Brenda Hopkins is a Puerto Rican jazz pianist who has released four solo albums between 1999-2012. Her albums have received critical acclaim and awards, with critics praising her compositions as unpredictable yet sophisticated fusions of jazz, Spanish, and Puerto Rican styles. Hopkins has a diverse performance resume, having toured internationally in Europe and the US and collaborated with many jazz and Latin artists. She holds degrees in music from prestigious schools and has studied classical piano, jazz, and musicology.
2. 2
Discography: As leader
12
SIMPLE (2012) Zona Boricua Records
Selected #9 Best album of 2012 by Fundación Nacional para la
Cultura Popular
Simple in some ways is the perfect title for this album in the
sense that Miranda’s pianistic approach is soft, unfettered and
somewhat easy to grasp. But, on the other hand, her
compositions can be unpredictable, uncommonly passionate and
quite sophisticated.
~ Jazz Inside Magazine
A superb production, Simple portrays Hopkins Miranda as an
adventuresome pianist, and embodies the old adage that still
waters run deep.
~ All About Jazz
RECUERDOS DE GRANADA (2009) Zona Boricua Records
Selected #16 Best album of 2009 by Fundación Nacional para la
Cultura Popular
Every once in a while one comes across a CD of such quality and
beauty that restores your faith in music. Brenda Hopkins
Miranda’s Memoirs from Granada is that kind of CD. A music
jewel from beginning to end, in Memoirs from Granada, Brenda
captivates the listener with an exquisite fusion of Jazz, music
from Spain and of course, music from her country, Puerto Rico.
~ Jazz Times
If in one year there is an average of 3 to 4 jazz albums made in
Puerto Rico or by Puerto Ricans, this year there are at least two
of them - ‘Esta plena’, by Miguel Zenón and ‘Recuerdos de
Granada’, by Brenda Hopkins – are amongst the best of the year.
~ El Nuevo Día
BOHEMIA (1999) BHM Music
This CD (Bohemia) is a superb mix of European romanticism,
Spanish passion and Third World heat. Miranda mixes rhythms
together with the intensity of a mad scientist and comes up with
something quite unlike any other ethnic Jazz mixture out there.
This is highly recommended.
~ Cadence Magazine
BORICUA ON BOARD (1998) BHM Music
She is an exceptional rhythmic inventor. The varied worlds she
conjures up - some jagged, others even more broken and
interrupted - are at the heart of her improvisations. And she is
good at it, putting the notes in the right places.
~ Northeast Performer
3. 3
Discography: as guest artist
1
Puya P'a ti en vivo live in Puerto Rico DVD (Ahorake Corp., 2010)
En lo que Vol. 1 (En lo que música, 2009)
En lo que el hacha va y viene, Yeva (Ahorake/Rum&Humble 2007)
Seres , Seres de Plasticina (2003)
Union, Puya (MCA 2001)
There the Eye Goes Not, Michael Bullock Quartet (Tautology
2001)
The Already and the Not Yet, James Falzone Septet (2000)
After the Storm, Lonnie Elfbaum Solo Piano Compositions (Elf Music
1999)
Music on film
Yo Misma fui mi ruta (2002)
Written and directed by Karen A. Rossi
La Mecedora (2007)
Written and directed by María Bird Picó sponsored by the Puerto Rico Film
Commission and Procuradoría de la Mujer Pianist
4. 4
2
Performances
As leader
Festival Patrimonio Flamenco, Granada Spain
XXVII Festival Internacional de Jazz de Granada
I Intercultural Festival “Entreculturas”, Motril,
Spain
Mayagüez Internacional Jazz Fest, Puerto Rico
Inter Metro Jazz Festival, Puerto Rico
Boriquén Jazz Fest, Puerto Rico
Chivas Regal Jazz Festival, Puerto Rico
Un Alma en Piano, University of Puerto Rico
Theatre
Global Connections Concert at Jordan Hall, Boston
New England Conservatory Improvisation Festival,
Boston
Art and Experimental Music Festival “Giratorio”,
Puerto Rico
Jazz Nights at Marriot Hotel, Puerto Rico
As guest artist
Bernie Williams
Christian Nieves
Humberto Ramírez
Bob Moses
George Russel
Oskar Cartaya
William Cepeda
Anthony Carrillo
Cachete Maldonado
Paoli Mejías
Endel Dueño
Juancito Torres
Polito Huertas
Oscar Stagnaro
Charlie Sepúlveda
Aquiles Báez
Henry Cole
Peter Row
Masashi Harada
Aquiles Baez
3
Dan Ben Lior
Israel Paz
Ricardo Pons
Aldemar Valentín
Efraín Martínez
Héctor Matos
Samuel Morales
Furito Ríos
Eggie Castrillo
Puya
Yeva
Tambores Calientes
Luis Enrique Juliá
Toto Fabris
Rachel Maduri
Okkyung Lee
Jorrit Dijkstra
O’ Brazil
Ricardo Montaner
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Pandora
Lucecita Benítez
Glenn Monroig
Ednita Nazario
Yolandita Monge
Roy Brown
Luis Ángel
Marco Antonio Muñiz
Lourdes Robles
Zorayda Santiago
Chucho Avellanet
Proyecto M
Roberto Figueroa
Tambó Tropical
Los Pleneros del Coco
and many others
With influences that go from
jazz to afro-Puerto Rican and
Caribbean rhythms, passing by
flamenco and bluegrass among
others, Hopkins Miranda
promises a show in which
categories are unnecessary.
~ El Nuevo Día
5. 5
Invited to perform for the Dalai Lama during his first visit to Puerto Rico.
Chosen to be the opening act for Jerry González and Jorge Pardo at La Telonera in
Spain
Keyboard player for #1 TV show in Puerto Rico, “Marcano el Show”. Performances
with guest artists Tito Puente, Sheila E., Néstor Torres, Dave Valentín, Charlie
Sepúlveda, El Gran Combo, Franco de Vita and others.
Interviewed for a documentary for Spanish TV channel Canal Sur.
Chosen artist of the week by: Jazz N’ Bossa and VID90 Jazz.
Pianist and composer for the flamenco show in Granada, Spain, “Raíz y Duende” for
a year and a half, which was part of the Festival Patrimonio Flamenco 2008,
organized by the Granada City Council.
The first woman musician to perform on the TV show “En Clave de Jazz TV” in a
special edition dedicated to Puerto Rico’s jazz pianists.
Included on the “En Clave de Jazz” radio program’s list of “most important Puerto
Rican pianists”.
Performed at the first encounter of Puerto Rican women in jazz “E-Jazz”.
Performed as guest artist with the Conservatorio Profesional de Música “Ángel
Barrios” Big Band.
Guest artist for the show Pasión, Romance y Embrujo joining Spanish cantaor Israel
Paz and singer Ana del Rocío.
Performed in Spain with international artists Dan Ben Lior, Toto Fabris, Rachel
Maduri and others.
Education
Universidad de Granada, Spain
Doctoral studies in Musicology and Creativity (2007-09)
New England Conservatory
Contemporary Improvisation Master Degree (2000)
Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico
Classical Piano Performance Magna Cum Laude Bachelor Degree (1991)
Berklee College of Music
Jazz Piano Performance studies Music Scholarship (1996)
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
Literature studies (1985)
Highlights
