The Exploring series allows 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.

When I first started exploring Afro-Peruvian Jazz in this post, I detailed the artists that used Afro-Peruvian rhythms in jazz - at least, artists that I had encountered at that point. Over the past year, Afro-Peruvian Jazz has become a regular part of my listening routine and a major piece of the Latin Jazz world. I’ve become familiar with rhythms such as lando, festejo, and valse, and I’m starting to notice these styles appear in a wide spectrum of albums. Artists such as trumpet player Gabriel Alegria have become inspirational figures for me, as I search for You Tube videos and check out their MySpace pages. When guitarist Eric Kurimski won the LJC 2008 Album of the Year Award for his recording Réplica this past December, I realized that Afro-Peruvian Jazz had arrived to the forefront of the Latin Jazz scene. With the music becoming increasingly important, I’m glad that I’ve spent the past year building my knowledge about Afro-Peruvian styles . . . but I still feel like I’ve got a good deal to learn.

Compared to my background in Afro-Cuban Jazz, my knowledge of Afro-Peruvian Jazz is still very thin - so the research continues. I’ve discovered that Peru has an active jazz scene in Lima and beyond, with a wealth of great musicians fueling the creative process. There’s jazz clubs that provide the setting for creative activity, such as Jazz Zone, a club that books live jazz most nights of the week. Other performance spots provide live jazz on a semi-regular basis such as La Vida Misma, La Noche, and the Hotel Marriott. There seems to be an active intermingling of stylistic ideals from jazz, Afro-Peruvian folk music, and Brazilian styles to pop, rock, and fusion. There seems to be quite a bit of interesting music happening around Lima. I have not visited Peru yet, so I can’t say all this from first hand experience, only internet research. So I could be mistaken in my impression, but I’m encountering a good deal of interesting music.

I thought that I’d jump right into this scene by introducing two Latin Jazz artists currently performing in Peru. Each artist incorporates traditional Afro-Peruvian styles extensively, combining the use of the cajon with bass, piano, guitar, and drum kit. They simultaneously draw upon traditional jazz; incorporating standards, swing rhythms, and jazz melodic phrasing. It’s a fluid combination that both exciting and interesting - take a minute to check out these artists, you’ll be glad that you did.

Cecilia Alessandra
Vocalist Cecilia Alessandra found her passion for music at a young age, jumping into training during her middle school years. She soon committed herself fully to music, with vocal lessons, and a broad exposure to musical styles. Her pursuit of a music career soon took her to Rio de Janeiro, where she found work singing in local venues. This experience brought Alessandra deeper into Brazilian styles, adding it to her repertoire of traditional Peruvian songs as she returned to her home country. When she began performing in Peru, she added jazz and blues to her repertoire and gained a following, which led to tours in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico, and Colombia. She relocated to the United States for a short time in 2005, working in Las Vegas. Alessandra currently performs throughout Peru.

Alessandra’s 2007 release Caudalosa highlights her talents in a broad array of styles, languages, and musical approaches. Traditional Afro-Peruvian styles form the basis of Alessandra’s repertoire, but she certainly doesn’t stop with that musical foundation. There’s an extensive presence of swing styles, providing Alessandra the opportunity to display traditional phrasing and strong scatting skills. Alessandra’s experimental spirit takes her a bit further though, including bits of rock, funk, techno, and flamenco. It’s a diverse ride through the wide possibilities afforded by Afro-Peruvian rhythms and Alessandra stands at the center of the sound with her powerful vocal guiding the music.

Manante
This group of contemporary Peruvian musicians takes the all the best ideals of the jazz trio and pushes it to the next level with the combination of Afro-Peruvian rhythms. Bassist Noel Marambio holds the trio together with his solid performance on both acoustic and electric basses. A musician that has studied extensively in Peru with musicians such as Jorge Madueño and Andres Prado and then in the United States with Matthew Garrison and Victor Wooten, Marambio brings a wealth of experience and musical knowledge into the group. Drummer Leonardo “Gigio” Parodi grounds the trio in traditional Afro-Peruvian music while concurrently allowing them to jump into jazz swing. His ability to simultaneously integrate cajon and drum kit into music has found him work with such influential artists as Eva Allyon, Perú Negro, and Alex Acuña. Pianist Pepe Céspedes provides a strong voice at the front of the trio with strong melodic interpretations and harmonic development. Céspedes has been a regular on the Peruvian music scene, working as musical director for Alessandra, and joining together with other local musicians such as Yuri Juarez to perform. It’s a strong trio that brings a new Peruvian ideal to the traditional jazz format.

Manante’s 2008 recording Para Los Engreidos shows the trio in action, exploding with potential and strongly solidified artistic ideals. Some tracks take the listener on a journey through traditional Afro-Peruvian music, with Céspedes providing a gentle touch on the piano while Parodi ensure an appropriate foundation on the cajon. Other songs move the group further into fusion territory with Marambio storming through melodic and virtuosic electric bass solos and the overall group taking a much more aggressive approach. At other times, the trio simply swings with an implication of a gliding swing moving over the cajon while Marambio leans between stylistic boundaries. At the core of the group, there’s a firm sense of interaction, creativity, and teamwork that places the group in the vital listening category. As Afro-Peruvian Jazz gains a further footing in the Latin Jazz world, Manante will be a group that will need to be heard.

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Check Out These Related Posts:
Exploring Latin Jazz: What Makes Afro-Peruvian Jazz Unique?
Exploring Latin Jazz: Afro-Peruvian Dance and Folk Artists
Exploring Latin Jazz: Argentine Jazz
Exploring Latin Jazz: From Pop Star To Artistic Innovator - Two Sides of Tango

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