Search Results for: Tito Puente

Papo Vázquez the Pirate & Troubadour of Our Latin Music

Papo Vázquez Enjoying the Bell.

Angel Vásquez, “Papo Vásquez”, was born on February 24, 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

By age 15, Papo Vázquez was playing with local American bands in Philadelphia and accompanying guest artists such as Eddie Palmieri.

At just 17, he moved to New York and was hired to play for trumpet player Chocolate Armenteros’ band, and soon began playing and recording with other top artists on the salsa scene such as The Fania All-Stars, Ray Barreto, Willie Colón, Grupo Folklórico Neoyorquino, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, and Hector Lavoe.

Vazquez also became a key player in the burgeoning New York Latin jazz scene of the late 1970s, performing with Jerry Gonzalez, Hilton Ruiz, and more.

He began his studies with Slide Hampton, eventually recording and performing Slide Hampton’s World Trombones.

Papo Vázquez Photo by Ernie Gregory (Gone but not forgotten) Thank you Ernie!PV

A Grammy-nominated trombonist, composer, arranger, NEA Master Artist, he has a 50-plus year career in jazz, Latin and Afro-Caribbean music.

Musical Director of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Orchestra, (NYC/WABC) 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

Commissioned by Wynton Marsalis to compose music for Jazz and Art series, conducted and performed with the J@LC orchestra, CD release August 2019 New York Pops Education, Board of Education certified, 2018 and 2019

New music commissioned for Afro Latin Jazz Alliance for the “Nueva Música” concert series.

Nominated for Grammy for Papo Vázquez’s Mighty Pirates, Marooned/Isolated, 2008

Born in 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, although his early formative years were in Puerto Rico.

He went on to play and/or record with jazz luminaries Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra, Chico O’Farrill, Ray Charles, Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones, Jerry Gonzalez Fort Apache, among many others. By the age of 22, Vazquez had traveled the world.

Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours 2023

Vázquez was deeply moved by jazz from a young age. His appreciation and knowledge of indigenous Caribbean music provides him with a unique ability to fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the freer melodic and harmonic elements of progressive jazz.

Beginnings

After spending his early years in Puerto Rico, he grew up in the heart of North Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community. He purchased his first trombone from a friend for $5 and joined the elementary school band.

At the age of 14, an uncle recommended him to a local salsa band, where he met trumpeter Jimmy Purvis. Purvis inspired Papo’s lifelong passion for jazz by giving him two records: J.J. Johnson’s Blue Trombone and John Coltrane Live at the Village Vanguard. By 15, Vazquez was performing with local Latin bands in Philadelphia and accompanying visiting New York artists such as Eddie Palmieri.

He was a founding member of Jerry Gonzalez’s Fort Apache and Conjunto Libre, as well as the popular Puerto Rican Latin fusion band Batacumbele.

With Batacumbele he performed, composed, arranged and recorded several albums from 1981 to 1985. Upon his return to New York, he joined Tito Puente’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, traveling with them as principal trombonist and touring Europe with Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra.

Leader, Composer and Innovator.

Vázquez has always been deeply moved by jazz, and specifically cites the music of John Coltrane and J.J. Johnson as having influenced him most. In addition, his appreciation and knowledge of the indigenous music of Caribbean peoples gives him a unique ability to fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms, specifically those of Puerto Rico, with the freer melodic and harmonic elements of progressive jazz.

During his time in Puerto Rico with Batacumbele in the 1980s, he began experimenting with “bomba jazz,” a fusion of jazz and traditional Puerto Rican bomba. In 1993 he recorded his first album as a leader, Breakout. He continued to collaborate with a variety of Latin Jazz artists, contributing Overtime Mambo to Hilton Ruiz’s Manhattan Mambo and Contra Viento y Mareo to Descarga Boricua, Vol. 1.

In 1999, he released a live recording with a number of leading New York Latin and jazz artists, including bassist Andy Gonzalez, saxophonist Michael Brecker, among others. The release of Pirates & Troubadours At the Point, Vol. 1 was followed the next year by At The Point, Vol. 2.

Mighty Pirates Troubadours Songs del Yucayekepor Papo Vazquez — Mighty Pirates Troubadours Songs del Yucayeke
por Papo Vazquez

This project evolved into the Pirates Troubadours, an “Afro-Puerto Rican jazz band” that includes musicians such as Roberto Cepeda of Puerto Rico’s Familia Cepeda folklore group, Milton Cardona and Anthony Carrillo on percussion, and John Benitez, among others. The group performed at festivals around the world and released Carnival in San Juan in 2003, followed by From The Badlands in 2007.

Interest grew as a composer.

He was the first artist to receive a composer commission (Iron Jungle) for the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, then a resident orchestra at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

His first classical composition, Palomita Suite Afro-Caribeña which to date was the first time Bomba y Plena had been performed with a Chamber Orchestra, was commissioned by the Bronx Arts Ensemble and premiered at the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture in the Bronx in 2004.

In 2007, on a commission from the Bronx River Arts Center, he wrote Sube el Río (River Rising) for its Mighty Pirate Orchestra for its 20th anniversary concert “Bronx River Sounds.”

Discography

Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Capítulo 10: Breaking Cover, Picaro Records 2020
Cuarteto Papo Vázquez – GV J.S. Bach, Picaro Records 2017
Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Spirit Warrior, Picaro Records, 2015
Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Oasis, Picaro Records, 2012
Papo Vázquez The Mighty Pirates – Marooned / Aislado, Picaro Records, Nominación al Grammy 2008
Papo Vázquez Pirates Troubadours – From The Badlands, Picaro Records, 2007
El Niño Josele – 2011
Tego Calderon – The Underdog / El Subestimado, Jiggiri Records, 2006
Shakira & Wyclef Jean – Tema de la final mundial de fútbol (“Bamboo”), 2006
Ray Barretto – Normas rican-ditioned, Zoho Music, 2006
Los Pleneros de la 21 Para Todos Ustedes, Smithsonian Folkways, 2005 – Nominación al Grammy,
Bebo Valdes – Bebo de Cuba, Calle 54, 2005 – Grammy, Mejor Álbum de Jazz Latino
Papo Vázquez Pirates Trovadores – Carnaval en San Juan, Cu-Bop Records, 2003
Wayne Shorter – Alegria, Verve, 2003 – Grammy, Mejor álbum instrumental de jazz
Jack Bruce – Sombras en el aire, Sanctuary Records Group, 2001
Freddie Cole Rio de Janeiro Blues, Telarc
Chico O’Farrill “Carambola” Fantasía
Banda sonora de la película Mo ’Better Blues de Spike Lee
Papo Vázquez “Piratas y trovadores – En el punto Vol. I” Cubop
Papo Vázquez “Piratas y trovadores – At the Point Vol. 2” Cubop
Milton Cardona “Cambucha” Clave americana
Arturo O’Farrill “Bloodlines” Fantasy
Chucho Valdés “All Stars Bronx Lebanon New Directions Project” RMM
“Jammin ‘in the Bronx” Papo Vázquez Band, Chucho Valdes & The Machito Orq RMM
Chart Busters con el Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lenny White, Hiram Bullock, Craig Handy, Papo Vázquez, et.al. Chico O’Farrill Fantasía “Pure Emotion”
Steve Berrios Fantasía del “primer mundo”
Descarga Boricua “Descarga Boricua” Tierrazo
Dave Valentin “Tropic Heat” GRP
Juan Luis Guerra 440 “Fogarate” 440
Papo Vázquez “Breakout” Timeless
Ruben Blades “Amor y Control” “Antecedente” & “Caminando” Sony
Hilton Ruiz “Manhattan Mambo” Telarc y “Hands on Percussion”
RMM Tito Puente “Fuera de este mundo” Tito Puente “100” RMM
Jerry Gonzalez Fort Apache Band “Obatala” “Live in Berlin” Enja & “Ya Yo Me Cure” American Clave
New York Latin Jazz All Stars “Feliz Navidad”
Bobby Valentin “Presenta al Cano Estremera” – Bronco Records
Batacumbele “Con Un Poco de Songo” & “En Aquellos Tiempos” Tierrazo
Ray Barretto “Ricanstruction” Fania
Slide Hampton “Mundo de trombones” WEST54
Chico O’Farrill “Calle 54”
Fania All Stars “Habana Jam” Fania
Willie Colon & Ruben Blades “Siembra” Fania
Willie Colon y Celia Cruz Fania
Héctor La Voe “De Ti Depende” – Feliz Navidad, Fania
Mon Rivera “Vuelvo a Vivir” Fania

Sources:

Textos www.jazzismomedellin.com

Also Read: Eddie Palmieri brought salsa for the first time and live from Sing Sing Penitentiary in New York

Yehudry N. Perdomo M.

North America / USA / New York

High performance athlete in rhythmic gymnastics and professional dancer. Bailoxtreme master trainer and salsa fitness instructor. Yehudry was born in Caracas, Venezuela from a family where salsa was heard as the first and even only option. Surrounded by dancers, she began to enjoy this genre as well and began taking dance classes to stop being an amateur and prepare for a professional level.

His first academy was Latin Images, directed by Arelis Guevera and Remmys. After going through several academies, it was at Grizzly Dance Company where he learned about existing dance styles such as in L.A, Puerto Rico and New York, but never forgetting his style. LOVER OF SALSA IN ALL ITS VERSIONS.

Her salsa roots come from the neighborhood, although thanks to her performance as a gymnast, she maintains a very beautiful and impressive elegance when dancing, merging sport with dance. His first international presentation was in 2013 at the Peru Salsa Congress with the dance company where he began his career.

Today he is dedicated to fitness but his passion for salsa did not end there, as he created a training system called BAILOXTREME where salsa gained strength due to its unique way of training and dancing simultaneously in time of 1. This training system has generated that more people are interested in salsa and in taking classes in various consecrated academies in Venezuela and now internationally.

Today, Yehudry lives in Miami making this project grow but always remembering and respecting those who helped her grow professionally. Below you can learn more about this incredible dancer from a conversation she had with our ISM team…

What led you to choose Latin Images as your first dance academy?

The proximity to my home and the recommendation of dancer friends who are members of that company.

Did you always know that your passion for salsa surpassed rhythmic gymnastics?

It is not surpassed today by Salsa Fit or Fitness as it is currently called, it is Latin dance applied to Fitness and Gymnastics is a high-performance sport, I cannot choose between one and the other. Each one has marked a stage in my life. Currently I am not an athlete, now I am a training coach and a professional dancer, what I did was to unite both sports style and culture and the result was excellent.

Where do you think your salsa roots came from?

I really think that from my Maternal Grandmother, a beautiful black woman with a religious family, lovers of Afro-descendant music, she was the one who gave all her children that love for Salsa and Afro dances. I even have a musician uncle.

How was the creation of Bailoxtreme?

Well it’s very funny, but it was a coincidence. Some ladies were dancing and exercising in a park alone because their coach didn’t show up. And I offered to teach him that day. From there to here, what were 10 ladies became almost 300 in an area where there could only be 100 perhaps.

If you could choose a gymnastics idol and a salsa idol, which one would it be?

Definitely Almudena Cid and Nadia Comanecci.

Oscar d’ Leon, Raphy Leavit, Celia Cruz, Tito Puentes.

Bailo Xtreme - Yehudry N. Perdomo M — Bailo Xtreme – Yehudry N. Perdomo M

Would you see yourself performing with them doing bailoxtreme?

It would be an honor and an indescribable charge of energy to be able to exercise and learn to dance salsa with live music.

What’s next in Yehudry’s life?

I am currently recording a Cuban series that talks about the story of a revolutionary Fidelista who emigrates to Miami. This will be streamed on Netflix.

There I am a dancer who is kidnapped to pay a debt and it is a new challenge. I loved the experience and I’m already thinking about Salsa Pole fit, Something will come out (laughs)

For all the people who are reading us, tell them where they could practice this method?

In which dance academies? Both in Caracas and in Miami.

Bailo Xtreme logo – Yehudry N. Perdomo M

In Caracas you must communicate with the certified instructors in Bailoxtreme through their social networks or my instagram account @Yehudryfit_dancer

In Miami at Rise Health & Fitness

And Personalized at Country Club Towers gym Hialeah, FL.

The legacy of El Palladium lives on, as demonstrated by ‘Mambo Fantasy’

The legacy On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Tropicoro Club at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico was decked out to celebrate the music of Tito Rodríguez; led by his heir, Tito Rodriguez Jr., and El Caballero de la Salsa: Gilbertito Santa Rosa on vocals and the characteristic marquee of “El Inolvidable”. The show was part of ‘Mambo Fantasy’, a duel between the legacy of Tito Puente and that of Tito Rodríguez, two of the Kings of mambo during the golden age of big bands.

Humberto Ramirez, Herman Olivera, Tito Rodriguez jr. y Gilberto SantaRosa en Mambo Fantasy

The dance concert featured the musical power of the big orchestras, responsible for placing Latin music among the favorites of the dancing public. It was a must remember that the history of what was the era of mambo was strengthened in the emblematic New York halls, among which “El Palladium” stood out. To do so, the dance corps of Tito Ortos and Tamara Livolsi was accompanied by the nonagenarian Mambo Mike, engaging in an energetic choreography that the trio executed to perfection.

The legacy of Tito Puente resonated under the musical direction of the trumpeter, arranger, composer and producer Humberto Ramírez, with Hermán Olivera and Michelle Brava as the singers in charge of interpreting Puente’s repertoire.

Michelle La Brava 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Michelle La Brava ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

Rodríguez’s legacy was carried out by the union between the timbalero, arranger, composer, producer and orchestra director, heir to the musicality and the name of one of our greatest musical glories -Tito Rodríguez, Jr.- and one of the greatest stars of contemporary music -Gilberto Santa Rosa. The group was composed of: Gerardo Rivas on the tumbadoras, Pete Perignon on the bongos, Mako Pérez and Genaro “Ginno” Ramírez on the chorus, Luis Marín on the piano, Johnny Torres on the bass; Freddie Miranda, Josué Urbina, Saviel Cartagena and Francisco “Pacman” Cruz on the saxophones; Georgie Torres and Anthony “Nony” Rosado on the trombones; with Rolando Alejandro, Pedro Marcano, Kevin Ibáñez and Becky Zambrana on the trumpets. And since legacies are significant, it should not be overlooked that the three percussionists of this group are children of musicians.

Orquesta 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Orquesta ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

The repertoire, which included “Mama Güela,” “A los Muchachos de Belén,” “Vuela la paloma,” the bolero “Me faltabas tú,” “Baranga,” “Bon sueno,” “Yambú,” “Avísale a mi contrario,” “El agua de Belén,” “Óyeme Antonia,” “Estoy como nunca,” and the surprising intervention of the tumbador singer Johnny Rivero, the bolero “Tómame ya,” “El que se fue,” and “Abarriba cumbiaremos,” made it clear that the musical complexity of the golden age of mambo remains alive. The Gentleman of Salsa gave a lecture on his expertise in the most Tito Rodríguez-like dance that has ever been seen and heard, imprinting his interpretive style on the songs of “El Inolvidable,” while demonstrating his mastery of the dance, sliding across the stage using Rodríguez’s best steps.

Herman Olivera 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Herman Olivera ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

Evidently, the participation of El Caballero de la Salsa was inspired by the musical perfection of “El Inolvidable”, achieving an impeccable performance. Through the magic that Santa Rosa brought to the concert, Tito Rodríguez, Jr. managed to connect with the Puerto Rican public that follows his father’s music. For our part, we are grateful for the invitation of the work team responsible for the success of ‘Mambo Fantasy’, while we remain awaiting the next show that manages to bring together these greats of mambo.

Also Read: Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Federico Betancourt “Pioneer of Salsa in Venezuela”

Latin America / Venezuela / Carabobo

Jesús Federico Betancourt was born in the city of Valencia, Carabobo state, on March 22, 1940. He was always attracted to music from a very young age.

In his adolescence, he liked Cuban rhythms, being influenced by Sonora Matancera, Mon Rivera, Eddie Palmieri and Joe Cotto. Before entering the entertainment world, he works at the Bank of Venezuela.

He affirms that he has not carried out formal studies at the musical level, learning the necessary theory to be able to perform as an orchestra conductor, but without interest in interpreting any instrument, but with a well-tuned ear, which has allowed him to remain in the music business for decades. , in fact on certain occasions he is named as the King of the Güiro.

His career began when he entered the Los Selectos Orchestra, where they played songs by the Billos Caracas Boy’s and the Los Melodicos Orchestra, which were at their peak in the 1960s, all this in a particular way, said Orchestra did not go beyond that.

In 1965, Federico Betancourt decides to satisfy his artistic restlessness and founds a band called Federico y su Combo Latino. The members that made up this band were chosen from among the founder and together with Roberto Monserrat.

But it was not until the middle of 1966, when the twenty-six (26) year old undertook the recording of the LP that would make him famous forever. This record production entitled LLEGO LA SALSA, would mark an important stage in Venezuelan Salsa, because it was the first LP that made use of the word SALSA in the country.

Federico Betancourt himself recounts that the Venezuelan announcer Phidias Danilo Escalona had a Radio Program called LA HORA DE LA SALSA, EL SABOR Y EL BEMBÉ, where all the Cuban and Puerto Rican Caribbean rhythms that were fashionable at the time were placed, among those who highlighted La Sonora Matancera with Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Joe Cuba, Tito Rodríguez among others, and who was the one who supported them the most in terms of recording the album.

The production was recorded under the Palacio label, and the LP was titled LLEGÓ LA SALSA, he affirms that the title was chosen without taking into account the importance that it would revert in the future, he also affirms that it was not the name that gave him success , the album was a “bump” in sales, since all the songs were the most requested at the time, using his words: “The album sold like hot cakes”.

The music lovers of the time requested it on specialized sites such as the LA SALSA album. Federico says: “The father of the word SALSA was Phidias Danilo Escalona, he used it for the first time in his radio program, and I, humbly, with the success of my LP, gave him the push for its mass use.”

Federico Betancourt - Photo — Federico Betancourt – Photo

In Venezuela, the word SALSA was welcomed by the public willingly, since it suggested a mixture of flavors, which was exactly what happened in the Phidias program, but at the level of rhythms. After the appearance of Federico’s album, all the shows that were performed at the level of Caribbean and Cuban rhythms, carried the name of SALSA.

It is important to name the musicians who took part in this historic production: The musicians are: Ali Rojas Bongo and Cencerro, Roberto Monserrat Music Director and Timbal, Pedro Medina Congas, Alfredo Arcas Trombone, César Pinto Trumpet, Enrique Iriarte Piano, Rafael Prado Bass, Carlín Rodríguez Singer and maracas, Dimas Pedroza Singer, Federico Betancourt Güiro and Director of the Orchestra. The musical arrangements were by the famous trumpeter Eduvigis Carrillo (RIP). Production themes:

Llego la Salsa CD - Federico su Combo Latino — Llego la Salsa CD – Federico su Combo Latino

1.- Cocolía

2.- Conmigo
3.- El Pachanguero

4.- Sancocho Caliente
5.- Guaguancó Manía

6.- Celosa

7.- Despierta Rumbero

8.- No Critiquen
9.- Saoco

10.- Baila Yemaya
11.- Café Y Pan

12.- Que Me Querías

After the success obtained with the record work, the time came for the first international outing, which was to Colombia, in 1969. It happened because the singer of Los Melodicos, Víctor Piñero, informed Betancourt that he was stuck in Cartagena and Barranquilla with the themes El Cobrador and Federico Boogaloo. After the information, the young musician went to the neighboring country and got a contract for the famous Reina del Mar parties, in Cartagena, on November 11, 1969.

The experience of the band was so good, that in 1970 they returned to visit the country. From then until our days Federico y su Combo continues to be an emblematic and legendary band in Venezuela, for this reason the WEB of the classy salsero SALSA BRAVA, offers its respects to such an important salsa figure.

Discography
1966	Llegó La Salsa	Palacio (LPS-6171)
1966	Salsa y Sabor	Palacio (LPS-6185)
1967	Más Salsa	Palacio (LPS-6205)
1967	Durísimo – Vol. 4	Palacio (LPS-6216)
1968	Federico Boogaloo	Palacio (LPS-6228)
1968	Psicodélico Con Salsa	Gilmar (LPG-110)
1969	Mejor Que Nunca	Gilmar (LPG-111)
1969	Vibración y Ritmo	Sonus (102-17080)
1970	Dos Sets	Velvet (LPV-1539)
1970	La Machaca	Velvet (LPV-1539)
1973	Federico Si Te Pone A Bailar	Palacio (LPS-6332)
1975	Derrape De Salsa	BASF (10.068)
1976	Siguelo Ahí…. a Lo Cortico	BASF (10.070)
1977	Ayer y Hoy	BASF (10.076)
1977	Esto Es Lo Mejor	Palacio (LPS-6372)
1978	Mis Exitos y Más	BASF (10.079)
1978	Sabor	Foca (LPF-10.037)
1979	Federico y Su Combo	Foca (LPF-10.120)
1979	Federico y Su Orq. – El Maestro	Discomoda (DCM-1128)
1980	Federico y Su Orq. con Memo Morales	Discomoda (DCM-1148)
1982	No Le Digan	Integra (PF-14.075)
1983	Nuevamente	Palacio (LPS-66.541)
1984	SaaaBroooSo!	Palacio (LPS-66.552)

Compilation
1996	Mis Exitos y Más…Vol.1	Sonograma
1996	Mis Exitos y Más…Vol.2	Sonograma
1996	Mis Exitos y Más…Vol.3	Sonograma
2005	El Pionero De La Salsa	Palacio
2008	Salsa De Oro	Gilmar

Latin jazz and mambo trumpeter Jonathan Powell and his great collaborations

Trumpeter Jonathan Powell is one of the many examples that show how much so many American artists have looked at Latin music over the last few years, so this is a great opportunity to know one of the many stories about what our heritage has achieved in this country.

Jonathan playing — Musician Jonathan Powell playing the trumpet live

Instruments that caught Jonathan’s attention

An important fact to remember is that Jonathan’s parents were musicians. His father played the electric bass and his mother played the cello, so he obviously has a lot of talent to get from. However, his interest in music turned to a slightly different way.

The instrument through which the artist is best known today is the trumpet due to his great skill at handling it, but it is not the only instrument he has learned to play. He also plays the trombone, the tuba and other bass instruments, but does not have the same fascination with them as with the trumpet.

His interest in music began when he was in high school and became part of a few student bands, resulting in more than 30 years of musical career.

Jonathan’s academic training

Most of what Jonathan has got to learn comes from the experience he has gained through his work, although he does not devalue formal music education. In fact, he attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied with that institution’s best teachers in the area of classical music.

When he turned 19, he made the decision to move to New York, where he has lived ever since. While there, he did not care as much about further studying music, but gaining as much experience as he could through practice.

Jonathan recording — Jonathan Powell recording music for his album ”Mambo Jazz Party”

Interest in Latin music

Although Jonathan’s interest in music began with the classical genre, his move to Florida made him seek other horizons. In Florida, he and his brother Jeremy began to make contact with radio stations that played Latin genres and this led them to meet the Garcia-Herreros brothers, Juan and Victor, who are two very experienced musicians in Latin jazz, but also in Latin music in general. The boys returned to Florida after studying at Berklee College of Music and started a band with Jonathan and Jeremy until they had to move to New York.

When Jonathan graduated from high school and also moved to New York, he was reunited with Juan and Victor who offered him to join their orchestra La Creación, with which he played every weekend for several years. This would be what the young musician would describe as his first real experience in the world of music, leading him to participate in the orchestra La Excelencia and to play with Arturo O’Farrill and Eddie Palmieri.

Learning from other great artists

Just as Jonathan has played with O’Farrill and Palmieri, he has also been able to share the stage with Miguel Zenón, Tito Puente Jr, Oscar Hernández from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Israel Tanenbaum and many others.

Despite not having received much academic training, the opportunity to have played with the aforementioned music stars and many more really taught him many things that he would not have learnt in any educational institution. He assures that from whom he learned the most was Maestro Palmieri, since the legendary pianist is very generous when it comes to sharing his knowledge with whoever needs it, thanks to his extensive experience in this rich world.

‘‘Palmieri has been around since the fifties and sixties and has played with the most important artists of his generation, so he has a lot to teach. People have no idea how much he knows and how deep his knowledge on music is,” said the trumpeter about one of his great living inspirations.

However, as a trumpet player, another of his great inspirations was Puerto Rican arranger, composer and producer Juancito Torres for the way he played, since he considers it very special and unique compared to many other musicians.

Jonathan and Palmieri — Maestro Eddie Palmieri and Jonathan Powell smiling for the camera

Nu Shanga

Eager to manage his own musical group, Jonathan gives the public a very interesting proposal which he baptized Nu Sangha, inspired by Tibetan language, since these two words together mean ”new community”. With this group, he had much more freedom when choosing how he wanted to address each rhythm and wanted to give a much more modern approach to the type of jazz he had been playing through electronic elements few times used before.

In the case of Nu Sangha, he enjoyed everything he did professionally and was able to experiment with everything he had learned so far in creative ways, leading him to release the albums ”Transcend” and ”Beacons of Light”.

Mambo Jazz Party

In Jonathan’s own words, Mambo Jazz Party, the artist’s most recent musical work, the entire process of recording it took more than 10 years, since that was the time taken to create all the music that appears in the record material. He started the creation in 2014 and it was not until 2022 that Jonathan added the final details such as some missing vocals, but he assures that all the time spent on the album was worth it.

On the album, we can find Jimmy Bosch, guitarist Nir Felder, flutist Itai Kriss, pianist Manuel Valera, vocalist Ariadne Trujillo, singer Anthony Almonte and many other great artists who embellish this creation.

In other interviews, Jonathan has described this album as a mix of traditional salsa and Latin jazz elements, electronic sounds and a lot of spiritualism, which can summarize very well what this musical work represents for Jonathan Powell.