"Music and art, even in the best of times, find what is not right in the world and use it as inspiration for creativity and change."
"Music and art, even in the best of times, find what is not right in the world and use it as inspiration for creativity and change," said François Zayas, percussionist for Spare A Dime. "In that way, the music of the Great Depression is really no different than any other time period, with the full range of emotions expressed, sorrow to happiness." Zayas is currently collaborating with Spare A Dime lead vocalist Venissa Santi on a new album re-imagining the songs of Billie Holiday in new rhythmic forms, many from the 1930s.
Zayas is a composer, arranger and percussionist. Born in Cuba, Zayas graduated from the ISA (Instituto Superior de Artes) in 1998 and taught at that institution for nearly five years. He was a member of the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba for 10 years while collaborating with different projects and bands from diverse backgrounds such as jazz, hip hop, rock and other genres. From 1994 to his 2006 move to the United States, he made several international tours with different groups. In the last six years he has collaborated with many musicians, choreographers and educators, sometimes with his own arrangements or original compositions, at other times as an instrumentalist.
Click here to listen a sample of Zayas' many talents.
Click here to get your tickets to Spare A Dime!
Zayas is a composer, arranger and percussionist. Born in Cuba, Zayas graduated from the ISA (Instituto Superior de Artes) in 1998 and taught at that institution for nearly five years. He was a member of the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba for 10 years while collaborating with different projects and bands from diverse backgrounds such as jazz, hip hop, rock and other genres. From 1994 to his 2006 move to the United States, he made several international tours with different groups. In the last six years he has collaborated with many musicians, choreographers and educators, sometimes with his own arrangements or original compositions, at other times as an instrumentalist.
Click here to listen a sample of Zayas' many talents.
Click here to get your tickets to Spare A Dime!