Any good business begins every day’s work with a focus upon their mission statement. It’s generally a paragraph that simply and clearly states the company’s goals and defines the motivation behind their work. It provides each employee with a direction to guide their work and it allows everyone to see an overall goal. With this bigger objective in mind, each worker can ask an essential question - does my current task lead our company closer to our goal? Without a mission statement, a business freely moves from goal to goal; perhaps they accomplish each task, but they never experience significant growth. The company has not created a long-term ambition, so the accomplishment of short-term tasks becomes the only purpose behind the company. The company with the mission statement has larger vision, a defined direction, and a clear path towards their overall desires - they can see their goals, and in many cases, the necessary steps to reach it become readily apparent, which gives them a greater chance of success.

Pasache Music holds a clearly defined mission, which has guided its every move thus far - the promotion and support of Afro-Peruvian Jazz. This goal started with the passion for Afro-Peruvian music and jazz held by its founder, Oscar Pasache, and his rooster of dedicated musicians. They recognized the importance and vitality of the music being created between these two traditions, and they looked for an avenue to bring it to the world. The company has formed Lima Limón Records to produce and distribute outstanding Afro-Peruvian Jazz, most of which currently emanates from New York. The creation of Pasache Music and the record label served as a wise move - Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms sit at the forefront of the Latin Jazz world in the United States. Although awareness of other Latin traditions is on the rise, years of tradition easily bury new trends in the jazz world. By maintaining a razor sharp focus upon Afro-Peruvian Jazz, Pasache Music keeps the style in front of its audience and the awareness level high. In order to truly support the artistry of Afro-Peruvian Jazz artists, the organization of these resources is essential.

Still at the beginning phase of their mission, Pasache Music holds a small but powerful rooster of musicians knowledgeable in both jazz and Afro-Peruvian styles. The first album on the Lima Limón Records label brought together the finest musicians from New York’s burgeoning Afro-Peruvian Jazz scene on the self-titled release Alcatraz. Featuring vocals from Sofia Koutsovitis, the album combines traditional songs with jazz harmonies and improvisation. The resulting music presents a strong sense of Afro-Peruvian identity spiced with a heavy dose of New York artistry. The group’s bassist, Edward Perez, created the second Lima Limón release, The Year of Two Summers. Perez draws upon his extensive experience in New York’s jazz community, along with his years in Peru to craft a series of intriguing compositions. Perez’s high comfort level in each style allows him to move freely between genres, resulting in a beautiful improvisatory setting that bursts with authenticity. The latest release on Lima Limón, guitarist Eric Kurimski’s first album, Réplica, places yet another member from Alcatraz into the spotlight. Recorded in Peru, the album combines Kurimski’s guitar mastery with a group of traditional musicians, including Sergio Valdeos, Juan Medrano Cotito, Yuri Juarez, and Carlos Hayre. With the combined talents of these artists, Kurimski’s album promises to be more inspiring Afro-Peruvian Jazz. In these first three releases, Pasache Music has presented an outstanding representation of New York’s Afro-Peruvian Jazz scene.

The greater Latin Jazz world has yet to fully embrace Afro-Peruvian Jazz, but Pasache Music has put all the right pieces in place to share the style with the world. The firm belief that Pasache shows for Afro-Peruvian music can only bolster the genre’s presence in the jazz world, and the strength of the initial Lima Limón releases only provide more evidence. Each album connects with Afro-Peruvian traditions deeply while allowing artists to filter the music through their own musical backgrounds. Pasache certainly gathered the correct group of musicians to front Lima Limón’s first presentations of Afro-Peruvian Jazz. The musicians fill each recording with energy and vitality and a pure dedication to the style. At this point, the group of musicians on the label remains tightly knit, stemming from their collective experience in Alcatraz. Only time will tell whether Pasache integrates more musicians into the rooster, but at this point, the young label has a strong foundation to build upon. In so many ways, Pasache Music has chosen an admirable mission in the support of Afro-Peruvian Jazz, and every move thus far sees the label on the road towards completing their mission successfully.

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Pasache Music has organized a live performances to support the release of Eric Kurimski’s Réplica. Kurimski will have Juan Medrano Cotito and Mariela Valencia performing with him, so it should be a great night. Come out and support Afro-Peruvian Jazz!

ERIC KURIMSKI
Réplica CD Release Party
WHEN: Thursday 7/3/08
WHERE: Drom
85 Avenue A
New York, NY
TIME: 8:30 p.m.

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