Jazz at Lincoln Ruben Blades Wynton Marsalis

Given the significance of Afro-Latin rhythms in jazz’s development, there’s inherent value in a premier repertory ensemble like the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra collaborating with legendary Panamanian singer Rubén Blades. But the delight of this 2014 live performance is hearing the musicians stretch themselves beyond the safety of well-trodden Latin jazz territory. Along with reliably excellent performances of salsa tunes, Blades brings Rat Pack brashness to American standards like “Too Close for Comfort,” “Fever,” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” And in bassist Carlos Henriquez’s arrangements of Blades classics like “El Cantante,” the JALCO shifts between its always-convincing swing and bona fide clave, educating us in the rhythms’ historic connections along the way. After the full orchestra’s sheer sonic force, Blades’ “Patria” is an album highlight, with a scaled-down ensemble of percussionists, bass, and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis backing the singer in stark magnificence.[

Carlos Henriquez's THE BRONX PYRAMID marks the Bronx-born, Nuyorican bassist's first album as a leader and the emergence of a fully fledged Latin jazz master. Joined by guest stars Rubén Blades and Pedrito Martinez and band members including drummer and fellow Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra member Ali Jackson, Henriquez expertly blends modern jazz with Latin rhythms, demonstrating why he's been performing with greats like Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Celia Cruz since he was 14.