Ronn Yedidia’s genre-defying quartet embraces melody, improvisation, and musical storytelling on its own terms PROPHETS is the latest project from acclaimed pianist, accordionist, composer, and arranger...
As an independent journalist and Co-Founder and Editor of Jazzdelapena.com, I have devoted over two decades to documenting the musicians, stories, and traditions that make jazz, Latin...
“Manny Oquendo & Libre’s live performances were legendary. The ensemble’s vibrant energy and infectious groove compelled audiences to their feet.” Manny Oquendo’s band, Libre, formerly known...
When most people think of jazz, their minds drift straight to Manhattan—Harlem jam sessions, dimly lit clubs in the Village, or upscale Midtown lounges. For years,...
Trumpeter and Visionary Pete Rodríguez Makes a Bold Musical Statement Pete Rodríguez is an artist with a rich musical heritage, deeply rooted in salsa royalty. His...
Jazz music is widely regarded as one of America’s most remarkable cultural contributions to the world. Known for its freedom of expression, spontaneous improvisation, and collaborative...
In 1964, the legendary jazz trumpeter John “Birks” Gillespie, affectionately known as “Dizzy,” announced that he was running for President of the United States. The idea...
OMAR SOSA’S 88 WELL-TUNED DRUMS (Ota 1035) As a rule, I am not fond of compilations, but Omar Sosa’s 88 Well-Tuned Drums is a captivating musical...
A Timeless Celebration of Jazz by the World’s Leading Music Writers and Photographers Cymbal Press is thrilled to announce the release of The Jazz Omnibus: 21st-Century Photos and...
One month before his death, Ray Barretto was the recipient of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the highest honor that our nation bestows on jazz artists....
PAZCUAL VILLARONGA was born and raised in Spanish Harlem, New York. He attended Haaren High School and New York City Community College and graduated from Hunter College,...
There is a segment in the short, documentary film “Regresar – Back in Cuba” (2019) where Dafnis Prieto says to a contingent of students, “When I...
1968 saw the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy; black athletes staged a silent demonstration at the Summer Olympics and the popular Sci-Fi...
Any discussion about popular Puerto Rican music is remiss without the name Tite Curet Alonso. In a career that spanned roughly 30 years, he was one...
WILLIAM CORREA, better known as WILLIE BOBO, was a consummate percussionist, drummer, vocalist and showman. He was born to Puerto Rican parents on February 28, 1934,...
