A troop of fine trumpeters from around the world liven up this week's Jazz Caliente. Here's the scoop.
Gabriel Alegria put the Afro Peruvian Sextet together in 2005, and their mix of modern jazz and Peruvian folkloric music is irresistible. All of the band members are master musicians. Many also teach and compose. They've built a following in New York, and tour there regularly.
Venezuelan trumpeter Raul Agraz trained at the prestigious Caracas Conservatory of Music, and is well-versed in classical music, as well as Afro-Cuban jazz. When he moved to New York in 1996, he ended up playing lead trumpet in Broadway show orchestras. He's still at it, along with being a well respected jazz and Latin jazz player.
Marquis Hill, the ultra-modern jazz trumpeter from Chicago, was once a member of a Peruvian jazz collective called Chinchano, led by percussionist Juan Pastor. Pastor recently went home to Lima to teach for a while, and has since moved back to Chicago. One can only hope that this will lead to the return of Chinchano, as well.
Hailing from the island of Trinidad, Etienne Charles is not only an associate professor of jazz trumpet at Michigan State University, he's a lifelong student of Caribbean music. Specifically, he constantly seeks new ways to blend jazz with Caribbean rhythms and forms, and he's very good at it.
Tune in for terrific trumpets and more this Saturday on Jazz Caliente!
Jazz Caliente airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. The show is hosted by Robin Lloyd and produced by KNKX Public Radio.
