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Formed at SIR studios in New York City in November
23rd, 1997 by Chilean-Cuban drummer and composer Alejandro “Alex”
García, AfroMantra has been renowned for combining rich harmonies
with the powerful rhythms and flavors of North and Latin America.
With a contemporary outlook, AfroMantra incorporates a wide variety
of jazz elements into the work, creating a palate that highlights
the group’s stirring inspirations and spiritual creativity.
The group skillfully balances original compositions, drawing from
the Cuban, American and South American traditions and influences.
AfroMantra has been playing extensively throughout New York City
and the Northeast for the past five years, performing in several
Jazz Festivals in the area and hitting such venues as El Taller
Latinoamericano,The Izzy Bar, 17 Main, Studio 54, Arka Lounge, Nell's,
Nuyoricans Poets Café, the Jazz Gallery, Willie's Steak House, among
many others.
They were also featured artists on Jazz at Noon, a popular New York
City jazz television show, and performed at the Chenango Valley
Music Festival with Grammy nominee and Master Cuban trombonist Juan
Pablo Torres.
The band also appears in critically-acclaimed book Caliente ”Una
historia del Jazz Latino “ by critic and writer Luc Delannoy. AfroMantra
receives extensively air-play throughout the United States & Canada.
This project serves as a testament to this young, yet progressive
and innovative enclave of instrumentalist. AfroMantra enriches the
human spirit with music that is dynamic and powerful, crafting beautiful
solos and establishing a conversation whose versatility seems to
have no limits.
As acclaimed by respected jazz writer and critic, Peter Wartrous,
AfroMantra really is one of the most important Latin-jazz bands
to emerge in the NYC scene.
© AfroMantra
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Jazz Improv Magazine
Alex Garcia's AfroMantra
UPLIFTING SPIRIT AfroMantra Records
By Curtis Davenport
Uplifting Spirit (Espiritu Optimista) is the third offering from AfroMantra,
the formidable New York based Latin Jazz ensemble, led by drummer/percussionist
Alejandro Garcia.
Mr. Garcia and his band draw from a variety of influences
that are as wide and storied as Mr. Garcia's background, to create a truly
contemporary view of the marriage of jazz and various Latin musical styles.
A bit of Alex Garcia's personal history is worth noting here. Born in
Santiago, Chile, Mr. Garcia and his family fled Chile, in 1973, when Alex
was seven, as a result of a military coup.
The family landed in Peru, where they remained until 1979,
at which point they moved to Havana, Cuba. All the while, young Alex was
soaking up a rich musical education both directly, from his choreographer
mother and his composer father and indirectly, from the music that he
heard at home and in his formal education. Mr. Garcia counts among his
influences Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Perez Prado, and Irakere. By the time
he arrived in New York in 1996, Garcia was ready to put all of these influences
into practice, in an environment that was as culturally and musically
diverse as was his background and so he did in 1997, when he formed AfroMantra.
Uplifting Spirit is a disc that I grew to like more each
time I listened to it (and I listened many times). This is a tribute to
the outstanding writing and to the all-star musicians who bring the vision
to life. Norwegian-born saxophonist Ole Mathisen, who has recorded with
Eddie Gomez and Peter Erskine has a full robust tone on the tenor, similar
to that of another great Latin Jazz tenorman, David Sanchez.
Like Sanchez, he is also not afraid to head for the 'free'
side of the street, when a piece warrants, such as on 'Yemaya, Goddess
of the Sea.' Also, check out his work on the disc's best cut, 'Nuevo
Amanecer (New Dawn),' a track that keeps you on your toes, by switching
from an easy going first half, highlighted by Mathisen's Grover Washington-like
soprano and guest tenor man Jorge Castro's tenor counterpoint, floating
over guest star Manuel Valera's dreamy Fender Rhodes; to an all out descarga,
where Valera shows off his Chucho Valdes influenced piano and Mathiesen
shows us the grittier side of the soprano sax. The group's pianist Pablo
Vergara, a veteran of Dave Valentin's group, has several highlights as
well, most notably on 'Suenos de Otono (Autumn Dreams),' in a trio
with Mr. Garcia and guest bassist Jorge Bringas.
Percussionist Aryam Vazquez is rock steady throughout,
turning in first class work on the congas, batas and cajon, that is a
perfect compliment to leader Garcia's work on the traps.This CD is called
Uplifting Spirit for good reason. These eleven tracks, all penned by Mr.
Garcia, are upbeat and positive in tone, even when the tempo slows down.
Please note that AfroMantra's brand of Latin Jazz, or Afro- Cuban Jazz,
if you prefer, is not the mambodriven product favored by Mario Bauza,
Machito and other greats of the 50's and 60's.
Although those influences can be heard, this music owes
more to the sound of Irakere, Paquito D'Rivera and the ‘70's, when the
influences of free jazz and rock fusion began to make their way into Latin
music. If this is a new experience for you, I advise you to open up your
mind as well as your ears and enjoy a joyous, life-affirming musical ride.
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AfroMantra represents what American popular music
is quickly becoming - an interesting fusion of many varied musical
heritages, most notably African and Latin heritages and their refreshing
instrumentation and sound.
Like other experimental jazz groups, such as the Turtle Island String
Quartet with Afro-Cuban clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, AfroMantra
improvises liberally and marries instruments that the novice listener
might not expect to complement each other as well as they do on
Alignment.
For example, the saxophone and piano banter on “Blues Cha” with
the Latin percussionist keeping time in back. He figures more prominently
later on “Transparencias,” influenced by the música of Chilean and
Peruvian cultures.
This track is particularly intense because of its unique pacing
- although the melodic voice that flutters into the rhythm occasionally
is light and crisp, Enrique Haneine’s piano rises and falls breathlessly
and Alex García’s drum solo is lively and brisk.
AfroMantra also includes their rendition of Sammy Fain and Paul-Francis
Webster’s classic, “Secret Love.” I had previously only been treated
to Frank Sinatra’s soulful expression of this tune, and I’m so glad
now that I’ve heard AfroMantra’s take.
The “song” as it were takes about a minute-and-a-half to fully develop
into what audience’s recognize as “Secret Love” - Haneine’s piano
once again tumbles down an abstract staircase and leaves the listener
feeling a bit melancholic.
What lifts the spirits again is Toshi Someya’s incredible bass -
its vibrations are felt as AfroMantra’s improvisational talents
explode near song’s end. The group nearly bookends its rendition
by slowing its pace only slightly with another minute remaining.
That’s what makes jazz music so fun and exceptional - the great
jazz musician will improvise the hell out of his instrument, build
alongside his fellow musician’s instrument and at rhythm’s peak
tease you by reintroducing the hook you’re most familiar with.
The musicians in AfroMantra are some of the greats, and Alignment
is a beautiful, funky mix of characteristic jazz with a new and
welcomed Latin flavor. With this one, expect the unexpected, and
revel in what you get. Other Songs: “Wherever the Need is Greatest,”
“Eastern Spice”
Reviewer: Ashley Chappell
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Tracks from the "Uplifting
Spirit" CD are featured on
the "Fuse
This Jazz" program
Tracks:
1. The Uplifting Spirit of our Soul 2. Canción Latinamericana 3. Luna
y el Sol 4. A Emiliano Salvador 5. Por Ti 6. Nuevo Amanecer 7. Yemaya,
Goddess of the Sea 8. Sueños de Otoño 9. Green Horizons 10. Lighting the
World 11. Mi Palabra
Liner notes by Chuy Varela
I smile every time I hear Alex Garcia play his drums. Drawing from Caribbean,
South American, hardbop jazz with a strong Afro Cuban influence, he has
developed a polyrhythmic balance on trap set full of passion and skill.
With his band Afromantra, he has formed a vehicle of expression for the
ideas burning within his creative soul. I've always believed that life
and its experiences, along with a well-rounded education, is what give
identity to an artist. That is certainly true of Alejandro. In 1973, along
with his family he had to leave his home country of Chile moving to Peru.
In 1979, the family moved to La Habana, Cuba; the place where he received
a profound musical education. However, it was in New York City that he
was born as an artist.
Since the release of Afromantra's debut album in 2000, Garcia has established
a firm reputation as a drummer and bandleader with his Latin jazz ensemble.
Strong, confident and positive, he's paid dues and gleaned knowledge from
the masters. Now on "Uplifting Spirit – Espiritu Optimista" he brews a
diverse blend of cultural herbs to create good musical medicine for trying
times.
All the compositions and arrangements are by Garcia with a great cast
of collaborators. Ole Mathisen is a seasoned and imaginative voice on
tenor and soprano saxophones who provides many bright moments throughout.
The pianists, Pablo Vergara, Manuel Valera, and Desmar Guevara, add extraordinary
harmonic colors to the pieces. And you can't ignore congero Aryam Vásquez
and bassist Waldo Chavez who ground the combo. "Uplifting Spirit - Espiritu
Optimista" is an entrancing album full of sonic magical realism.
The pieces traverse ideas and moods that stretch from one end of the hemisphere
to the other taking the listener with facility and imagination through
unlikely plots and connections. Yes, Alex Garcia has given us a gift that's
positive, uplifting and got me smiling from ear-to-ear. Good medicine
for trying times.
Jesse "Chuy" Varela
Music Director - KCSM FM 91, San Mateo, CA Contributing writer to the
San Francisco Chronicle, Jazz Times and Latin Beat magazines.
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