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Magos Herrera

Born in Mexico City and currently based out of New York City, Magos Herrera is a dazzling jazz singer-songwriter, producer, and educator declared as "One of the greatest contemporary interpreters of song” by The Latin Jazz Network. With a sultry voice and an unparalleled presence in the contemporary Latin American jazz scene, she is best known for her eloquent vocal improvisation and her singular bold style, which embraces elements of contemporary jazz with Ibero-American melodies and rhythms  in a style that elegantly blends and surpasses language boundaries.

“She gets way under the skin of the song, recalling great communicators like Edith Piaf or Billie Holiday” is how NPR describes Herrera’s talents who has recorded 9 albums including joint collaborations with producer Javier Limón in addition to having participated as a guest artist of several recordings and albums. An accomplished artist, Magos has performed in leading international cultural venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC, Kennedy Center in DC, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City,  Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, Union Chapel in London, Palau de la Musica in Valencia, and has been part of the line-up of some of the most memorable jazz festivals including Montreux Jazz Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival, to mention a few. Featured as one of the most creative Mexicans in the world by Forbes Magazine, throughout her career, Magos has garnered important awards and recognitions, including a Grammy short-list nomination in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for her album Distancia (2009), and received the Berklee College of Music’s Master of Latin Music Award.

In 2018 Magos released her album Dreamers (Sony Music) in collaboration Brooklyn Rider. ”Dreamers is not only a work of art, setting musicians of the highest order to accomplished music with purpose, but it is a work of love as well” wrote Sounds and colors on this highly acclaimed album that rapidly got into the Top lists of The New York Times, Billboard classical, NPR Music,  among others and was nominated for the Grammys for Best arrangement with the song “Niña”.

Created and recorded remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and in collaboration with composer Paola Prestini, in December 2020 Herrera released her tenth album “Con Alma” (National Sawdust Tracks) exploring the question of how we can find communion a in a time of isolation. With more that 30 musicians around the globe  this artifact of our time was presented as a virtual digital experience. In March 2023 Con Alma concert was presented as part of the UN Women 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN Headquarters to celebrate the power of creative activism, innovation, solidarity and resilience, as well as the leadership of women while humanity faced the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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5
Album Review

Alex Kautz: Where We Begin

Read "Where We Begin" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright


Born and raised in São Paulo, drummer Alex Kautz moved to Mexico City with his parents in 1996. His sound world growing up included his parents' MPB (música popular brasileira), bossa nova and samba, along with North American rock and a bit of classical music. Jack DeJohnette's New Directions (ECM, 1978)--with Lester Bowie, Eddie Gomez and John Abercrombie--turned his head toward jazz in a big way. Chick Corea's Return to Forever (Light as a Feather, Polydor, 1973) caught his ear ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Magos Herrera, Karl Berger, Asher Gamedze, Gretchen Parlato & More

Read "Magos Herrera, Karl Berger, Asher Gamedze, Gretchen Parlato & More" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


A remembrance of Karl Berger, the stunning new album by Magos Herrera, and a whole bunch of projects you can find along the Johannesburg-New York-Chicago expressway. Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Sam Butler “Storybook" Folklore (Shifting Paradigm) 0:16 Host talks 5:30 Karl Berger, Kirk Knuffke, feat. Jay Anderson, Matt Wilson “Ganesh" Heart is a Melody (Stunt) 7:42 Host talks 14:43 Gretchen Parlato, Lionel Loueke “Astronauta" Lean In (Edition) 16:13 ...

Album Review

Magos Herrera: Aire

Read "Aire" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Se amate l'universo musicale latino nelle sue varie espressioni--più o meno jazzisticamente orientate--verrete coinvolti profondamente da questo disco intenso e sorprendente. Magos Herrera è una cantante e compositrice messicana poco nota in Italia ma considerata tra le massime vocalist contemporanee. Magos risiede a New York dal 2008 e in due decenni ha pubblicato dischi ricercati, spaziando da contenuti jazzistici (ad es. Distancia con Aaron Goldberg e Lionel Loueke) a personali incursioni nel patrimonio musicale di Centro e Sudamerica ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Mischief Night - New Releases, Jazz Scorpios and More New Standards By Women

Read "Mischief Night - New Releases, Jazz Scorpios and More New Standards By Women" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This broadcast presents new releases from Richard Baratta, Diana Panton, Kerry Politzer, Tawanda, Carmen Lundy, JD Allen and Roberta Donnay, with birthday shoutouts to Andy Bey, Magos Herrera, Allison Miller, Amanda Monaco and Jay Clayton, among others. Also Part 5 of selections from Terri Lyne Carrington's New Standards 101 Lead Sheets by Women featuring compositions by Tia Fuller, Melissa Aldana, Patricia Perez and Camille Thurman. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by purchasing their music during ...

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Album Review

Roni Ben-Hur: Stories

Read "Stories" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Guitarist Roni Ben-Hur, originally from Israel, has absorbed a lot of different cultures and styles into his music. That is reflected on this CD in the variety of music played here: straight ahead jazz as well as Latin and Middle Eastern folk melodies. Mexican singer Magos Herrera brings a sense of husky passion to the songs “La Serena" and “A Redoblar" that sits nicely beside Ben-Hur's warm guitar chords, Ingrid Jensen's soaring trumpet and George Cables' crafty piano ...

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Album Review

Roni Ben-Hur: Stories

Read "Stories" reviewed by John Chacona


Guitarist Roni Ben-Hur is an old soul. Uninterested in ostentation, the Israeli-born guitarist has been content to release a series of warm-hearted recordings that favor partnership over pomposity. Half his 12 leader dates have been duets or are co-credited. Stories isn't one of them, but it might as well be. This is an ensemble recording, patient and glowing with wisdom. Ben-Hur is helped by the elder masters he often chooses to bring gravity and wisdom to his dates. ...

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Catching Up With

Magos Herrera: Rebirth in New York

Read "Magos Herrera: Rebirth in New York" reviewed by Gabriel Medina Arenas


New York City became the new jazz mecca during the 1920s, when many top jazz musicians from jny: Chicago and the rest of the U.S. migrated to the Big Apple. Jazz musicians from around the globe moved there every decade, knowing New York has some of the top jazz venues in the world, a dozen jazz festivals, and numerous jazz record labels. Competition is tremendous, but “The City of Dreams" remains the best place for a jazz musician to gain ...

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Performance / Tour

Mexican Jazz Singer Magos Herrera Performs at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Wednesday, September 14

Mexican Jazz Singer Magos Herrera Performs at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Wednesday, September 14

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts

Magos Herrera is performing at Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show are $20 and can be purchased online. Dinner and show is also available for $62. For more details call 617-562-4111. Born in Mexico City, Herrera combines a modern interpretation on jazz performance with Latin culture and Afro-Cuban influences.She has six CDs, including Distancia, which earned her a nomination for best jazz vocal.album in ...

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Video / DVD

Jazz Vocalist Magos Herrera Interview 2010

Source: Laura Sosa


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Performance / Tour

Magos Herrera to Perform at BAMcafe on May 21

Magos Herrera to Perform at BAMcafe on May 21

Source: DL Media

Vocalist Magos Herrera will perform at BAMcafe Live in Brooklyn, featuring music from Distancia, her debut CD on Sunnyside Records “The Mexican-born Herrera sings in Spanish, English and Portuguese. But really, what she does on Distancia transcends language. She's blending elements from various traditions, stretching the very notion of jazz singing, pushing past the diva pleasantries into a sound that's bold, thrilling and effortlessly global." - Tom Moon, NPR radio NPR Music Review: Tom Moon “Herrera creates a thoroughly ...

154

Performance / Tour

Mexican Jazz Vocalist Magos Herrera at Sculler's in Boston on Thursday, April 29

Mexican Jazz Vocalist Magos Herrera at Sculler's in Boston on Thursday, April 29

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts

Latin American jazz vocalist Magos Herrera and her band perform at Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston on Thursday, April 29, 2010, starting at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 Born in Mexico City, Herrera blends the styling of jazz standards with Latin American melodies to create a unique musical sound that is at once traditional and contemporary. Herrera's band includes Aaron Goldberg, piano; Ben Monder, guitar; Ricky Rodriquez, bass; and Alan Kautz, drums. For a list of upcoming jazz shows at ...

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Performance / Tour

Magos Herrera to Perform at Galapagos Art Space on April 15 and BAMcafe on May 21

Magos Herrera to Perform at Galapagos Art Space on April 15 and BAMcafe on May 21

Source: DL Media

Vocalist Magos Herrera set to perform in Brooklyn, featuring music from Distancia, her debut CD on Sunnyside Records - Galapagos Art Space on April 15- BAMcafe Live on May 21“The Mexican-born Herrera sings in Spanish, English and Portuguese. But really, what she does on Distancia transcends language. She's blending elements from various traditions, stretching the very notion of jazz singing, pushing past the diva pleasantries into a sound that's bold, thrilling and effortlessly global." - Tom Moon, NPR ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Vocalist Magos Herrera at Galapagos, Brooklin

Jazz Vocalist Magos Herrera at Galapagos, Brooklin

Source: All About Jazz

MAGOS HERRERA CONCERT PRESENTED BY GALAPAGOS ART SPACE VISIONINTOART: FERUS FESTIVAL April 15, 2010, 10pm Cover 15 USdlls Magos Herrera, jazz vocalist and composer will present the music of her newest Grammy nominee album Distancia Sunnyside records. Line Up: Magos Herrera. Vocals Mike Moreno.Guitar Ricky Rodriguez. Bass Alex Kautz. Drums Directions to Galapagos at the corner of Water Street in DUMBO 16 Main Street ...

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Performance / Tour

Vocalist Magos Herrera to Perform at Joe's Pub on September 11 in Support of Recent Release "Distancia"

Vocalist Magos Herrera to Perform at Joe's Pub on September 11 in Support of Recent Release "Distancia"

Source: DL Media

Vocalist Magos HerreraTo Perform at Joe's Pub on September 11In Support of Recent Release Distancia “The Mexican-born Herrera sings in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Butreally, what she does on Distancia transcends language. Blending elementsfrom various traditions, she's stretching the very notion of jazz singing,pushing past the diva pleasantries into a sound that's bold, thrilling andeffortlessly global" - Tom Moon, NPRVocalist Magos Herrera will perform with her group at ...

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Performance / Tour

Voices: Beat Kaestli and Magos Herrera @ Drom, Sunday Dec. 7th

Voices: Beat Kaestli and Magos Herrera @ Drom, Sunday Dec. 7th

Source: All About Jazz

BEAT KAESTLI and MAGOS HERRERA @ DROM, NYC Sunday, December 7th at 9:30pm and 11pm 85 Avenue A, New York (212)777-1157 www.dromnyc.com - Cover: $10 Featuring: MAGOS HERRERA and BEAT KAESTLI. vocals LAGE LUND. guitar BEN STIVERS. nord RICKY RODRIGUEZ. bass ALEXANDRE KAUTZ. drums Mexico’s Magos Herrera is considered one of the most beautiful voices and the most active vocalist ...

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Performance / Tour

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Featuring Victor Prieto (accordion) and Magos Herrera (vocals) Tuesday, December 18th 2007, 8:00 and 9:30 PM 88 Seventh Avenue South 212-255-3626 Cover: $15 ($10 Minimum) Line up: Beat Kaestli - voice Magos Herrera - voice Victor Prieto - accordion Jamie Reynolds - piano Gary Wang - bass Fred Kennedy - drums After returning from his fourth European tour, a tour in Canada ...

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Performance / Tour

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

BEAT KAESTLI QUARTET at Sweet Rhythm featuring Victor Prieto (accordion) and Magos Herrera (vocals) Tuesday, December 18th 2007, 8:00 and 9:30 PM 88 Seventh Avenue South 212-255-3626 Cover: $15 ($10 Minimum) Line up: Beat Kaestli - voice Magos Herrera - voice Victor Prieto - accordion Jamie Reynolds - piano Gary Wang - bass Fred Kennedy - drums After returning from ...

One of the great modern singers of our time. Latin Jazz Network

 

Herrera gets way under the skin of the song, recalling great communicators like Edith Piaf or Billie Holiday. NPR

 

You can now declare Magos Herrera to be one of the greatest contemporary interpreters of song. Latin Jazz network

 

She's stretching the very notion of jazz singing, pushing past the diva pleasantries into a sound that's bold, thrilling and effortlessly global.  NPR

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

New York City

Credentials/Background

Magos has also been a valued teacher since 2000, when she started teaching vocal technique and improvisation in music schools including Fermatta Music Academy and DIM Music School in Mexico City. Magos has been a guest professor for master classes and clinics at New England Conservatory in Boston, MA, Berklee College in Boston, Berklee Latino in Colombia, Berklee Valencia, Central College in Pella, Iowa, Miami Dade College, Kuala Lumpur Music Academy, Hong Kong University, Escuela Superior de Música in Mexico City, JazzUV in Xalapa, Mahidol University and KPN Music Academy in Bangkok, and held academic residencies in Swarnabhoomy Academy of Music and Global Music Institute in India, the Carnegie Hall Musical Exchange Program in 2012, and more recently, the Langnau Jazz Camp in Switzerland. Currently she is part of Mannes Conservatory at New School Faculty.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Where We Begin

Sunnyside Records
2024

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Aire

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

Femininas

ArtistShare
2023

buy

Stories

Dot Time Records
2021

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Con Alma: Magos...

national Sawdust tracks
2020

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Dreamers: Magos...

Sony Music
2018

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La Flor de la Canela

From: Femininas
By Magos Herrera

Videos

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