Raul da Gama
Canadian writer. Based in Milton, Ontario, Canada, Raul is a musician and an accomplished writer whose profound analysis is reinforced by his deep understanding of music, technically as well as historically.
Los Rumberos de la Bahia · Mabagwe
If when listening to Mabagwe - A Tribute to "Los Mayores" by Los Rumberos de la Bahia you happen to feel that you are...
Dayramir González · The Grand Concourse
Very rarely indeed does one get to call an album of music “a masterpiece” and actually mean it. But this is absolutely true of...
Fernando García · Guasábara Puerto Rico
It might seem easy to be mesmerised and swept away by the ceaseless dancing of Puerto Rican music from one odd time signature to...
Tito Puente: The Best of the Concord Years
Producing a compilation of the music of someone like Tito Puente is no easy task. With scores of recordings where do you start? What...
Roy McGrath · Remembranzas
It may be no surprise that many listeners may not have heard of the Puerto Rican tenor saxophonist Roy McGrath. But it is also...
Aaron Aranita · Segunda Vista
Aaron Aranita is known to most lovers of music and followers of big band music, especially on the West Coast. He is an accomplished...
Eduardo Sandoval · Caminos Abiertos
The trombone should not really be considered a relatively unfamiliar instrument in Cuban music. After all the proximity of African-centric cultures between Havana and...
Lázaro Valdés y Son Jazz · La Malagueña
Lázaro Valdés is a pianist of prodigious beginnings and of considerable musical pedigree. Although he played with an array of big bands, including one...
Yissy & Bandancha · Última Noticia
Yissy García was one of the girls who were brought out of Cuba by the renowned soprano saxophonist and flutist “Havana” Jane Bunnett to...
Corina Bartra & The Afro Peruvian New Trends Orchestra · Uniting Beats
Part of the reason why this music is so compelling is certainly due to the splendid accord with which this ensemble reads these arrangements,...
Brenda Navarrete Presents · Mi Mundo
The Afro-Cuban percussionist and singer, Brenda Navarrete is one of the best-kept secrets of her generation. However, now, thanks to producer extraordinaire and Alma...
Bobby Carcassés Y AfroJazz · Blues Con Montuno
For the many lovers of music, who often tend to forget about the treasures we have among us, here’s a timely reminder from one...
Brenda Hopkins Miranda · Puentes
The black and white cover of this disc by pianist Brenda Hopkins Miranda is a perfect entrée into the music of Puentes as it...
Diego Pinera Presenta · Despertando
In his remarkable 2018 album, Despertando the drummer Diego Pinera has shifted his sights slightly to more tradition-based repertoire. However, it is impossible to...
Colette Michaan · Heaven and Earth-Cielo y Tierra
In a world – sadly – dominated by male musicians, the flutist Colette Michaan gets much less respect than she deserves. One wonders, however,...
Alfredo Rodriguez and Danilo Pérez: The Poetry of Feeling Comes to Town
Alfredo Rodriguez ambles onto stage, but that’s all the ‘ambling’ he would do for the rest of the night. Once he sits at the...
Anat Cohen & Marcello Gonçalves · Outra Coisa
You cannot call yourself Brasilian if you don’t know your Moacir Santos. The clarinetist turned soprano, alto, tenor and (when the music demanded it)...
Amhed Mitchel Presents: Naciente
If you’re not a Cuban musician living in Toronto chances are you might not have heard a great deal about Amhed Mitchel. But that...
Miguel de Armas Quartet: What’s to Come
The pianist Miguel de Armas is blessed with a magnificent tumbao and he uses it to great effect on What’s to Come. But if...
Pablo Ziegler Trio: Jazz Tango
Unlike the tango, which – as a dance form – has a relatively clear, almost mathematical definition, there are really no words that can...
