Jonathan Powell – Mambo Jazz Party (Circle 9 Records, 2024)
Trumpeter Jonathan Powell brings together his extensive experience in New York’s Latin jazz scene with a passion for electric jazz on Mambo Jazz Party.
The festive album immediately stands out with its infectious grooves and danceable Latin jazz rhythms, driven by the campana (cowbell). Drawing on two decades of work with Latin jazz legends like Eddie Palmieri, Arturo O’Farrill, and Tito Puente Jr., Powell leads an 18-piece ensemble that elegantly brings together flavorful traditional Latin jazz and mambo with modern electric jazz influences.
The concept for the album originated from a conversation Powell had with a bongocero (bongo player), who highlighted the role of the campana in signaling the start of the party in salsa and mambo music. Inspired by this, Powell aimed to capture the essence of that “party time” in his music, combining authentic Latin jazz elements with the electric textures of jazz fusion artists like Chick Corea, Weather Report, and Snarky Puppy.
The album features a mix of original compositions and innovative arrangements. Notable tracks include “Juancito,” an homage to Puerto Rican trumpeter Juancito Torres, featuring trombonist Jimmy Bosch; and “Hope,” a reflective piece written during the pandemic, with a powerful solo by guitarist Nir Felder.
Powell also reimagines Chick Corea’s “You’re Everything” in a salsa style and delivers a fresh take on Joe Henderson’s “Inner Urge” with shifting time signatures. An arrangement of Eddie Palmieri’s “Un Dia Bonita II” adds to the tribute, with vocals by Anthony Almonte.
The ensemble features top-tier musicians, including Powell on trumpet and flügelhorn, Nir Felder on guitar, Axel Tosca on piano, and Luques Curtis on bass, among others. Powell emphasizes the collaborative nature of the project, noting that the musicians brought their unique voices to the music, creating an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie.
Musicians: Jonathan Powell on trumpet; Itai Kriss on flute; Remy Le Boeuf on alto/baritone saxes; Jeremy Powell on tenor sax; Jimmy Bosch on trombone; Ryan Keberle on trombone; Manuel Valera on keyboards; Alex Apolo Ayala on bass; Camilo Molina on drums; and Marcos Torres on congas.
Buy Mambo Jazz Party.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
