Posted on November 24, 2007

The 2nd Annual Mott Haven Latin Jazz Connection
Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture - (October 24-27, 2007)

By Tomas Peña, Music Journalist

What, you may be asking yourself, is the connection between Mott Haven and Latin jazz? The answer lies in the South Bronx’s rich musical history. In brief, from the late 1940s through the early 1970s, the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx was a thriving Puerto Rican community and fertile ground for musical activity and creativity. In part, this had to do with the many artists who lived and performed there: Arsenio Rodriguez, Ray Barretto, Eddie and Charlie Palmieri, Orlando Marin, Dave Valentin, Ray Vega, Willie Colon, Frank “Machito” Grillo and countless others. One of the many genres that took root in the South Bronx is Latin jazz, a fusion of African, Afro-Caribbean and Latin American rhythms with North American jazz (think Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo and/or Wilson “Chembo” Corniel).

What sets the Mott Haven Latin Jazz Connection apart is the fact that it features music with an educational component: A screening of Fernando Trueba’s film, “Calle 54;” a trolley ride through the neighborhoods where the music was created, a fascinating conversation between CEO and producer of the “Salsa Meets Jazz” series at the legendary “Village Gate,” Art D’ Lugoff and percussionist/educator Bobby Sanabria. And of course, there was music by Dave Valentin, Los Mas Valientes, William Cepeda and Afro-Rican Jazz, Grupo Mapeye and Papo Vazquez and the Mighty Pirate Orchestra.

I was fortunate to catch Los Mas Valientes, perhaps one of the most innovative and culturally diverse groups I have ever laid eyes on. Picture a Dominican Musical Director and flute player (Jessica Valiente); an Asian pianist (Chiemi Nakai) and conga player (Yasuyo Kimura); a Jewish saxophonist/flutist (Debra Kreisberg); a Cuban percussionist (Victor Rendon); and a North American bass player (Anna Milat-Meyer) and trombonist (Rick Faulkner)…and you get the idea! Not by coincidence, their music was as diverse as their on-stage persona. I particularly enjoyed victor Rendon’s arrangement of Chick Corea’s “Spain” and a tune (whose name escapes me) that featured swinging Yiddish and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. In all, Los Mas Valientes demonstrated that they are one of New York’s best-kept secrets.

Flutist Dave Valentin showed up with a small but mighty band: Elio Villafranca (piano), John Benitez (bass), Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez (traps) and Richie Flores (percussion). In terms of the repertoire, there were no surprises, however, with a gifted musician like Dave Valentin who needs suprises? His versions of “Equinox,” “Little Sunflower” and “Obsesion” were exquisite, fresh and above all, soulful. Pianist Elio Villafranca was superb; John Benitez’s electric bass was “in-the-pocket”. “El Negro” laid down some complex Latin grooves and Richie Flores did what he does best, defy metaphysics! At the end of the set the band left the stage, and as is generally the custom, the audience shouted for “Otra!” (one more!). In true Dave Valentin fashion, he responded by playing one note then uttered over the microphone, “well you asked for one more!” To his credit, he closed the set with a brief, but fiery descarga.

My compliments to producer Wally Edgecomb for creating a festival that not only celebrates the artists who create the music but the community that nurtured their gifts. Also, my thanks to the entire staff at Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College for providing an inviting and enlightening atmosphere.