Among the pile of new releases from the San Francisco Bay Area that I received, during the past 2 months, have included the anticipated new release “Art Of The Descarga” from The John Santos Sextet on Smithsonian Folkways which reinterprets the traditional, improvised Cuban descargas (jam sessions) into a jazzier, modernistic groove with poignant political and social commentary within the composition’s inventive twists and turns. Renowned percussionist Santos and his sextet (Dr. John Calloway, flute, Marco Diaz, piano, Saul Sierra, bass, Melecio Magdaluyo, sax, David Flores, drums) explore enticing sonic territory ranging from the ode to the old neighborhood that Santos grew up in now affected by gentrification in the gorgeous danzon “Bernal Heights” to the explosive pairing of two distinctive Cuban genres “Descarga Con Changui“.
Joining Santos y compañia are special guests Orestes Vilato, the late Jerry Gonzalez, Orlando “Maraca” Valle, Tito Matos, Juan ‘Juango” Gutierrez, Orlando Torriente and Rico Pabon among others. On this new work, The John Santos Sextet continue to hone down their sound into their particular niche of Latin Jazz which is performed with authority and a nod to the past with a clear path to the future. Art Of The Descarga may not be the ultimate Santos’ masterpiece but it does contain some of the most compelling music you’ll listen to this year. Music that challenges the listener to keep an open mind and ears while your feet dance to it’s kaleidoscope of rhythms.
Other notable recordings is the sophomore release from bassist/composer Livan Montoya’s La Tropa Son entitled “Alien”. La Tropa Son features vocalist Osvaldo Carbajal (ex Jesus Diaz QBA) shining on the title track. Lead vocalist Nobel Cintre sings on 3 tracks as well as SF Bay Area based favorites Fito Reinoso and Felix Samuel.. La Tropa Son also feature special guest Cuban star vocalists Yeny Valdes (ex Los Van Van), Michel Maza (ex Charanga Habanera) and vocalist/keyboardist Tirso Duarte (ex Afro Cuban All Stars/Soneros De Verdad) who contribute lead vocals on “Alien”. La Tropa Son will have you dancing at your home’s dance floors with their distinctive brand of Timba and Son.
Other significant new releases that will be reviewed on my next post: Bobi Cespedes smoldering new release “Mujer Y Cantante”, Vibrason’s remixes of Llego Vibrason with guest vocalists including rapper Deuce Eclipse of Bang Data and the hot Latin Jazz of the Brian Andres Trio Latino recording “Mayan Suite”. Edgardo Cambon and LaTiDo also has released a new song “Rey Sin Corona”, a scathing new song critical of our current President. All of these new and recent recordings have made this coronavirus quarantine summer a bit more bearable!
On a sad note, Arcelio Garcia, the legendary vocalist, frontman and co-founder of Malo died of natural causes on August 12th. Arcelio was the vocalist for The Malibus, a Mission district band that would evolve into the original Malo in 1971. Arcelio embodied the street look, swagger and vocal firepower that made him a natural frontman and performer. He kept the band going once he moved back from New York to the Bay Area from 1984 to a few years ago when he suffered a heart attack. He was still performing on occasion at the time of his passing. RIP Arcelio! My deepest condolences to the Garcia family.
Ciao 4 now!!
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