This week on Jazz Caliente, I'll feature another song from Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa's latest album, Te Lo Dije, revisit the uniquely gifted trumpeter Gabriel Alegria and his Afro-Peruvian Sextet, and sample something new from Brazilian drummer Vanderlei Pereira and his group The Blindfold Test.
Harold López-Nussa pushes the boundaries once again with his Te Lo Dije, an ambitious mix of jazz with old and new Afro-Cuban musical styles. This week, we'll hear "Habana sin Sábanas" or "Havana without sheets." I wasn't sure of the idomatic translation, so I messaged Harold and got the scoop. I'll tell you about it on this week's show. Here's his blend of jazz and Reggaeton, a very popular dance music in Havana:
Gabriel Alegria's Afro-Peruvian Sextet are offering online concerts and special content if you become a member at their website. Afro-Peruvian music is fascinating, and worth checking out. I'll play a selection from their 2013 album, Ciudad de los Reyes, this week on the show. This video is from their great performance at the Litchfield Jazz festival in 2010:
Brazilian drummer Vanderlei Pereira was well established in the classical music world, then lost his sight in his 30s due to inherited retinitis pigmentosa. Easily transitioning to Brazilian jazz and MPB (musica popular brasileira), he now leads this fresh-sounding sextet called The Blindfold Test. We'll hear "Misturada" from their album Vision for Rhythm on Saturday's Jazz Caliente. Here's the group with a live version of "De Volta à Festa (Return to the Party)."
Make new discoveries this week on Jazz Caliente!
Jazz Caliente airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. The show is hosted by Robin Lloyd and produced by KNKX Public Radio.
