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Slavo Rican Assembly: ‘Moving Up’
In the words of bandleader Jan Kus, ‘Moving Up’ is a song about optimism and determination: “This song is a sort of Slavo-Rican anthem. It’s about dealing with hardships in life, and getting out on top. The melody throws you a curve ball — just like life — but the chorus ends in a danceable Balkan fanfare that shows that no matter what the world throws at you, the good in people will always win out!” Built over a Cuban son montuno with a Balkan rhythmic twist, ‘Moving Up‘ is a slow-burner that veers off into unexpected, electronica-infused places: a tweaked Latin jazz workout that showcases Slavo Rican Assembly’s vision and versatility.
With band members from Slovenia, Puerto Rico, Serbia, and Cuba, Slavo Rican Assembly uses the international vocabulary of jazz as a springboard to delve deep into the sounds of their own musical roots – bomba, salsa and rumba bump up against Slovenian harvest songs, Bosnian lullabies, Serbian laments, Balkan brass and other melancholic South Slavic sounds in a musical sofrito that’s 100% New York.
Aleksandra Denda (Serbia): vocals; Jan Kus (Slovenia): saxophone, synth overdubs; Gabriel Vicéns (Puerto Rico): electric guitar; Ahmed Alom Vega (Cuba): piano, keyboard; Dan Martínez (Puerto Rico): electric bass; Victor Pablo (Puerto Rico): percussion; Jean John (Slovenia): drums.
Slavo Rican Assembly – Photo credit: Vianca Maldonado
Following the critical acclaim of his chart-topping debut album as a leader, Faith, the eclectic NY-based saxophonist Jan Kus extends his group further, and heads into the direction he has been naturally drawn to for the last few years. His new project unites his experiences from the NYC Latin Jazz music scene (where as a member of the Fernando García Sextet, Jan recorded on one of Downbeat’s “best albums of 2018”) with his Slovenian roots.
The main focus of the Slavo Rican Assembly is the exploration of the similarities and differences between the music of the Puerto Rican (and generally, Caribbean), and South Slavic cultures, merging them into a cohesive, brand-new and unique sound.
The band members (3 Puerto Ricans, 2 Slovenians, 1 Cuban, plus a Serbian vocalist!) combine the musical traditions from the Balkans and beyond with the ones of the Caribbean, synthesizing them seamlessly in a never-before-heard, attractive, heartfelt and powerful rhythmical entity.
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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