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By Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

Samuel Torres was only 17 years old when he left his homeland of Bogota, Colombia, to pursue a music career.

He made his way to Miami, Fla., in 1999, where he performed with renowned Latin artists and bands before settling in New York City in 2002. The window of opportunities quickly opened for him here.

Today, the versatile trained percussionist, arranger, and composer of Latin jazz, salsa and Latin pop lives in Long Island City, where he has made a name for himself at home and abroad. His new forthcoming album, “Alegria,” which means “happiness” in English, is a fusion of classic American jazz with contemporary urban Latin dance sounds such as cumbia, boogaloo, and Afro-Cuban jazz.

Music lovers can see the Samuel Torres Super Band perform at a special concert entitled “Alegria, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Aaron Davis Hall, presented by The City College Center for the Arts, located on campus at West 135th Street and Convent Avenue. The May 18 performance will include new songs such as “Raquel’s Bolero,” “Salsa, Jazz y Choke,” and “Barretto Power.”

“I’ve always been interested in the amazing music that has come out of New York City, especially the city’s history of welcoming Latin artists and giving them a base to push through new innovations in Latin music like salsa and Latin jazz,” said Torres. “This is one of the reasons I am so happy to bring these new songs to the people of Harlem.”

The Chamber Music America 2017 New Jazz Works Commissioning program with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation made it possible for “Alegria” and the “Alegria, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” concert. Torres said he is honored to be a two-time winner of the grant in 2012 and 2017, making him the firsthand percussionist to receive the grant. The grant also funds the Boston premiere of the work in concert at Scullers Jazz Club May 24, and the upcoming Alegria album to be recorded later this spring.

Torres grew up listening to music in a household of musicians, including his uncle, Edy Martinez, a pianist-arranger who established himself in the 1970s during the New York City salsa scene. After his career took flight working with the famed American-Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, Torres joined famous Latin artists, including Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Shakira and Tito Puente, among others.

“It’s very important as a musician to be open and play many different styles that reach your musical language,” Torres said. “All music can be great if it’s done well. I’m always open to playing with new artists, too.”

Torres’ 2015 album, “Forced Displacement,” was influenced by the violence and political unrest affecting his native Colombia. His new album is dedicated to the people of Colombia and other Latin American nations who are resilient and able to find happiness through any given hardships. For Torres, it’s about reconciliation, peace, love and forgiveness.

“I wanted to do something positive that inspired people to move through the language and Alegria does that,” Torres said.

When Torres is not on tour, he works as a music instructor at a private school in Manhattan, where he is developing the percussion program.

He hopes that people will enjoy the upcoming concert and leave with a feeling of love for life, dance, and happiness.

The Samuel Torres Super Band includes Torres (congas and percussion); Will Vinson (alto saxophone); Joel Frahm (tenor and soprano saxophone); Ivan Renta (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet and flute); Michael Rodriguez (trumpet); Alex Norris (trumpet); Marshall Gilkes (trombone); Luis Perdomo (piano); Rubén Rodríguez (bass); and Pablo Bencid (drums).

Tickets for “Alegria, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait” are on sale now for $30, or $20 for students and seniors with ID. Tickets can be purchased online at www.citycollegecenterforthearts.org, or in person at the Aaron Davis Hall box office Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more details visit the CCCA site or call the Aaron Davis Box Hall office at (212) 650-6900.

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The morning after the MTA announced it would begin a $45 million project for structural steel repair work and painting along the elevated 7 train line from Jackson Heights and Corona, elected officials and angry straphangers rallied in Sunnyside to demand more from the agency.

City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) blasted the MTA May 3 for continued poor service on the 7 line as well as its announcement that signal upgrade work, which has been underway for seven years will not be finished on time.

“We have endured horrible 7 train service for far too long,” Van Bramer said. “The MTA needs to set deadlines and stick to them. As they plan work, they need to consider this community and the repercussions of service changes. And Andy Byford needs to come to this community immediately for an emergency town hall so that he can fully understand the impact of this awful 7 train service.”

Byford is the new president of New York City Transit.

“People who live along the 7 need the train to get to work and to get home to their families and they shouldn’t be forced to dedicate additional commute time to stand on crowded platforms because the 7 train is so unreliable,” Van Bramer said. “This community deserves better”

The new technology, called Communication-based Train Control, will eventually allow the MTA to run more trains per hour on the 7 line, but that project has missed numerous deadlines. Work was supposed to be completed June 30, but it has been pushed back to November.

“The extended time lines and cost overruns on the CBTC project are completely unacceptable,” founder and executive director of Access Queens Melissa Orlando said. “Not only does this cause inconvenience for riders, the associated testing, train delays and signal failures create a real quality-of-life issue here in Queens. The economic impact of not having functioning mass transit in Queens cannot be overstated — all of this has a cost attached to it.”

The MTA explained the contractor Thales is asking for more time to complete the CBTC project, and Byford is challenging the request.

“President Byford told MTA Board members that he’s very unhappy about delays and is aggressively pushing the contractor installing the brand-new signal system on the 7 line to work harder and complete the job sooner than the contractor’s new projection,” MTA spokesman Jon Weinstein said.

City Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) joined the rally and spoke of his constituents’ anger and frustration with frequent delays on the 7 line.

“Any 7 train rider can tell you that the only thing reliable about the 7 train is that it will inevitably be delayed,” Koo said. “At the end of the day, 7 train riders are sick and tired of being sick and tired. From Long Island City to Flushing, New Yorkers need the MTA to do better because New Yorkers deserve better.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) and state Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-East Elmhurst) were scheduled to meet with the commissioner of the city Department of Transportation Friday to discuss traffic lighting changes along Northern Boulevard after a 9-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Jackson Heights.

Giovanni Ampuero was crossing 70th Street and Northern Boulevard with his mother April 28 when an 86-year-old driver making a left turn struck and killed Ampuero, according to Assemblyman DenDekker. Just days after Ampuero’s death, the DOT implemented a Leading Pedestrian Interval at the intersection where he died, which gives pedestrians a seven-second head start before cars can turn.

“While that is not exactly what we wanted, it is a step in the right direction. But what about the rest of Northern Boulevard?” said DenDekker.

DenDekker said that after U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) and other elected officials from the city and state representing Northern Boulevard met WHEN?DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenburg in City Hall, the DOT agreed to walk along Northern Boulevard from 58th Street to Junction Boulevard to inspect every intersection.

“A study which began today will include local elected officials walking block by block with NYC DOT to review every intersection,” DenDekker said. “The immediate study will include LPI’s, All Pedestrian Phase Lighting, Split Phase Leading Pedestrian Lighting for the left turning lanes and other traffic turning calming recommendations.”

Ampuero is the fifth child involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident in Queens in less than 6 years along Northern Boulevard. In December 2012, Miguel Torres, an 11-year-old sixth-grade student at IS 145, was killed while crossing 80th Street and Northern Boulevard. In December 2017, Noshat Nahian, an 8-year-old third-grade student at PS 152 was struck and killed while crossing 61st Street and Northern Boulevard, according to DenDekker.

“They were all crossing in the crosswalk with a green signal when they were struck by drivers failing to yield to the pedestrians in the crosswalk,” DenDekker said. “We must try to prevent these terrible incidents. One way is to hold the drivers accountable for the terrible reckless operation of their vehicles and another is to try, by design, to make our roads safer.”

Zeeshan Anis, 35, of East Tremont in the Bronx, who attends the Baitul Ateeq Muslim Center every Friday on 62-17 Northern Blvd., said it is deadly for pedestrians trying to cross the road.

“I’ve been coming here for eight years now and the road conditions have not changed,” Anis said. “There are schoolchildren that have to cross these streets and sometimes cars don’t stop.”

Anis said there should be more of a police presence along the busy intersections on Northern Boulevard to make sure the children are safe.

Peralta said now is the time for the DOT to step up and put a stop to the unnecessary deaths on Northern Boulevard.

“We cannot allow Northern Boulevard to become the new old Queens Boulevard, which was known as the Boulevard of Death,” Peralta said.

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

Two Queens artists have their work on display at the Rainforest Art Foundation’s “Nature in Art By Young Artists” exhibit.

The exhibit, run by artist Marlene Yu, opened May 5 and will run through June 6 at 35-58 37th St. in Long Island City.

Midori Tanabe lives in Forest Hills and has a background in architecture. Her artwork is on display at the exhibit, including a drawing of the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, which shows off the area’s submerged trees.

“Some of my work includes drawings in pastels usually about things I find in New York City. Most of my work focuses on architecture and nature,” Tanabe said. “I like drawing on the site because it makes me pay more attention to the details. Being that this is the Rainforest Art Foundation, it is all about appreciating nature through art, so my art is based on the flowers and foliage of the city. Although I prefer drawing indoors as my comfort zone, the outdoor environment gives me a further dimension and can be less suffocating.”

Jenny Liu, of Long Island City, has two copper plate etchings on display at the exhibit, “I Found the Universe in My Backyard” and “Infinity.”

“All of my work tends to come back to nature in some way,” Liu said. “My artwork served as a culmination of my interdisciplinary studies and interests in undergraduate at University of Pittsburgh.”

Liu majored in philosophy and minored in studio arts, as well as chemistry. She is inspired by nature and the world around her.

“I try to better understand the significance of living organisms and what it means to be living,” Liu said.

With “I Found the Universe in My Backyard,” Liu said she tried to show off “the awe and wonder that is universally felt when we immerse ourselves in nature.” “Infinity” is “a study of the states of infinity that can be found in nature,” Liu said.

“After seeing Marlene’s art, I was inspired and felt further connected to these questions and curiosities regarding nature that we both share,” she added. “I am excited to see more of her work and get to know her more because it seems like our artwork comes from similar ways of thinking about nature.”

There are five other artists in addition to Tanabe and Liu who have their work displayed at the exhibit.

Catherine Chang flew in from Atlanta to provide a solo show within the exhibit. The fabric pieces included in her work are naturally hand-dyed with food scraps in order to honor “nature.” The pinks are made from avocados and the yellows from lemon peels. Chang said she is inspired by the spiritual feeling of being out in a naturalistic environment.

Receptive to both her own inner nature and nature’s wisdom, Chang said that she seeks “to explore universal metaphysics and internal feeling in my artwork through line, space, and color” and uses the medium to create a visual language of what she not able to put into words. “I wish that those who connect with my art will find a quieting of the mind and an opening of heart and soul,” Chang said.

Scarlett Chang, Catherine’s sister, also contributed to the exhibit with one drawing of pen on paper. She said her focus is simple and intricate line drawings of flower forms using both pen and watercolor. “The work I create is a product of self expression and creativity used as an outlet for the mundane,” Scarlett said. “Flowers are the main focus of my work and are detailed in the most simplistic nature of pen on paper in order to highlight the work with less emphasis on the medium.”

Ave Salzman, Jinge Xu and Alexander Yu also showed off their work at the exhibit, though they were not present at the opening reception.

Salzman considers herself to be a practicing graphic novelist, painter, and illustrator. She said that she is “deeply passionate about ecology, evolutionary biology and the conservation of species in the earth’s remaining niches of great beauty.” Her exhibit of her “Small Five” series came from volunteering in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, which is in Africa.

“I aim to capture that appreciation of nature coupled with the effortless inventiveness of a child, two qualities that are fundamental to human development and happiness,” Salzman said.

Alexander Yu is the youngest of the artists whose work is featured in the exhibit. “During my art elective at school we were instructed to paint a still-life painting using acrylic paints,” he said. “My choices were limitless but I settled on one of my favorite pictures of my dog, the scene setting a sense of serenity as Ella is deep in sleep on soft covers. She embodies still life and peace in oneself.”

Jinge Xu, from the northern Chinese province of Inner Mongolia, said she is inspired by the colors found in nature, though the art she has on display shows black and white line drawings of whimsical animals.

Those interested in attending the exhibit can stop by the Rainforest Art Foundation Tuesdays through Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the foundation at (917) 682-3630.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Tammy Scileppi

TimesLedger Newspapers

Kew Gardens is a place where art has a home.

A special group exhibit showcasing the talents of 30 outstanding local artists, is on view through June 10 at Austin’s Ale House, located at 82-70 Austin St. in the heart of Kew Gardens.

The aptly titled “Kew Gardens: A Place Where Art Has A Home” features 60 pieces of diverse works of art, capturing images of daily life in that quaint urban village — a bustling art community where creativity sines in the spotlight.

Photos, oil paintings and even a sculpture were submitted, and after the show closes, each piece will be donated to a Kew Gardens business where it will be permanently on view.

This project was made possible by a community grant awarded to the Kew Gardens Improvement Association, Inc. by the Citizens Committee for New York City.

“What started out as an idea to bring local artists together to share their favorite images of Kew Gardens and to bring artwork into our mom and pop businesses to promote beauty, interest, interaction and discussion, has taken on a deeper meaning,” said Carol Lacks, a Kew Gardens Improvement Association board member. “Kew Gardens is a unique community and our hope is to help, through the arts, to preserve a sense of place and the awareness of the importance of residents coming together to protect their home.”

Another board member, Rosemary Sherman, wrote the following for the Kew Gardens Civic Association Newsletter:

“This initiative will capture the heart and soul of everyday life. It will instill a sense of pride and help residents see what they might never have noticed about their surroundings: The classic homes nestled on our tree-lined streets, as well as the sidewalks of our commercial areas, lined with local stores. Forest Park is well represented and you will see images of people relaxing, a painting of teams playing soccer, dogs frolicking in the Overlook Dog Park, and the frog in the Overlook Playground, ready to spray water on children waiting to cool off on a hot day.

“The beauty of Kew Gardens’ venues covered with new snow, Kew & Willow Books at night, two children selling tomatoes at their tomato stand, Sophie, a neighbor’s black cat, peering out an apartment window, eyeing a cardinal in a close-by tree, are some of the other images.”

Local painter Weimin Mo is a prolific artist who strives to create something amazing almost daily. He finds his nirvana through observing and painting the everyday beauty around him. Afterward, he posts his work on his blog with memoir text. The painting of “Save the Bridge/Save Kew Gardens,” was made in a few hours on a blustery April morning.

Designer/illustrator Pauline Nunez Maruzzelli, who goes by Neene, is another exhibit participant. The School of Visual Arts graduate said she’s inspired by community-based projects such as this one.

“As a local resident, I am grateful to have the opportunity to be involved in issues that directly affect me and my family,” she said. “It is also a chance for me to paint in watercolor and collage, which I don’t get to do as a freelance web designer.”

Neene has shown her work in other local projects, such as the “Global Art Project for Peace” and “HomeFull, a celebration of Poetry and Art in the borough of Queens.”

Another artist, Robert W. Murphy, was born into a large creative family where musical and visual art expression were encouraged. He said his personal drive is “to imbue my work with a feeling of atmosphere, a turn of a thought, or an unspoken word.”

According to Sherman, this show reflects “the timeless grace and classic beauty of our urban village.”

“As you look around at these images, I think you will be inspired. You may see things you never noticed or perhaps look at Kew Gardens with a new perspective. I know I did,” Sherman said. “Each piece tells a story. Like the two wonderful images of the Lefferts Boulevard Bridge, and Ana Reza’s exquisite black and white photo. “Let’s all come together to save our own Kew Gardens Ponte Vecchio and continue to develop Kew Gardens as a place where art has a home.”

The SaveKewGardens.com Coalition was formed to combine and coordinate the efforts of all those seeking to preserve the bridge and its stores, and to oppose the construction of any high-rises.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Several Queens lawmakers are relieved that Eric Schneiderman resigned as state attorney general just hours after his alleged violence towards four women were exposed in The New Yorker magazine Monday. Queens’ newest assemblywoman, Ari Espinal (D-Jackson Heights), who won her seat in the special election last month, supported the women who came forward against Schneiderman in the exposé.

“I am incredibly disgusted by Eric Schneiderman, the alleged violent acts against these brave survivors, and his hypocrisy,” Espinal said. “We must leave no doubt that any man who abuses, harasses, or assaults women should not be representing our state. In this era of #MeToo, it takes immense courage to speak up about something so personal and traumatic. I stand completely with these women and support them in their fight for justice.”

She added, “As a state and a country, we must do more to empower all victims of abuse to come forward so that we can hold perpetrators accountable and break the cycle of violence. I have complete faith in our law enforcement to investigate this matter fully.”

Schneiderman, who served the attorney general from 2011 to 2013 after 10 years in the state Senate, said the incidents involving the women were consensual.

State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Flushing) agreed with her fellow assemblywoman.

“Given the recent allegations of assault by four women, the resignation of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was the only option moving forward,” she said. “It is imperative that the reports of these courageous women are taken seriously and that the investigations continue. New York women deserve an attorney general who champions their rights both publicly and privately and we should continue advocating and pursuing a more just New York.”

The revelations about Schneiderman were particularly disturbing because he had been a champion of the #MeToo movement and women’s rights.

Barbara Underwood, 73, was sworn in Tuesday as acting attorney general a day after Schneiderman’s resignation.

Underwood had been the state solicitor general since 2007 and she held an executive position at the Queens district attorney’s office in the 1990s.

“Barbara D. Underwood is a superb lawyer,” DA Richard Brown said. “She was a key part of my administration when I became the Queens district attorney in 1991 and is very well-respected. I brought Barbara in to oversee legal affairs, develop our training program and to manage recruitment. She excelled in all of these areas and continues to be an important member of our state’s legal community.”

Underwood will serve out the remainder of Schneiderman’s term unless the state Legislature selects a replacement. Among the names being mentioned are state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and city Public Advocate Letitia James.

“The work of this office is critically important,” Underwood said. “Our office has never been stronger, and this extraordinarily talented, dedicated, and tireless team of public servants will ensure that our work continues without interruption.”

Several recent investigations in Queens will continue such as the attorney general’s probe into three buildings in Astoria once owned by Kushner Companies, formerly run by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, for allegedly falsifying documents on rent-stabilized tenants. A lawsuit Schneiderman brought against 14 anti-choice protesters who allegedly harassed women who approached the Choices Women’s Medical Center in Jamaica between 2012 and 2017 is proceeding.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Zach Gewelb

TimesLedger Newspapers

In the blink of an eye, the Matt Harvey era is officially over.

Days after being designated for assignment, Harvey was traded to the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday in exchange for former All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco. This has to be considered a win-win scenario for the Mets.

The Mets were ready to move on from their former ace who, at the top of his game, was considered one of the best pitchers in the league. But injuries kicked in and Harvey never truly recovered. He was booted from the rotation and moved to the bullpen early this season and the results were not great.

Then there’s his issues off the field. Harvey’s party boy reputation has followed him his entire career. It was something the Mets could cope with when he was an ace. But as a struggling reliever, there was no need to put up with his antics any longer.

Recent reports had him partying in Los Angeles the night before the Mets were set to take on the Padres in San Diego. There are worse things that could’ve happened, but it was a bad look for the struggling Harvey. General manager Sandy Alderson said he couldn’t get upset when the news broke about Harvey’s recent partying.

“Usually I get upset if a report is unexpected, so I guess the short answer is no,” Alderson said.

Alderson made that comment May 1. Harvey was designated for assignment May 5 and was traded May 8.

It doesn’t take a genius to read between the lines. The Mets had come to expect that kind of behavior from Harvey and the team was clearly frustrated.

The team tried sending him down to Triple-A, an assignment that Harvey refused, leading to the eventual trade to Cincinnati. The Mets told teams they wanted a catcher, which was a huge need with Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki both injured, and the Reds had the best to offer.

That the club managed to acquire a starting catcher for a player they were ready to release has to be a steal for general manager Sandy Alderson. Yes, Mesoraco has his warts — he, too, has an ugly injury history — but he has the potential to do same damage at the plate if he can remain healthy.

The Mets got more than they could have hoped for in return for Harvey. Now, the pitcher formerly known as The Dark Knight will try to resurrect his career in Cincinnati, where he will have a chance to stick in the starting rotation for the last-place Reds.

Meanwhile, Mesoraco will try to help the struggling Mets bounce back from their rough stretch and keep them in the playoff race.

It seems as though the Mets got the better end of the deal. But perhaps a motivated Harvey can turn things around in Cincinnati. Time will tell, but regardless of the outcome, this was a move the Mets had to make.

Reach reporter Zach Gewelb by e-mail at zgewelb@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4539.

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Source: Times Ledger