Venissa Santí's artistry in singing Afro-Cuban and Jazz was born from the necessity to express the musical influences that nourish her spirit as a Cuban American. She has sparked the attention of important artists in Latin jazz such as Ruben Blades and Danilo Pérez. They have said that she is excellent and marked her as audacious in her arranging with an original and unforgettable sound. She is a recent recipient of the PEW Fellowship 2008, a prestigious award in the category folk and traditional arts and was selected from a pool of 323 applicants in PA.. Venissa Santí performs innovative and genre-defying Cuban American vocal jazz that has been hailed as fresh, creative and appealing to all audiences. Her combinations of age-old beloved songs and mixture of Cuban and jazz rhythms are documented on her 2008 solo Debut CD "Bienvenida." This sparkling recording showcases her artistry in singing, writing, and arranging as well as Venissa's jazz improvisation. Vocally she stretches from Afro-Cuban folklore to balladry even attempting Cuban singing styles that are traditionally only done by men, namely in her aggressive Latin jazz track "Columbia Pa' Miguel Angel" among other daring combinations of jazz standards done in an Afro-Cuban Bembe rhythm, and Cuban classics such as "Como Fue" done as a blues with the great guitarist Jeff Lee Johnson. Her original songs prove to be audience favorites and show a rich and promising future as a songwriter and reflect her personal journeys as a Cuban-American romantic girl. Also finally Venissa pays tribute to her Cuban composer grandfather: Jacobo Ros Capablanca by performing his signature song "Lucerito de Mi Amor." After much study in jazz, Cuban music and improvisation in Philadelphia, Havana and Matanzas with artists/teachers/mentors: such as JD Walter, Ron Kerber (University of the Arts) Elizabeth Sayre, Orlando Fiol- (master bata drumers), Michael Spiro (of BataKetu) Gregorio “El Goyo” Hernández (Yoruba Adavo) "Minini" (Afro Cuba De Matanzas), and Arturo Martinez (Clave y Guaguanco) Venissa took her favorite pieces from a wide range of original, Afro-Cuban, popular, folkloric, and Jazz standard repertoire and combined these languages, rhythms and concepts to create a Cuban Vocal Jazz style all her own. For "Bienvenida" Venissa teamed up with an all star Cuban and Cuban American band to record and perform all of her own arrangements. The Rodriguez Brothers, Robert Rodriguez on piano and Michael Rodriguez on trumpet, (Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Giovanni Hidalgo, Charlie Haden) Yunior Terry on bass (Jane Bunnet, Dafnis Prieto)Francois Zayas on drums (Havana Sax, Elio Villafranca, Leo Brouwer) Cuco Castellanos on congas (The Buena Vista Social Club, Chucho Valdes)With Special Invited Guest Guitarist: Jeff Lee Johnson (Mariah Carey, Ronald Shannon, Jill Scott, Billy Joel, Lalah Hathaway, George Duke).

Artist's website

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Brunch seating begins at Noon | Performance starts at 1:00pm | Upstairs Live

Tickets: $15.00 per person - includes live entertainment and continental breakfast buffet of bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit, juice, coffee, and tea. A Bloody Mary bar and Specialty Mimosas, as well as our full selection of wines, beers, spirits and champagnes, may also be purchased.

Additional made-to-order menu selections available at a la carte pricing:

Entrees
• Smoked Salmon plate with sliced red onion, vine ripe tomatoes, capers and chive cream cheese - 8.00
• WCL house-made Granola, with yogurt and fresh fruit - 8.00
• Omelet made with three organic brown eggs, Telford Farms cheddar cheese, and roasted red peppers, with Yukon Gold homefries and Hatfield bacon - 10.00
• Crab cakes Benedict: toasted English muffin with two poached brown eggs, petite crab cakes, sautéed spinach and sauce Hollandaise, with fresh melon on the side - 13.00
• Steak and Eggs: two brown eggs cooked your way with petite NY strip steak and Yukon Gold homefries - 15.00
• Blueberry pancakes (three) with Vermont maple syrup and Hatfield bacon - 11.00
• BLT & Egg: toasted country white bread with basil mayonnaise, mixed greens, vine ripe tomato and one fried brown egg, with Yukon Gold homefries - 9.00
• Caesar Salad with grilled marinated chicken breast - 11.00
• Eggs Norwegian: toasted English muffin with two poached brown eggs, smoked salmon and sauce Hollandaise, with Yukon Gold homefries - 13.00
• WCL Burger: grilled Angus beef, Hatfield bacon, Telford Farms cheddar cheese & carmelized onions on toasted sourdough roll - 10.00
• Crab cake Sandwich: Searled lump crab cake, organic field greens and tomato on a toasted sourdough roll, served with lemon caper aioli - 13.00
• Pan-seared Atlantic Salmon with grilled asparagus, Yukon Gold homefries and sauce Hollandaise - 13.00
• Tri-colored Tortellini Alfredo with pesto, small mixed green salad - 12.00

Sides
• Three slices of Hatfield bacon - 3.00
• Yukon Gold homefries - 5.00
• Mixed fruit plate - 6.00
• Toasted English muffin - 2.00
• Small mixed green salad - 4.00


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