(Level IV) Homage to Tavito - Inspired by merengue-jazz virtuoso saxophonist Tavito Vasquez (1928-1995), Homage is rooted on the Dominican merengue genre. It’s written for full big band and Dominican percussion (tambora and güira). The drum set part includes an optional version (with and without the percussion). Characteristic of the genre, it features a sax soli based on a live recording by Vasquez on Pipí Franco’s tune “Arroyito Cristalino.” By unanimous consensus among Dominican jazz connoisseurs, Vásquez is the most significant innovator, a player that masterfully blended the bebop nuances onto the merengue tradition, making it sound like one single style. Homage to Tavito follows the merengue tradition navigating from an older style known as “pambiche” to “merengue derecho.” A great piece to feature an advanced saxophone section along with Caribbean flavors from Dominican Republic. 8 Brass

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SOCRATES GARCIA is a composer, arranger, producer, recording engineer, guitarist, and educator from Dominican Republic. Garcia's credits include the album “Yo Por Ti” by Puerto Rican artist Olga Tañon, Grammy Award winner of Merengue Album of the Year 2001; musical director/keyboardist for Los Ilegales in their 1997-1998 Latin American tour; keyboardist for multi-Grammy winner Juan Luis Guerra; and guest performer with the Dominican Republic’s National Symphony Orchestra, among others.

As a guitarist or keyboardist, Socrates has performed in many Latin-American countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Aruba, and throughout Dominican Republic. As an arranger/producer and recording engineer his work is found on more than 30 albums and a myriad of projects.

Garcia's first first solo album, Sueños (Dreams), fusion of rock, jazz, and Latin styles, features an all-star group of Dominican musicians such as Peter Nova, David Almengod, Leo Pimentel, and Sandy Gabriel.

Garcia studied the Dick Grove’s Composing and Arranging Program (CAP), under the direct tutelage of Dick Grove, and has also studied composition with Jamey Simmons, David Caffey, Fred Sturm, and Paul Elwood. He served as Adjunct Music Professor at Middle Tennessee State University and as the Jazz Harmony and Theory teacher at the Santo Domingo Conservatory of Music, position he held for five years until he moved to the United States in 2004.  

In the United States, Garcia's music has been performed by the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, Colorado Jazz Orchestra, MTSU’s Jazz Ensembles I and II, UNC Jazz Lab Band I, Luther College Jazz Orchestra, and the Celebration Iowa Jazz Band 2005.

Socrates holds a Bachelor degree in Theory and Composition from Luther College and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Middle Tennessee State University. Currently he is pursuing a Doctoral degree in the Jazz Studies program (emphasis in Composition) at the University of Northern Colorado, where he is also the Interim Director of Music Technology.