Nice to see a request for modern Cuban Latin Jazz recs! There so much new, exciting music being created by my Cuban brethren I could easily make a long list but I'll just rattle off a few:
Elio Villafranca & the Jazz Syncopaters - The Caribbean Tinge - Recorded live at Dizzy's (Lincoln Center).
Manuel Valera & the New Cuban Express - Expectativas - The band was nominated for best Latin Jazz album 2013 Grammy's.
Pedrito Martinez Group - The band, led by white-hot first call percussionist Martinez (the man has played on so many records by others!). Their premier album is produced by Steve Gadd, smokin'!
Maestro Paquito D'Rivera, his discography is in itself a primer on Latin Jazz styles, has just released - Jazz Meets the Classics - another live recording from Dizzy's. A terrific record.
Lastly, I'll most enthusiastically recommend Alex Garcia's Afromantra - This Side Of Mestizaje - this is a great Jazz record, certain to be on most critics best of the year lists!
I'd have posted videos but I'm not at my computer, there's tons available on these 5 artists. Just as Jazz is a small word for an immense universe of music, Latin Jazz is a small term for an immense body of work. Made even more so when you factor in the different countries like Spain, Brazil, Columbia, etc.that all have thriving Jazz scenes happening. To the uninitiated, it's just a conga playing behind someone doing standards, but it goes so much further than that!
Elio Villafranca & the Jazz Syncopaters - The Caribbean Tinge - Recorded live at Dizzy's (Lincoln Center).
Manuel Valera & the New Cuban Express - Expectativas - The band was nominated for best Latin Jazz album 2013 Grammy's.
Pedrito Martinez Group - The band, led by white-hot first call percussionist Martinez (the man has played on so many records by others!). Their premier album is produced by Steve Gadd, smokin'!
Maestro Paquito D'Rivera, his discography is in itself a primer on Latin Jazz styles, has just released - Jazz Meets the Classics - another live recording from Dizzy's. A terrific record.
Lastly, I'll most enthusiastically recommend Alex Garcia's Afromantra - This Side Of Mestizaje - this is a great Jazz record, certain to be on most critics best of the year lists!
I'd have posted videos but I'm not at my computer, there's tons available on these 5 artists. Just as Jazz is a small word for an immense universe of music, Latin Jazz is a small term for an immense body of work. Made even more so when you factor in the different countries like Spain, Brazil, Columbia, etc.that all have thriving Jazz scenes happening. To the uninitiated, it's just a conga playing behind someone doing standards, but it goes so much further than that!