Latin Vocal Jazz

In early 2014, Denmark-based conga player and bandleader Eliel Lazo invented a concept he dubbed "Cuban Nights". The aim was to play and present new and authentic Cuban music on stages, including at the Copenhagen JazzHouse Montmartre. After many successful Cuban nights across the country and Europe with various resident and visiting Cuban musicians, Eliel decided to return to the original line-up. So, here's the dream team back together, including legendary pianist Javier "Caramelo de Cuba" Masso (Jerry Gonzalez, Enrique Morente, Diego El Cigala, Concha Buika), bassist Yasser Pino (The Afrocuban All Stars, The Latin Syndicate , Roberto) Fonseca), drum genius and Grammy winner Raul Pineda (Chucho Valdes, Eric Marienthal, Michel Camilo) and Eliel himself (The Cuban Funkmachine, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdes, Richard Bona) heat up together. Recorded at the legendary Musigrama recording studio in Madrid.

Terra feels like an attempt to move Mariza into the musical mainstream. She's already established herself at the forefront of fado, as one of the leading performers of the emotive Portuguese style, and there's no doubt she possesses a wonderful voice. But the addition of several guests, such as Chucho Valdés, Ivan Lins, and Tito Paris (among others) seems to open up the seams between fado and other genres, including Brazilian music and jazz. It does so relatively subtly, and she keeps her base pretty firmly in fado (witness the glorious "Ja Me Deixou"). Her duet with Paris on "Beijo de Saudade" is a highlight, and the voices play off each other gloriously, hers pure and clear, his gruff and harsh. Ultimately, the question is whether it all works, and it does, because it doesn't try to do too much, just a small re-positioning, although what the future will bring remains to be seen.

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.

In 1999, Collectors' Choice released Voices in Latin/The Freshman Year, which contained two complete albums – Voices in Latin (1958, originally released on Capitol) and The Freshman Year (1961, originally released on Capitol) – by the Four Freshmen on one compact disc.

Iroko launches Avishai Cohen’s longtime dream “to do a Latin project with his favorite Latin musician in New York”. Israel based bassist - singer and master conguero-vocalist Abraham Rodriguez Jr., brim with tunefulness, grooves, warmth, indelible melodies and the bonds of brotherhood to summon Yoruba gods.