Latin Jazz Web Sites
Latin Jazz Radio Stations
Watch video on line
Latin Jazz Festivals

SF Jazz Festival
 March 17-June June 17, 2006
 San Francisco, USA

Puerto Rico Heineken
 June, 1-4 2006
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Representative musicians

Jelly Roll Morton, Eubie Blake, W.C.Handy, James Reese Europe, Lovie Austin, Charlie Barnet, Don Azipazu, Duke Ellington, Mario Bauza, Hermeto Pascoal, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Kenton, Chano Pozo Machito, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Cal Tjader, Earl Bostic, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, Herbie Mann, Joao Gilberto, Laurino Almeida, Bola Sete, Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Hancock, Return to Forever, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Chick Corea, Eumir Deodatao, Dom Um Ramao, Paulo da Costa, Keith Jarrett, Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughan, Tania Maria, Chico O'Farrill, Pat Metheny, Sonny Bravo, Michel Camilo, Pacquito d'Rivera, Pete Escovedo, Toninho Horta, Egberto Gismonti, Omar Sosa

Latin Jazz:
The First of Fusion, 1880's to Today
by John Storm Roberts

Latin music influenced American Jazz as early as the last century and its impact on the world jazz scene is still continuing today. The rich musical heritage of Brazil, Cuba, Argentina and Mexico was integrated, fusioned and melted into various form of jazz: American, European or African. In the same way, the interaction between elements of African and Latin music gave birth to original melodic mixtures, later imported by musicians from other cultures.
This section of the jazzworldquest.com features records and musicians who play either Latin Jazz or an interesting fusion of styles with a Latin influence.
New Samba Jazz
(Brazil)
 Jazz / Latin

"New Samba Volcano"
Captivating, energetic improvisations around samba themes performed by three young Brazilian musicians. A quite rounded approach tainted with impressionistic touches, rich in chromatic grooves. Preserving the liveliness of the samba music they are weaving together jazz standards with their own sonorities and feel.
Freddy Valeriani (Argentina/Spain)
Composer, Electric Bassist, Producer

A Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop multi talented fusion artist with a prolific carreer: member in various bands, session player composer and educator. Check out his latest recording "Politicamente Incorrecto" featuring a variety of creative grooves played with energy and spontaneity by a lineup of great musicians. This joyful melange of styles and explosive funky rhytms is a perfect example of Valeriani's virtuosic talents.

Antonio Restucci - Crisol
Petroglyph Records/ 2004

The sixth solo album of Chilean guitarist Antonio Restucci is going beyond the Latin roots of this virtuoso, mixing Spanish, Western and Oriental sonorities in a brilliant chemistry. Crisol was a finalist in the Independent Music Awards for Best Latin Album in 2006. Listen/Buy on line
Rogério Maudonnet (Brazil)
Composer/Guitar

Rock, Jazz and Brazilian Music are what Rogério Maudonnet's music is about. He combines styles from Steve Morse, Pat Metheny and Egberto Gismonti. Guitarrist and composer, Rogério has created soundtracks for major TV advertisements, such as Quiksilver, Sprite, Gatorade and Greenpeace. With his band, based in Brazil, he blends a multicultural musical language in a natural way.
His song "Belo Horizonte" was awarded the 3rd place at the Unisong International Songwriting Contest. This year Unisong received more then 500 entries in the Instrumental Category.
Marcelo Aedo (Guitar)
Antonio Restucci (Guitar)
Emilio Garcia (Guitar)
Francesca Ancarola (Vocal)
Sol Aravena (Muza) (Vocal)
(Chile)

Five outstanding musicians from Chile represented by Petroglyph Records/ USA. Blending Latin and Spanish themes with contemporary jazz in passionate explosive or smooth jazzy pop songs they have their own distinctive sound and personality.
 

Ernesto Cortazar
(Mexico/Switzerland)
Composer, guitar

Outstanding spiritual music from a versatile master of strings. Combining subtle expressions of flamenco with energetic free jazz improvisations virtuoso guitarist Ernesto Cortazar creates a beautiful fluid musical ambience with references to Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino. Noteworthy the contribution of Cortazar's band mates: Rodrigo Castelan (bass) and Ricardo Castelan(drums) in bringing depth and colour to his compositions.
More info

 

(©urve)music
Label/latin/brazilian jazz, bossa, soul, electro tango, futuro flamenco, house, disco funk & beyond
(UK)

Explosive, sensual Brazilian jazz fusion from a world class label that features a suberb selection of musicians. Complementing each other they offer a rich combination of Brazilian themes elegantly blended with electronic elements.
More info&Jukebox

 

Hector Rodriguez
(Argentina)
Composer, guitar

There is plenty of beautiful spiritual soundscapes on Hector Rodriguez' album Las Luces del Norte. All its nine pieces reveal a very gifted musician who is using creatively its diverse musical influences from jazz to prog rock to create a music with substance and meaning.
More info

 
 
Featured Artist
Omar Sosa


Omar Sosa Web Site
 An interview with Omar Sosa

Influenced by Gonzalo Rubalcaba Jr. and Ruben Gonzalez, the Afro-Cuban pianist Omar Sosa is one of those amazing talents of the latin-fusion scene. Mixing Cuban rhytms with fresh, experimental genres and styles, Omar Sosa creates a lively atmosphere where improvization and innovation play the central role.
He recently received a GRAMMY nomination for "Mulatos" in the Best Latin Jazz Album category from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Listen on line

Excerpts from the CD Sentir/Otá Records OTA 1009

Excerpts from the CD Mulatos/Otá Records OTA 1014


Discography:
Omar Omar (Otá Records OTA1001, 1996)
Free Roots (Otá Records OTA 1003, 1997)
Nfumbe, with John Santos Duo (Otá Records OTA 1004, 1998)
Spirit of the Roots (Otá Records OTA 1005, 1999)
Inside (Otá Records OTA 1006, 1999)
Bembón (Otá Records OTA 1007 2000)
Prietos (Otá Records OTA 1008 2001)
Sentir (Otá Records OTA 1009 2002)
Ayaguna (Otá Records OTA 1010, 2003)
A New Life (Otá Records OTA 1011, 2003)
Pictures of Soul (Otá Records OTA 1012, 2004)
Mulatos (Otá Records OTA 1014, 2004)
Ballads, compilation 1997-2000 (Otá OTA 1015, 2005)