Susan Abod + Steve Figueroa’s Red Hot & Red

Santa Fe based vocalist and songwriter, Susan Abod holds a degree in Music Composition from DePaul University and was a student of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. She was the lead singer and bass player in the Chicago Women’s Liberation Rock Band in the early 70s. She recorded and performed with like-minded feminist singers such as Casse Culver, Willie Tyson and Betsy Rose. She toured Europe as a solo act and eventually made her way to the East Coast where she was nominated Outstanding Female Vocalist for Excellence in Boston Cabaret. Abod had to put her musical career on hold after she developed chronic fatigue syndrome and chemical sensitivities. She continued to work however, writing and producing the autobiographical video documentary, Funny, You Don’t Look Sick. She also recorded In the Moment, a CD which encompassed jazz, blues, and pop styles. Abod moved to Santa Fe in 2005 where she continues to write songs and pursue her passion for jazz. She was a finalist at the New Mexico State Fair’s Music Competition in the Jazz Category in 2006. Joining her for this concert will be Lewis Winn, guitar; Michael Olivola, bass; John Bartlit, drums.

Pianist, Steve Figueroa’s brand new project, Red Hot and Red is a Native-American jazz trio that realizes a long time desire of his to put together a group of indigenous musicians playing America’s only indigenous art form. “There may be other Native-American straight-ahead jazz groups out there,””he says, “but I am unaware of any.””Stylistically, the group plays in the traditional jazz vein with some Afro-Cuban influence as well. A New Mexico native of Laguna pueblo heritage, pianist Steve Figueroa has been an intergal part of the Albuquerque music scene for over 20 years. His primary focus is jazz and Afro-Cuban music, but he is adept at many different styles and has performed with a variety of groups and artists, including Tetragon, Ritmo Caliente, The New Shtetl Band, Sparx, Lorenzo Antonio, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Clark Terry, Frank Morgan and Doug Lawrence. Isleta native, Rob “Milo” Jaramillo, has been an in-demand bassist in the New Mexico area for over 20 years. Equally adept at performing on either acoustic or electric bass he is also known for being one of the most versatile and eclectic bassists on the local scene, as comfortable playing jazz as he is playing Latin, R&B, rock, world music, and reggae styles. Drummer, Louis Speaking Eagle, recently moved to Albuquerque from El Paso. He is an international jazz artist, music educator, and Zacatec Indian ceremonial leader. He has performed with pianists Dino Fiumara Jr., founder of Jazz for Peace, Rick Dellaratta, and Japanese pianist Yoshi Sato, as well as with the legendary bassist John Heard, with whom he recorded a 2005 concert in El Paso. Due to perform and record a follow up CD with John Heard in 2009, Speaking Eagle will release his first official CD as a solo artist in 2010.

$15/$10 Members & Students.
Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044)