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Jazz Caliente: Previewing the 2019 Latin Grammys

Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés with batá drum
Carol Friedman
/
courtesy of the artist
Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés with batá drum";

On Jazz Caliente this Saturday, we'll hear a selection from the latest release by Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés, "Jazz Batá 2."  The album was nominated this week for Best Latin Jazz Album by the 20th Annual Latin Grammys. Let's meet a few of the other 2019 Latin Grammy nominees.

Maestro Eddie Palmieri is nominated in the Salsa category for his "Mi Luz Mayor."  Every so often, Mr. P. relives his salsa days and revives his band La Perfecta. 

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There are some interesting nominees in the Best Instrumental Album category this year: 

Puerto Rican saxophonist and educator Miguel Zenon's delightful 2018 project "Yo Soy La Tradición" with the Spektral String Quartet.

Fun stuff from Cuba's national recording studio EGREM, the Cuban Sax Quintet. 

And Brazilians Edu Ribeiro, Fabio Peron and Toninho Ferragutti made the Best Instrumental list with their "choro and more" release "Folia De Treis".

Chilean vocalist and songwriter Claudia Acuña is nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album for "Turning Pages."

And, of course, the great Chucho Valdés for his "Jazz Bata 2," revisiting his groundbreaking projects from the 1970s that mixed jazz with sacred drums.

Listen for "Ochún" from Chucho Valdés on Jazz Caliente this week. 

Next week, we'll have a preview of the Earshot Jazz Festival's Latin jazz lineup for October!

Jazz Caliente airs Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.  The show is hosted by Robin Lloyd and produced by KNKX Public Radio.

Originally from Detroit, Robin Lloyd has been presenting jazz, blues and Latin jazz on public radio for nearly 40 years. She's a member of the Jazz Education Network and the Jazz Journalists Association.