borislav Strulev on cello, Romero Lubambo on guitar, Bill Charlap on piano, Pablo Aslan on bass, Alvester Garnett on drums, and Mariela Franganillo dancing Tango onstage with Junior Cervila. And, moreover, this is a small sample of the many esteemed musicians and special guests that performed or attended this special Gala Birthday Party. For five hours, we were all entertained to rehearsed performances, solos, jam sessions, champagne, and birthday cake. There were few announcements and speeches, as the music was the tribute and the illustration of the numerous awards and accomplishments in the prolific career of Maestro Ettore Stratta, now partnered with the lively and lovely Pat Phillips, who darts around the room, during all their productions, to network musicians and to make guests feel welcome. Kudos to Pat Phillips for arranging this exciting event. Kudos to Birdland for creating just the right sound and space and ambiance. And, kudos to Ettore Stratta, for his accomplished and diverse career in music and musical productions. Happy Birthday, Ettore, and warm wishes from ExploreDance.com for many, many more celebrations. The Party Begins
Ken Peplowski, Clarinetist (See Django Reinhardt Reviews)
Ettore Stratta—Happy Birthday!! (See Other Stratta-Phillips Productions Reviews, Django Reinhardt and Pablo Ziegler Quintet)
Regina Carter, Violinist (See Carter Review)
Pablo Aslan, Bassist (See Avantango Review and Pablo Ziegler Quintet Review)
Brian Torff, Bassist (See Django Reinhardt Reviews)
Chris Lightcap, Bassist, and Vana Gierig, Pianist (See Regina Carter Review)
James Carter (See Django Reinhardt Reviews)
Kevin Prendergast, Jazz Video Producer
The Performances Begin
The New York Voices
Alvester Garnett, Drummer (See Regina Carter Review)
Grady Tate, Vocalist and Drummer (See James Moody Review)
Bill Charlap, Solo Piano
Gordon Lane, Drummer
Borislav Strulev, Solo Cello
Gianni Valenti, Birdland Owner (See Other Birdland Reviews)
Regina Carter's Quintet and Guests.
Regina Carter and her Quintet
Borislav Strulev and the Carter Quintet
Regina Carter on Violin Begins Jam of "Lady Be Good".
Alvester Garnett on Drums
Vana Gierig on Piano
Chris Lightcap and Alvester Garnett
Ken Peplowski
James Carter
Leonardo Suarezz-Paz, Violinist (See Avantango Review)
Leonardo Suarez-Paz and Vitali Imereli on Violins
Vitali Imereli
Pat Phillips, Event Organizer, and Husband/Maestro, Ettore Stratta
James Carter, Leonardo Suarez-Paz, Vitali Imereli
Offstage
Mariela Franganillo, Dancer (See Avantango Review)
Oscar Feldman, Saxophonist (See Avantango Review)
Andy Kaufman, Birdland Owner, and Friend/Colleague, Jim.
Spanish, French, and Brazilian Moods
Romero Lubambo, Guitarist
Cesar Camargo Mariano, Pianist
Michel Legrand (See Bio), Pianist, Vocalist, Friend, and Composer
Paula Robison (See Bio), Flautist
Paula Robison
Hector del Curto, Bandoneonist (See Avantango Review and Pablo Ziegler Quintet Review)
Junior Cervila, Dancer (See Avantango Review)
Gal Costa, Vocalist (See Website), Sings in Portuguese
Romero Lubambo
Michel Legrand
Gal Costa and Michel Legrand
The Party Continues
Michel Legrand Sings and Plays Piano for Ettore
Ken Peplowski and Colleague
Grady Tate Sings
Mike Rienzi, Pianist
James Carter on Sax
Pat Phillips and Monuka
Akiko Tsuruga, Organist, Pianist
Grady Tate
Avantango Performers and Presentation
Junior, Hector, Mariela, Roxana Fontan (Tango Vocalist, Performer)
Oscar Feldman
Hector del Curto on Bandoneon
Dario Eskenazi, Pianist
Hector del Curto
Pablo Aslan on Bass
Oscar Feldman, Pablo Aslan, Leonardo Suarez-Paz
Jorge Calandrelli, Pianist (Guest)
Hector del Curto, Oscar Feldman, Leonardo Suarez-Paz
Junior Cervila and Mariela Franganillo Dance Argentine Tango       
Junior Cervila and Mariela Franganillo Dance Argentine Tango
Mariela and Ettore, After the Dance
Ettore's Birthday Celebration 
Birthday Toast
Ettore and Isabella Stratta
Pat Leads Happy Birthday!
Ettore's Speech
Ettore's Thanks
Mariela, Junior, Pat, and Pat's Son
Ettore, Monuka, Pat
The Cake
Roxana Fontan, Tango Vocalist (See Avantango Review)
Roxana Fontan and Gal Costa
The Guests Jam and Party On…..
Michel Legrand Signs Autographs
James Carter and Leonardo Suarez-Paz
Oscar Feldman, James Carter, Leonardo Suarez-Paz
Leonardo Suarez-Paz
Hector del Curto and James Carter
James Carter
Ettore Stratta and Friend
Jorge Calandrelli Plays
Hector del Curto
Brian Torff
James and Maureen, Bartenders, Tango
Brian Torff
Borislav Strulev and Ettore
Borislav Strulev
Jorge Calandrelli
James Carter
Liz Magnes, Pianist/Composer, and Michele Taylor, Publicist
David Altman, Photographer
Pat Phillips and Friends
Birdland Sound Man and Romero Lubambo
Cesar Camargo Mariano, Pat Phillips, and Friend
Oscar Feldman and David Altman
Cesar, Ettore, Jorge, Pat, Son, and Friend
Roberta, Cesar, Ettore, Jorge
Leonardo, Cesar, Oscar, Ettore
Vana Gierig, and Pat
Ettore, Jorge, Vana, Pat
Vana and Cesar
The 4 Pianists: Mike Rienzi, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Vana Gierig, Jorge Calandrelli
Ettore and the Pianists
Pat, Ettore, and Gianni Valenti Join the Pianists
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