We’re closing up the Best of 2008 Awards today with some major honors - Album of the Year, LJC Hall of Fame, and Next Generation Artist. Congratulations to all our winners - it’s been a fantastic year of music! Thanks to everyone that participated in the voting process, I appreciate your support and enthusiasm!

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Album of the Year: Réplica, Eric Kurimski
Here at LJC, 2008 will be remembered as the year that Latin Jazz officially stepped outside the authority of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, and leading the charge is Eric Kurimski’s outstanding Afro-Peruvian Jazz album Réplica. The Latin Jazz world has been moving deeper into South America for years, but it long needed a defining album to make the transition complete. Réplica serves as that album; it represents the best of both worlds as it brings together musicians and repertoire from both the traditional Peruvian music world and New York’s vibrant jazz scene. Legendary guitarist Carlos Hayre, influential cajon player Juan “Cotito” Medrano, and bassist Joscha Oetz contribute significantly to the album, all musicians heavily involved in the Peruvian music scene. Kurimski and bassist Edward Perez apply their cross-cultural understandings of jazz and Peruvian music to the album, adding a New York edge. The repertoire ranges from interpretations of traditional Peruvian songs such as “Ronca Canalete” to jazz heavy tracks like John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” played over a lando rhythm. It’s an organic blend that seems perfectly natural, and it resonates with inspirational performances. If you haven’t made the jump into Afro-Peruvian Jazz yet, and you’re ready to take the leap, Réplica should be your first stop. If you’ve moved ahead and listened to Réplica, you’re probably hooked on Afro-Peruvian Jazz, and you can understand without a shadow of a doubt, why Réplica stands as LJC’s 2008 Album of the Year.

Hall of Fame: Tito Puente
I can’t think of a better artist to be the first entry into the Latin Jazz Corner Hall of Fame than timbalero, composer, arranger, and all-around spokesman for Latin Jazz than the late, great Tito Puente. Puente arrived onto the scene not long after the genre’s birth and he stayed faithful to the music until his death in 2000, releasing over 100 albums as a bandleader. His virtuosity on the timbales influenced a generation of young percussionists and set the standard for timbale soloing in both salsa and Latin Jazz circles. Puente’s powerful voice as both a composer and arranger contributed a bulk of standards into the genre and allowed for the transition of numerous straight-ahead jazz classics into the Latin realm. His natural charisma and likeable personality allowed him to reach beyond Latin music circles and touch jazz fans, rock musicians, celebrities, and more; if there’s one Latin Jazz name that most people know, it’s Tito Puente. We’ll be adding a Hall of Fame tab at the top of the page, with a special spot for Puente and all our future Hall of Fame inductees. In addition, we’ll be focusing in on Puente’s life and legacy over the course of 2008, returning to look at his music with several posts throughout the year. From here on out, I’ll be making it part of our mission at LJC to keep Puente’s legacy alive and well.

Next Generation Artist: Otmaro Ruiz
Next Generation Artist takes on a bit of a different meaning this year, with Otmaro Ruiz, a well-established Venezuelan piano player firmly winning this category. In the past, the idea of “Next Generation Artist” has referred to a younger musician early in their career that stands poised to move Latin Jazz in a new direction. Ruiz has spent many years establishing himself as an important piece of the Los Angeles music scene, and he contributed greatly to Venezuela’s music scene before that. Still, Ruiz certainly stands poised to move the music in a new direction with his thorough training in Venezuelan traditions, classical music, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian styles, jazz, pop, arranging, composing, and recording. He has an extensive background that enables him to dive into a variety of different approaches. Ruiz has utilized those skills with a wide spectrum of artists, ranging from rock icon Jon Anderson to fusion band Jing Chi or Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Yet his own 2008 release Sojourn puts Ruiz’s voice into the forefront of the Latin Jazz world; he takes a diverse view, drawing upon his varied background to create a unique statement. With his solid musical foundation, years of experience, and original musical statements, Ruiz will be helping to define the next generation of Latin Jazz for years to come.

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It’s been a fantastic year of music; make sure that you take the opportunity to look upon the Best of 2008:
Best of 2008: Drum Kit, Large Ensemble Album, Brazilian Jazz Album
Best of 2008: Bass, Piano, & Percussion
Best of 2008: Saxophone, Trombone, & Trumpet
Best of 2008: Vocalist, Flute, Guitar, & Record Label

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