Grammy Travesty Continues: John Santos
Well, it's that time of year again - Grammy fever. CBS ramps it up with a constant barrage of mega-bucks commercials of all lengths and even specials leading up to the February 12th telecast that is expected to produce multi-gazillions of dollars. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) inundates the membership with nomination and voting materials, invitations to the big event and its surrounding activities including post and pre-parties...
Puerto Rico Jazz Jam 2012
It was an exciting opening night for the third edition of the Puerto Rico Jazz Jam, an event created by trumpet player, composer, arranger and now producer Humberto Ramirez. Two extraordinaire Jazz musicians started this year’s Puerto Rico Jazz Jam 2012. The opening act was trumpet player Julito Alvarado and his Latin Jazz Band. Alvarado Latin Jazz Band combines a young musician, drummer Khalil Ed Gonzalez with some Jazz masters from Puerto Rico...
Editor’s Picks – Best CDs of 2011
The drum and the horn, an inspired duet that played a vital role in the birth of Cubop. Poncho Sanchez and Terence Blanchard, two Living Masters in their own right, pay a heartfelt tribute to Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie, two Masters whose legacy continues to expand in the ample vocabulary of Jazz music. Their musical spirits are more present than ever on Chano Y Dizzy!
Mundo: The World of Jane Bunnett
There are many possible descriptions of Jane Bunnett: Composer/bandleader/multi-instrumentalist/educator/festival organizer. Order of Canada recipient, five-time Juno Award winner and multiple Grammy nominee. Internationally acclaimed artist with a recording career spanning 24 years. Our preferred phrase is: fearless musical explorer. In tandem with her long-time partner in music and life, trumpeter/composer/producer Larry Cramer...
More Noteworthy Recordings of 2011
Most fans, even aficionados of contemporary music, still only vaguely know the great trumpeter Claudio Roditi as the “Brazilian who joined Arturo Sandoval in Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra”. It is a pity that Roditi’s musical reputation rests on so narrow a spectrum in his enormous musical career. Few know, for instance, that Roditi was one of the first Brazilian musicians to relocate in the United States of America: in 1970 as a matter of fact. Since then he has criss-crossed America...
Chucho Valdes at the NJPAC: Performance Review
The show opened with pianist, composer, and bandleader, Hiromi Uehara -- a striking and youthful prodigy who epitomizes a new generation of artists whose music transcends conventional boundaries. Visually, Hiromi makes a striking first impression. She is 23, looks younger than her years, and projects an informal, playful demeanor that flies in the face of convention. Aurally, you quickly realize that you are in the presence of a force of nature...
Paoli Mejias – De Jazzambia A Mi Tambor – El Concierto
Master percussionist Paoli Mejias belongs to a generation of artists who are redefining puertoricanness in musical terms with their artistry. Mixing diverse Afro-Caribbean styles with global rhythms, based upon traditional/popular puertorican music, bomba, plena, aguinaldo, and holding it all together within the realm of modern jazz, Paoli is at the forefront of creation of an exciting, recognizable sound...
Press Releases
Mundo: The World of Jane Bunnett
Mundo: The World of Jane Bunnett To Be Released By EMI Canada On February 14, 2012 Double...
Downloads
Free Download: Hamilton de Holanda – Brasilianos 3
For a limited time you can download for FREE the new CD Brasilianos 3 by the Hamilton...
Reviews
Chucho Valdes at the NJPAC: Performance ReviewTHE NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PRESENTS CHUCHO VALDES AND THE AFRO CUBAN MESSENGERS THE HIROMI TRIO PROJECT PERFORMANCE REVIEW BY Thomas Peňa On Sunday, January 21st the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presented an afternoon of piano jazz, with Chucho Valdes and the Afro Cuban Messengers and the Hiromi Trio Project. The event took... [Read more]
Elio Villafranca & Arturo Stable – Dos y Más (Motéma 2012)
Review written by: Raul da Gama - Elio Villafranca is one of the most exciting young trio of pianists to come out of Cuba in recent years; the other two being David Virelles and Aruán Ortiz. That number may well have been a quartet, had Arturo Stable chosen to remain a pianist—an instrument he started out with—before he chose percussion... [Read more]
Bye-Ya! The Latin Jazz Quintet – Further Arrivals (Challenge 2010)
Review written by: Raul da Gama - On Further Arrivals two forces of nature come together. One is the molten voice of Brian Lynch’s trumpet and the other is the very exciting European quartet that goes by the name: Bye-Ya! On the face of it this fine ensemble might appear to be a tribute to Thelonious Monk and, indeed, their chattering approach... [Read more]
Puerto Rico Jazz Jam 2012
Review and photographs by Wilbert Sostre Friday, January 27 It was an exciting opening night for the third edition of the Puerto Rico Jazz Jam, an event created by trumpet player, composer, arranger and now producer Humberto Ramirez. Two extraordinaire Jazz musicians started this year’s Puerto Rico Jazz Jam 2012. The opening act was trumpet player... [Read more]
Mario Adnet – More Jobim Jazz (Adventure Music – 2011)
Review written by: Raul da Gama - Of all the musicians who have contributed to keeping the repertoire of great Brazilian composers alive, Mario Adnet may be making the greatest contribution here. Like trombonist Roswell Rudd, soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy and pianist Misha Mengleberg who gone to great lengths to keep the music of the great... [Read more]
Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto – Corrente (Adventure Music – 2011)
Review written by: Raul da Gama - From the first notes of the lilting, swaggering Afro-Caribbean melody of “Corrente” it is clear that Jovino Santos Neto is on his surreptitious way to making his Quinteto album, Corrente one of his most memorable to date. From there on, whether he is rendering a baião, a choro, marcha, samba or xoté,... [Read more]
David Murray Cuban Ensemble Plays Nat King Cole (Motema 2011)
Review written by: Janine Santana - Nat King Cole’s Latin influenced recordings of 1958 and 1962 were performed in both Spanish and Portuguese. Cole spoke neither, but sang the lyrics phonetically, maintaining his signature phrasing style. Although it sounded odd to native Spanish and Portuguese speakers, his obvious affection for the songs... [Read more]
Grupo Falso Baiano – Simplicidade (Massaroca Records – 2011)
Review written by: Wilbert Sostre - Unlike Bossa Nova, a widely recognized style in the US, Brazilian choro is relatively unknown outside Brazil. The members of Falso Baiano with their refined and gorgeous sound are trying to change that. Falso Baiano is a choro ensemble based in the United States. Their new release Simplicidade: Live at Yoshi’s... [Read more]
Paoli Mejias – De Jazzambia A Mi Tambor – El Concierto
Review by Danilo Navas - Master percussionist Paoli Mejias belongs to a generation of artists who are redefining puertoricanness in musical terms with their artistry. Mixing diverse Afro-Caribbean styles with global rhythms, based upon traditional/popular puertorican music, bomba, plena, aguinaldo, and holding it all together within the realm of modern... [Read more]
Peter MacDonough – The Woo (Self produced – 2010)
Review written by: Wilbert Sostre - The whole concept of Peter MacDonough’s album The Woo: A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone, from the cover art to the name of the songs is based on the movie The Wizard of Oz. Reinterpretations of movie songs is not something new in jazz, John Coltrane did it with My Favorite Things, a song from The Sound... [Read more]
