Music scenes across the country contain hidden gems that often remain unknown to the rest of the world. Many artists make a comfortable living playing locally; working full time as a musician and avoiding the rigors of travel. They may play weddings, corporate events, and give private lessons in addition to jazz performance, but the additional time with family and friends creates immeasurable benefits. Some aging legends slow their performance schedules and settle into a local life. They energize the local scene with performance and serve as mentors to younger musicians. Other musicians choose to live a high profile performance lifestyle, but still spend a good deal of time locally. When they do, they invariably join local groups for performances in clubs or festivals. Each city, especially larger ones, holds a unique musical community that reflects the people living there - in most cases, these thriving scenes remain within the city, a secret to the rest of the world.

Miami’s close proximity to Cuba and its tropical environment make it a perfect landing spot for displaced Cuban musicians. After years of playing music in New York and Los Vegas, bassist Israel “Cachao” Lopéz found a home in Miami, living in a community well aware of his major contributions to Cuban music. Trombonist Juan Pablo Torres also brought his family to Miami, performing with local groups and traveling sporadically to do record dates with Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, and more. Juanito Márquez built a career in Miami’s recording industry as both a guitarist and an arranger. Pianist Mike Orta and bassist Nicky Orta both developed strong musical personalities working on Miami’s music scene, and then they went on to work with Arturo Sandoval and Paquito D’Rivera, as well as earn teaching positions at a local college. In Miami, Armandito Romeu carried on his family’s long legacy of musical excellence established in Cuba. The music scene reflects both the past and present of Cuban music, and it has long held tremendous possibilities.

Those possibilities were unleashed onto the world in 1993, when Paquito D’Rivera recorded 40 Years of Cuban Jam Session, a grand Cuban descarga held in Miami. D’Rivera’s clarinet announces a march that quickly segues into a modern son montuno for “Descarga Para Banda Y Combo.” Torres provides a particularly energetic solo here, engaging every rhythmic possibility that the trombone offers. Cachao’s solo bowed bass opens “Descarga ‘93,” which moves into a violin driven jam. The percussion, violin, and Cachao’s ferocious groove lay the foundation for solos from trumpet player Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros, flautist Jesús Caunedo, and Mike Orta. Jose “Chombo” Silva’s breathy tone and introspective phrasing give new life to the classic ballad “Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado (What a Difference a Day Makes),” played here as a bolero. Three generations of Cuban bassists meet on “Tres Tristes Tigres” when Cachao, Enrique “Kike” Hernandez, and Nicky Orta perform as a bass trio. Solos move from Cachao to Orta, and the lineage of Cuban bass playing connects through a common rhythmic language. Classic moments run throughout the album as D’Rivera brought a variety of musicians together with the best that Miami’s Cuban music scene held.

40 Years of Cuban Jam Session boldly stated the power of Miami’s Cuban music scene, an artistic community that continued to move into the public eye. With the help of actor Andy Garcia, Cachao once again became a public figure through a documentary concert film Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos and a series of popular albums including Master Sessions, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2. Torres released a series of critically praised albums, but unfortunately died too young due to an inoperable brain tumor. The Orta brothers became the backbone for Sammy Figueroa’s Latin Jazz Explosion, and the group released a Grammy nominated album, And Sammy Walked In. Juanito Márquez became a major recording voice behind popular Latin music superstars Gloria Estefan and Albita Rodriguez. Cuba’s contemporary dance musicians, such as Manolin “El Medico de la Salsa,” moved into the area and began a lively timba scene. Trumpet player Arturo Sandoval made Miami his home base, recorded a chain of hit albums, and opened a nightclub that regularly features Miami jazz musicians. D’Rivera recognized the inherent talent sitting in Miami, and ever since, the world has been watching and listening to the wealth of Cuban music emanating from the local scene.

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