Born in the Pinar del Río province of Western Cuba, pianist and composer Elio Villafranca was classically trained in percussion and composition at the Instituto…
Artist Profiles: Elio Villafranca
Tag: Latin jazz
Virtuoso Pianist and Jazz Fusion Icon Chick Corea Dies at 79
American virtuoso keyboard player, flamenco jazz trailblazer, and composer Chick Corea passed away on February 9th, 2021 from an uncommon form of cancer that was…
New Book: New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940-1990
A new 440-page book titled New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940-1990 is now available. The author is musician and professor Benjamin…
Percussion-Enriched Cuban Piano Works
Yamilé Cruz Montero & Christos Asonitis – Rapsodia Cubana (Naxos World, 2021) Rapsodia Cubana presents a delightful set of Cuban-flavored piano pieces performed by superb…
Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo Release Digital Album ‘El Arte Del Bolero’
Puerto Rican alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón and Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo have released their digital only album “El Arte Del Bolero” today, Friday, January 8,…
Masterful Debut from Trumpeter Yuliesky González
Yuliesky González – Cubanero (One World Records, 2020) Cubanero is the remarkable debut album from one of the finest trumpeters in the current Latin music…
Artist Profiles: Yuliesky González
Trumpeter and composer Yuliesky González Guerra was born in 1984 in Céspedes, Camagüey province, Cuba. He grew up in a family of professional trumpet players…
Latin Jazz Trombone Goodness from Noah Bless
Noah Bless – New York Strong – Latin Jazz! (Zoho Music, 2020) Trombonist, composer and producer Noah Bless has been involved with Latin Jazz and…
Papo Vázquez’s Celebratory Puerto Rican Traditions and Latin Jazz
Papo Vázquez with the Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Chapter 10: Breaking Cover (Pícaro Records, 2020) Trombonist, composer and arranger Papo Vázquez has released a superb…
Exquisite Latin Jazz Boleros from Trumpeter John Daversa
John Daversa – Cuarentena: With Family at Home (Tiger Turn, 2020) Cuarentena (quarantine in Spanish) is a delightful instrumental album from American trumpeter and educator…