Chico O'Farrill was right in the thick of the Afro-Cuban and Latin waves that hit jazz in the late '40s and '50s. His sophisticated writing for Latin big bands of the early '50s was often bold, brassy, and tense, yet he could also achieve a delicate, almost classical ambience in such pieces as "Angels' Flight" and work capably in larger forms... [+] Read More

Yes No

Jazz orchestra. Hispanic Musician Association of Los Angeles Big Band: Repertory orchestra plays hip Afro-Cuban music. New to national audiences. Worth your attention. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

Yes No

Machito played a huge role in the history of Latin jazz, for his bands of the 1940s were probably the first to achieve a fusion of powerful Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz improvisation. At its roaring best, the band had a hard-charging sound, loaded with jostling, hyperactive bongos and congas and razor-edged riffing brass. Machito was the front... [+] Read More

Yes No

A Mongo Santamaria concert is a mesmerizing spectacle for both eyes and ears, and even in his seventies, this seemingly ageless Cuban percussionist/bandleader could energize packed behemoth arenas such as the Hollywood Bowl. A master conguero, Santamaria at his best creates an incantatory spell rooted in Cuban religious rituals, quietly seating... [+] Read More

Yes No

Named for its charismatic leader, Elio Reve, Orquesta Reve mixes urban son with a very distinctive regional son variant (changui) that is indigenous to the Guantanamo region at the very eastern tip of Cuba. Changui uses percussion originally designed for religious ceremonies, which no doubt gives the music an added power and seriousness. Reve... [+] Read More

Yes No

By virtue of his warm, flamboyant stage manner, longevity, constant touring, and appearances in the mass media, Tito Puente is probably the most beloved symbol of Latin jazz. But more than that, Puente managed to keep his music remarkably fresh over the decades; as a timbales virtuoso, he combined mastery over every rhythmic nuance with... [+] Read More

Yes No