Bill O’Connell -][- TRIPLE PLAY PLUS THREE – [ZOHO Music, 2011] –

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Bill O'Connell, Composer, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentin, Paquito D'Rivera, Pianist, Richie Flores, ZOHO Music

Since hearing virtuoso Bill O’Connell perform with flutist Dave Valentin I’ve been a fan, he is arguably a diamond in the ruff and one of the best pianist in the Latin Jazz idiom. –Rob Young | Urban Flux Media

Bill O’Connell, TRIPLE PLAY PLUS THREE

Bill O’Connell -][- TRIPLE PLAY PLUS THREE –Mp3– [ZOHO Music, 2011] –

New York Latin Jazz pianist Bill O’Connell’s “Triple Play Plus Three” is an innovative spin on the traditional jazz trio format, featuring percussionist Richie Flores and a rotating cast of celebrity guests – all multiple GRAMMY winners – clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, vibraphonist Dave Samuels, and flutist Dave Valentin.

“Triple Play Plus Three” presents eight lively, virtuosic O’Connell originals, plus two 20th century classics by Thelonius Monk (‘Round Midnight”) and Kurt Weill (“Speak Low”).

Thelonious Monk‘s signature composition ‘Round Midnight, has been totally re-harmonized by O’Connell. Paquito D‘Rivera‘s sweet-toned clarinet work is the perfect complement to O’Connell’s lush chords. -[Excerpt | ZOHO Music]-

::: SOURCE: ZOHO Music :::

Masta Conga & his new Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra -][- LAST ODYSSEY – [Ubiquity, 2012] –

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Amazon.com, entertainment, latin percussion, Masta Conga, Music, Nigerian Funk, Ubiquity

Masta Conga & his new Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra, LAST ODYSSEY

Masta Conga & his new Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra -][- LAST ODYSSEY -[Ubiquity, 2012] –

Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra’s 2012 album, Last Odyssey, finds the French band in fine form, creating music with Jazz as it’s foundation laced with strains of Ethio and Nigerian Funk combined with Latin Percussion and rhythms.

By taking the heaviest elements from each genre and distilling it down to it’s most potent form, the band’s true identity is revealed and sets them apart from their influences. -[Editorial Review]-

The First Annual Music Revolution Festival

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Andy Gonzalez, Chembo Corniel, Fort Apache Band, Giovanni Almonte, Music Revolution Festival, Natalie Fernandez, Polish National Home, The City of Hartford, The Evelyn Preston Fund, Truth Revolution Records

Music Revolution Festival

Truth Revolution Records, in partnership with The Evelyn Preston Fund, The City of Hartford and the Polish National Home are proud to bring to the people the first annual Music Revolution Festival. This two day festival will highlight local musicians, vendors, and of course MUSIC! This year we are featuring two major stars in Latin music: on Saturday we will feature Chembo Corniel and on Sunday, Andy Gonzalez from the Fort Apache Band. They will headline the show but we’ll have stellar performances by Argentinian power house performer, Natalie Fernandez and music for your soul brought to you by the moving sounds of Giovanni Almonte.

Luis Perdomo -][- The ‘Infancia’ Project – [Criss Cross Jazz, 2012] –

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Amazon.com, Andy Gonzalez, Arranger, Composer, Criss Cross Jazz, entertainment, Fender Rhodes, Ignacio Berroa, Luis Perdomo, Mark Shim, Mauricio Herrera, Pianist, virtuoso percussionist

Luis Perdomo, The ‘Infancia’ Project

Luis Perdomo -][- The ‘INFANCIA’ Project –Mp3– [Criss Cross Jazz, 2012] –

This time the exceptional pianist Luis Perdomo reaches back to the earliest influences he grew up listening to: South American and Afro Caribbean Rhythms, on this, his second outing for Criss Cross Jazz: The ‘Infancia’ Project.

Luis has handpicked a well balanced and stellar band to back him up: two players of the new generation with fresh ideas and concepts, Mark Shim on tenor saxophone and virtuoso percussionist Mauricio Herrera, plus two very influential legends deeply rooted in the tradition: bassist Andy Gonzalez and drummer Ignacio Berroa.

With The ‘Infancia’ Project Luis Perdomo further establishes himself as a resourceful master musician and bandleader. -[Criss Cross Jazz]- and -[Excerpt | Biography]-

::: SOURCE: crisscrossjazz.com | luisperdomojazz.com :::

Roberto Fonseca -][- YO – [Jazz Village Music, 2012] –

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Arranger, Composer, Jazz Village, Piano, Roberto Fonseca

Roberto Fonseca, YO

Roberto Fonseca -][- YO – [Jazz Village, 2012] –

Roberto Fonseca accompanies his music with his whole body, even standing up in order to hammer his piano as if it were a percussion instrument. It may happen that he grabs a snare drum and thus transforms his group into a « comparsa » – a percussion ensemble, which parades down the streets during the carnival, the Cuban equivalent of the Brasilian « batucada » – compelling the following public in euphoric dance…

Afro Bop Alliance -][- Una Más – [QA2 Records, 2011] –

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Dave Samuels, Hector Martignon, Luis Perdomo, Mike Pope, Roberto Quintero, Vince Norman

Afro Bop Alliance, Una Más

Afro Bop Alliance -][- Una Más –Mp3– [QA2 Records, 2011] –

“Listening to the exquisite playing and arranging of the Afro Bop Alliance is always an experience. The mix they’ve achieved is so balanced you never feel the music is too Latin to be Jazz, or too Jazzy to be Latin.” –Paquito D’Rivera

The 2008 Latin Grammy Award winners for “Latin Jazz Album of the Year,” return with their all-star fueled big band for another powerful recording of dynamic new compositions. With special guests including Dave Samuels and Roberto Quintero, they perform works by Luis Perdomo, Hector Martignon, Dave Samuels, Mike Pope and Vince Norman.

..:: SOURCE: Originarts.com ::..

Gonzalo Rubalcaba -][- XXI CENTURY – [5Passion, 2012 | Review] –

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Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ignacio Berrora, LIONEL LOUEKE, Marcus Gilmore, Matt Brewer, Pedro “Pedtrito” Martinez

Gonzalo Rubalcaba, XXI Century

Gonzalo Rubalcaba -][- XXI CENTURY –Mp3– [5Passion, 2012 | Review] –

Unknown by most of us at the time, the unanticipated arrival of soon to be Grammy Award winning pianist Gonzalo Julio Gonzalez Fonseca native Cuban landed on the shores of US some twenty-five years ago. Since then of course pianist, improviser and songwriter recorded dozens of jazz recordings to his credit. With his latest project, the multi-facet virtuoso embarks on an unequalled journey with enchanting lyricism in the spirit of innovation he unleashes the exhilarating “XXI Century.” On this outing, his compositions swells from the womb of his beloved Afro-Cuban heritage and merges these voicings within the body of ten sumptuous and ambitious songs to pay tribute to two piano icons Bill Evans and Lennie Tristanto gives me reason to believe this is probably his best recording to date.

Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra to Conclude 10th Anniversary Season with “Música Nueva 5: Big Band Poetry Jam & Beyond,” May 11 & 12 at Symphony Space

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Arturo O'Farrill, The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

WHAT:

Arturo O’Farrill’s GRAMMY® Award-winning ensemble, the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, will conclude its 10th Anniversary season with a celebration titled, “Música Nueva 5: Big Band Poetry Jam & Beyond” at Symphony Space in New York City.

Manuel Valera -][- NEW CUBAN EXPRESS – [Mavo Records, 2012 | Review] –

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Composer, Eric Doob, John Benítez, Keyboardist, Manual Valera, Mauricio Herrera, Pianist, Tom Guarna, Yosvany Terry

Manuel Valera, New Cuban Express

Manuel Valera -][- NEW CUBAN EXPRESS – [Mavo Records, 2012 | Review] –

Over the years it’s been commonplace for me to spent endless hours listening to inventive and prolific jazz musicians. In this case, Cuban pianist and composer Manual Valera comes to mind. He is undoubtedly one that I frequent his body of work on any given opportunity. His latest project, “NEW CUBAN EXPRESS” is comprised of modern post-bop, adventurous and compelling compositions are embedded with these essential ingredients to seize and retain the attention of discriminating jazz and Latin Jazz aficionados globally.

John Benítez -][- Purpose – [Seed Music, 2011] –

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Bassist, John Benítez

Greetings jazz lovers, as always I’m thankful for the opportunity to introduce new artists [if you haven’t met him] on this occasion I’ve got bassist John Benítez and his latest album “Purpose.” Funny thing, although I was aware of Benítez this is my first encounter with a solo album by him I knew right away I had to spread the news about this extraordinary musician. As time allows, check out the award-winning bassist John Benítez because he’s got some seriously funky Afro-Latin Jazz chops in store for you. —Rob Young | Urban Flux Media

John Benítez, Purpose

John Benítez -][- Purpose – [Seed Music, 2011] –

Grammy award-winning bassist John Benítez, born in Rio Piedreas, Puerto Rico, started playing gospel music in church at the age of thirteen. Already a gifted musician, John began his formal education at “Escuela Libre de Musica,” followed by study at the University of Puerto Rico and later the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music with master bassist, Federico Silva.

At nineteen, John as the first-call bassist in San Juan’s thriving Jazz, R and B, and Latin music scenes. He performed with, among others, such well-known artists as Chick Corea, Lucecita, Batacumbele, Lalo Rodriguez, Cuco Pena, Roberto Roena, and Justo Betancourt. –[Excrept – Biography]-

..:: SOURCE: John Benítez.com ::..