Latin Jazz Network Radio – Jukebox – May 2010 Playlist

Jukebox – May 2010 Playlist: Graciela y Mario, Bobby Carcassés, Claudio Roditi, Otmaro Ruiz, Omar Sosa, The Movement, Luis Muñoz, Desandann, Andre Mehmari & Gabriele Mirabassi, Mocombo, Pablo Aslan, Michel Camilo, Manuel Valera, Poncho Sanchez, Ricardo Silveira, Gabriele Tranchina.

Jane Bunnett and The Cuban Piano Masters at Koerner Hall, Toronto

This unique musical group was first conceived in Havana, Cuba in 1992 at the National Theatre with the great Cuban pianists José María Vitier and the late Frank Emilio. It was brought to fruition in Canada in 1993 with a ground-breaking concert at the Glenn Gould Theatre (CBC) and became Jane Bunnett’s recording debut for EMI/Bluenote [...]

Miguel de León – Postcards from Rio (Migsmuse Records – 2009)

There are several multi-lingual artists—some are even musicians. However, the fact that several languages may be spoken, even sung, it does not mean that they get to the soul of the musical culture whose garb they put on for the occasion. But Miguel de León is one of those artists who wears a cultural garb just like a second skin [...]

Nando Michelin – Reencontro (Self Produced – 2010)

In one of those eternal conundrums in the life of an artist, while Nando Michelin gets plenty of recognition he is relatively little known outside the small coterie of musicians who have taken the proverbial creative leap and transcended cultural boundaries. To be as little known as Michelin in outside intellectual circles is a pathetic fallacy. This is no fault of Michelin of course [...]

Pablo Aslan – Tango Grill (Zoho Music – 2010)

To the unsuspecting ear, Pablo Aslan may sometimes appear to be just a fabulous bassist, with sublime technique and a virtuoso of limitless possibility. But dig a little deeper, especially into this album, Tango Grill and the impossible will seem to appear. Aslan takes the relatively rigid structure of the written music and dance form, the Tango, into a stratospheric space where [...]

Otmaro Ruiz – Sojourn (Minina Music – 2009)

The Chambers Dictionary describes the word “sojourn” as “a temporary residence or stay, as of one in a foreign land.” Pianist, Otmaro Ruiz’s musical journey offers all the right cues for his Sojourn being so apt to document, because even though it gets somewhat personal at times, it is one that is memorable for anyone interested in taking the journey with him [...]

Master Conguero, Percussionist and Bandleader Poncho Sanchez

Master Conguero, Percussionist and Bandleader Poncho Sanchez performing live.

A Conversation with Percussionist/Bandleader Poncho Sanchez

Speaking with someone you have idolized for years is never an easy task. So it was with some trepidation that I dialed Poncho Sanchez’s telephone number and held my breath. When he answered the telephone we exchanged pleasantries and he quickly informed that he could only give me 15 minutes of his time. Somewhat disappointed, I pressed on and lo and behold, an hour and a half later we were still on the telephone! [...]

Bobby Carcassés en Jazz Gallery – Nueva York

El pasado jueves 11 de marzo, se presentó por segunda vez en el Jazz Gallery de la calle Hudson en el bajo Manhattan el improvisador de jazz, cantante, trompetista, pianista, percusionista y dibujante cubano Bobby Carcassés. Su música ha sido categorizada como “jazz cubano” y el propio Bobby ocupa hoy un lugar importantísimo en la historia de este género [...]

Desandann – ¡Pwan Dife! – Light The Flame! (Self Produced- 2010)

Thanks to their greatest champions outside Cuba, Jane Bunnett and Larry Cramer, the extraordinary ten-person vocal ensemble, Desandann has returned after a decade with their second, spell-binding album, ¡Pwan Dife! (Light The Flame!). The album was recorded on the back of Bunnett’s brilliant, Juno award-winning album Embracing Voices, (EMI/Sunnyside Records, 2008) [...]