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AfroMantra performs for congahead.com
Conceived at SIR Studios in New York City on November 23rd, 1997 by Chilean-Cuban drummer and composer Alejandro “Alex” García, AfroMantra has been acclaimed for his masterful ability…
Conceived at SIR Studios in New York City on November 23rd, 1997 by Chilean-Cuban drummer and composer Alejandro “Alex” García, AfroMantra has been acclaimed for his masterful ability to combine rich harmonies with the powerful rhythms and flavors of North and Latin America. With a contemporary outlook, AfroMantra incorporates a wide variety of Jazz elements into its work, creating a palate that highlights the group’s stirring inspirations and spiritual creativity.
The group skillfully balances original compositions, drawing from Cuban, American and South American traditions and influences. AfroMantra has been playing extensively throughout New York City area and the Northeast for the past seven years in several Jazz festivals, hitting such venues as El Taller, Latinoamericano, The Izzy Bar, Zinc Bar, 17 Main, Studio 54, Arka Lounge, Nell’s, Nuyoricans Poets Café, Jazz Gallery, Satalla, Bubble Lounge and Town Hall Theater among others. They were also featured artists on Jazz at Noon, a popular New York City Jazz television show, on NBC Telemundo Network and CUNY TV. Additionally they performed at the Chenango Valley Music Festival with Grammy nominee and Master Cuban trombonist Juan Pablo Torres, San Jose Jazz Festival 2004, Festival Internacional de Santander 2006, in Spain, Latin Jazz USA Festival 2006 and Hell’s Kitchen Rhythm & Music Festival 2007. The band also appears in the books Caliente “Una historia del Jazz Latino” and “Carambola”, by critic and writer Luc Delannoy.
This project serves as a testament to this young, yet progressive and innovative enclave of instrumentalist that enriches the soul and the human spirit with music that is dynamic and powerful, crafting beautiful solos and establishing a conversation whose versatility seems to have no limits. AfroMantra’s second release, Alignment, their previous self-entitled album, AfroMantra Latin Jazz Ensemble, and his latest CD, “Uplifting Spirit”, has received extensive air-play in the national radio station around the United States and Canada. Jesse “Chuy” Varela, from the San Francisco Chronicle, Jazz Times and Latin Beat Magazine highlights this “Uplifting Spirit” as “an entrancing album full of sonic magical realism. The pieces traverse ideas and moods that stretch from one end of the hemisphere to the other taking the listener with facility and imagination through unlikely plots and connections”.
Alex Garcia’s AfroMantra latest release Uplifting Spirit/Espiritu Optimista was the #1 jazz add at college radio the week of its release and spent 5 weeks in the in the College Music Journal Jazz Top-25, 3 weeks the Top-20 and peaked at #11. The CD reached #7 on the Earshot Jazz Top-10 chart of radio airplay in Canada. The CD was in regular rotation at KSJS in San Jose, and KCSM in San Francisco, KEWU in Spokane, KUVO in Denver, WGMC in Rochester, WDNA in Miami, WRTI in Philadelphia, WNCU in Raleigh-Durham, WGBH and WFNX in Boston and WHRV in Roanoke Virginia and was featured on the nationally syndicated program “Jazz After Hours” hosted by Jim Wilke. The CD was selected as one of the top world jazz CDs of 2006 by Jeff Turton host of the weekly program “Jazz Brunch” on WFNX. Critics have hailed “Uplifting Spirit”, and Latin Beat Magazine has included it in best top 9 Latin Jazz releases of 2006. Ed Trefzger from Jazz Week raises his voice saying “Some stations still avoid Latin Jazz; if there were a release to change that tendency, this one would be it.” Curtis Davenport, from Jazz Improv Magazine believes that this last work is “a tribute to the outstanding writing and to the all-star musicians who bring the vision to life. If this is a new experience for you, I advise you to open up your mind as well as your ears and enjoy a joyous, life-affirming musical ride.” And Danilo Navas, from “LatinJazzNet.com” confirm that Afromantra, with their last creation takes “a big leap again. Solid, cohesive playing; great compositions and arrangements (all of them penned by Alex Garcia). In short, great musicianship. What else can we ask for?”
Relive the magnificent concert of Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés during the 2024 edition of Jazz à Vienne, in the ancient Roman theater [Théatre Antique] of Vienne
When it comes to ivory and ebony keys, competition is fierce in Cuba, but if there is one pianist who stands above the rest, it is the legendary Chucho Valdés, 82 years old, the “Cuban Mozart”, who from the age of 4 let his fingers run over the family piano and reproduced by ear the melodies he heard on the radio. From his youth on his native island, he has always retained an incredible sense of adaptation to all music, as comfortable when it comes to launching into wild jazz improvisations as when making crowds dance.
On July 10, 2024 at the Jazz à Vienne festival Chucho Valdés celebrated the 50th anniversary of Irakere, the group he founded that marked a before and after in Latin jazz. It was an extraordinary evening dedicated to Afro-Cuban music and jazz. Maestro Valdés was accompanied by a group embodying in all its diversity the essence of the popular and classical music of Cuba.
Chucho Valdés: piano, director
Ramón Álvarez: vocals
Luis Beltrán: alto saxophone
Carlos Averhoff Jr.: tenor saxophone
Eddy De Armas Jr.: trumpet
Osvaldo Fleites: trumpet
José Armando Gola: bass
Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno Torre: percussion
Horacio “El Negro” Hernández: drums
Vienne, Théatre Antique, Festival Jazz à Vienne, France – 10 July 2024
Jonathan Powell’s Mambo Jazz Party showcases his 20-year career as a trumpeter in NYC’s salsa and Latin jazz scene. As a former member of Eddie Palmieri’s groups and collaborator with Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Miguel Zenon, Tito Puente Jr., and many others, Powell’s love for the genre is evident. Mambo Jazz Party features top talents, including trombonist Jimmy Bosch, Grammy-nominated pianist Manuel Valera, and flutist Itai Kriss. With members like trombonist Ryan Keberle, drummer Camilo Molina, and bassist Alex Apolo Ayala, the ensemble promises dynamic performances. Their debut self-titled album is set for release on Circle 9 Records on August 9, 2024.
Featuring
Jonathan Powell – Trumpet, bandleader
Itai Kriss – Flute
Jeremy Powell – Tenor sax
Remy Le Boeuf – Alto and baritone sax
Jimmy Bosch – Trombone
Ryan Keberle – Trombone
Manuel Valera – Piano and keyboards
Alex Apolo Ayala – Bass
Camilo Molina – Drums and percussion
Marcos Torres – Congas
Songs
00:40 – Juancito
13:23 – Connection
20:47 – Love Song
31:04 – Outnumbered
38:26 – United
46:30 – Our Life
58:16 – When I’m With You
01:09:32 – Shade of Jade
This performance and new work by Jonathan Powell and Mambo Jazz Party has been made possible with support from Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program funded through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Production
Lead Audio Engineer: Klaus Larson
Video Engineering: Mark Montour-Larson & Alec Kenefick
Hosted by: Geoff Anderson
KUVO Program Director: Shane German
Booking: Domi Edson
Recorded in the Bonfils-Stanton Performance Studio in Denver, CO
“Tatomania” celebrates the brilliance of Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno from the Royal Quartet, the son of master percussionist Roberto Vizcaíno — who represents a new generation of Cuban percussion greats. Known to Valdés as “Tato” since he was a kid — Valdés performed with his father over the decades — Roberto Jr. shines with a fiery symphony of congas alongside Valdés’ melodic comping and air-tight pocket of the band on. Valdés comments, “Every party in Cuba ends with the conga. Once the congas ignite, we all dance together.”
Acclaimed living legend of Afro-Cuban music, seven-time GRAMMY Award winner and six-time Latin GRAMMY Award winner Chucho Valdés celebrates his lauded 60-year recording career with an instant-classic, Cuba & Beyond, set for release on Friday, September 20, 2024. Valdés is the preeminent composer/pianist of modern Afro-Cuban jazz with international acclaim to his name for deftly fusing the music of his homeland with jazz, classical music, dance music, and rock. His renowned career includes seven albums on Blue Note Records (1991-2003), a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, and being an inductee into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. On Cuba & Beyond, Valdés composes yet another masterpiece featuring his electrifying Royal Quartet as he carries his legacy forward with a world-class catalog of recordings.
With nearly 30 albums, Valdés remains ever-young at heart while composing an array of his greatest works yet. On Cuba & Beyond, Valdés performs with his electrifying Royal Quartet featuring Horacio El Negro Hernández (drums), José Armando Gola (bass), and Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno (percussion).
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