Héctor Infanzón Quartet in Montreal – July 2009

Mexican pianist and composer Héctor Infanzón. Performing with his quartet in Montreal, during the 30th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

2009 Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival

Photographer Carlos Haddock has been documenting the culture and music of New York and Puerto Rico for nearly three decades. His photographs have been exhibited at the Manners of Fine Art Gallery in New York and the Bienal de Fotografia in Puerto Rico. In addition, he was awarded a trophy by The Association of Photojournalists in Puerto Rico for his photographs of Festival de Jueyes, Maunabo (2002) [...]

Chembo Corniel – Things I Wanted To Do (Chemboro Records 2009)

There is nothing like a swinging, stomping Latin-Jazz record laden with sensuous clave and robust horns and relentless, driving percussion to stir the senses. . And this is exactly what Wilson “Chembo” Corniel brings to life with Things I Wanted To Do. And this is also one more step in the journey for Corniel on his way to join the rarified space occupied by the likes of Tata Güines [...]

Josep Soto – Groc (Temps Records 2008)

Groc is an unusual record. It is a Josep Soto’s not-so-secret and masterful way acknowledging the collision of Spanish music with the music of cultures that Spain, Portugal and other Latin countries set out to influence when they colonized the New World. Uniquely the Spanish music that Soto has experienced grew and cross-pollinated with Argentinean, Brasilian, Cuban [...]

Johnny Conga – Breaking Skin (Independent 2009)

Johnny Conga comes from a long line of illustrious tumbadores, too many to mention, but suffice it to say that from the musical evidence on Breaking Skin, the genealogy may well include the likes of Chano Pozo, Mongo Santamaria, Tata Güines, Candido, Armando Peraza, Francisco Aguabella and a host of others. Lest anyone out there scream, “Blasphemy!” [...]

Arvito: The Harvey Averne Story – The Interview – Part 3

I have noticed that today’s latin jazz is so much more diverse than it was back then. Of course, we could say that the musicians in New York picked up where the Cubans had left off, but that would be speculating. It’s my contention that the Cubans were not alone in their endeavor, and that various ethnic groups were also responsible for the development of this hybrid music [...]

Bobby Matos – Unity (LifeForce Jazz Records 2008)

Whatever music Bobby Matos chooses to inhabit is sure to be brimful – even overflowing – with energy. On this record, Unity, Matos attempts to take his bandmates on a profound, if rhythmic journey. He is attempting to almost metaphysically mirror here the rhythm of the earth in a state of constant unifying – swinging, heart-beating, bebopping – rhythmic revolution [...]

Frank Villafañe – Punto de Vista/ViewPoint – (Independent 2008)

Imagine the time when much music was written and performed on the harpsichord. That was before the piano first cam into being. Now imagine the literature that was originally intended for performance on the harpsichord and later became the bedrock of piano literature. Case in point: Johann Sebastian Bach’s legendary composition, “The Goldberg Variations.” [...]

Toninho Horta – To Jobim with Love (Resonance Records 2008)

This record was released to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Bossa Nova. How appropriate that it should be a collection of songs (except for two tracks) composed and played by the immortal Tom Jobim. How much more appropriate is it that the record should be titled To Jobim with Love? Of course all that would come to naught if the record fell below expectation [...]

Hot House – Cuban Tribute to Charlie Parker (Independent 2008)

There are really only two truly innovative and unforgettable records made to honor Charlie Parker. One is the remarkably inventive Tribute to Monk and Bird (Tomato Records, 1978) with music by the legendary artists arranged and directed by the German composer Heiner Stadler, which featured Thad Jones, Stanley Cowell, George Lewis, George Adams, Warren Smith [...]