On this earthy and emotionally charged record, Jazzambia (2008), percussionist Paoli Mejias may appear to be showcasing his skills, but in actual fact, he is doing much more than that. He is actually setting out to draw a not-so-tenuous rhythmic line between the music of Africa and of Puerto Rico. In his own very personal vision of Puerto Rico the glue that binds this is European programmatic music and, of course, the African-American idiom of jazz.- Raul da Gama
Jazzambia is independently produced by Paoli Mejías. Featuring internationally acclaimed musicians: Miguel Zenón – Sax; Jaleel Shaw – Sax; Antonio Sánchez – Drums; Tony Escapa – Drums; Luis Perdomo – Piano; Hans Glawischnig – Bass; Paoli Mejías – Percussion & Chris Cheek – Sax; Christian Nieves – Cuatro / Puerto Rican Guitar; Rafael “Tito” De Gracia – Timbales; Ricardo Pons – Sax and Yan Carlos Artime – Chorus.
Photographs by Sarah Vogel
