I’m starting a new series today entitled Exploring.  These articles will allow you to travel with me as I explore various sides of Latin Jazz that are still fairly new to me.  I’ve studied and performed Cuban-based Latin Jazz quite a bit, and to a lesser degree, I’ve been involved with Brazilian influenced Latin Jazz.  Today’s modern Latin Jazz world encompasses much more than the music of Cuba and Brazil though, and I feel a bit behind the times.  I encourage you to join me as I broaden my horizons and learn more about a variety of Latin Jazz styles.

In order to make this a realistic study, I’ve decided to focus my energy upon Latin Jazz that incorporates the music of Argentina and Peru.  In addition, I’ll be working to fill in the holes in my knowledge about Brazilian jazz.  While I plan to look at these styles from various angles, excuse me if I get distracted and include influences from other South American and Caribbean cultures.

I’d like to emphasize the point that although I’m writing about these musics, I do not consider myself an expert - and I will need your help.  I’m truly exploring here; much of this information is new to me.  Feel free to correct me or give me additional information in comments.  If you feel like there’s a direction that my research should be taking, let me know.  I’m looking at this expedition as a group process; and I hope that you will join me.

For this first post, I’ve decided to compile a list of musicians that specialize in Afro-Peruvian Jazz. At this point, I’ve gathered the names, provided some basic information, and included links to their respective websites. I’ve found some of the recordings, but I still have quite a bit of listening. I’ve organized the list into two groups: musicians that focus primarily upon Afro-Peruvian influences and artists that utilize Afro-Peruvian rhythms among a wider array of styles. This should serve as a good starting point for further investigations of Afro-Peruvian Jazz.

Artists that focus upon Afro-Peruvian Music as the foundation for their Latin Jazz performances

1.  Gabriel Alegria
Peruvian trumpet player Gabriel Alegria extensively integrates Afro-Peruvian rhythmic styles into jazz. He has performed worldwide with a variety of traditional and Latin Jazz artists. Alegria solidified the position of jazz in Peru by creating Jazz Peru International, an organization that promotes jazz in Peru and organizes educational trips across Peru for jazz musicians from around the world. His current discography includes two albums, the 2002 release Un Rizo and the 2007 album Nuevo Mundo, which includes guest artists such as vocalist Tierney Sutton, trumpet player Bobby Shew, and keyboardist Russell Ferrante. Alegria currently works as the Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at New York University. Check out Alegria’s Website and his MySpace Page.

2.  Pilar de la Hoz
Peruvian jazz vocalist Pilar de la Hoz brings together jazz harmony, traditional Peruvian songs and rhythms, and improvisation into a unique presentation of jazz. Her first release, the 2006 album Jazz Con Sabor Peruano, includes a wide range of material that fuses Peruvian song with jazz. In addition to applying jazz harmonies and improvisation to a variety of Peruvian folk songs, she also incorporates jazz standards, which receive a cultural re-imagining with Peruvian rhythms. She currently performs throughout Peru, promoting her music. Check out Pilar de la Hoz’s Website.

3.  Richie Zellon
Guitarist Richie Zellon began fusing jazz with Afro-Peruvian music in the early 1980s with an album entitled Landologia. He later moved to Boston to study music at the Berklee School of Music, where he continued his concept. In 1995, he established Songosaurus Records, a label created to both promote his own music and artists with similar concepts. He has released several albums through his label, including The Afro-Peruvian Jazz Sessions, Cafe Con Leche, and Nazca Lines. Check out Zellon’s Website or his MySpace.

Artists that integrate Afro-Peruvian styles into a broader mix of Latin genres when performing

1.  Layla Angulo
Saxophonist Layla Angulo performs with her Latin Jazz Ensemble, based in Seattle, Washington. Her group performs an invigorating mix of Cuban jazz styles, with original compositions and arrangements from Angulo. In the early 2000s, Angulo developed an interest in Afro-Peruvian music and began a deep study. Her repertoire now includes several jazz pieces that apply Afro-Peruvian styles and cajon rhythms. LJC recently spotlighted Angulo, and you can read the review of her album Live at The Triple Door HERE. Check out her Website or her MySpace Page.

2.  Sofia Koutsovitis
Vocalist Sofia Koutsovitis performs with a variety of Latin and jazz ensembles around the New York area, including her own group. Her work with the group Alcatraz focuses exclusively upon traditional Peruvian music with a tinge of jazz. Koutsovitis’s own group performs jazz a variety of influences from Latin countries with an emphasis upon Argentinean music. Her 2006 album Ojala aptly reflects her infusion of styles; you can read the LJC review of this album HERE. Also check out her Website and her MySpace Page.

2.  Oscar Stagnaro

Oscar Stagnaro is best known as the bass player for the Paquito D’Rivera Quintet, but his influence reaches far beyond this role. As a sideman, Stagnaro has integrated rhythms from Peru into music from Richie Zellon and D’Rivera. As a leader, he has applied Peruvian rhythms extensively on his album Mariella’s Dream. He works as professor of music at Berklee College of Music, where he runs Latin Jazz ensembles and teaches classes on the music. Both through performing and teaching, Stagnaro has spread the use of Afro-Peruvian rhythms. Check out his Website and his MySpace page.
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HELP ME EXPLORE FURTHER!
Do you have any further Afro-Peruvian Jazz artists to recommend? Any albums that I need to check out? Any comments that you could leave about the blend of Afro-Peruvian rhythms and jazz? Any questions that you have about the music that you’d like to see tackled in a future Exploring post?

Please take a minute a leave a comment with your thoughts - I’d love to get some ideas about this music and some help understanding it!

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