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| The Afro Caribbean Jazz Collective, Fiesta At Caroga The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective is a band that takes traditional Afro-Caribbean music and adds a modern jazz twist. Their music is a fusion of traditional and modern sounds, creating a unique and exciting listening experience. Their upbeat sound is both familiar and fresh, appealing to fans of both genres. Their music is a celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture, and it is sure to get your feet tapping. The Collective was created by the band's guitarist, Jose Guzman, during his graduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The band's music is influenced by a variety of genres, including Cuban Son, Puerto Rican Bomba, and Salsa. Their members are all accomplished professors in several central Illinois Universities and regularly perform in the music scene in Champaign-Urbana and Chicago. One of the things that makes The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective so unique is their use of the electric guitar and sound effects. Giving their music a more modern feel, while the traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms keep it grounded in its roots. The band has a rotating cast of members that includes Victor Garcia, Tito Carillo, and several university professors that graduated from the UIUC program. Fiesta at Caroga is a celebration, each track tells a story that pays homage to salsa musical forms such as Descarga 2, Xipirona Cha-Cha, and the highly energetic tune "El Volcan. El Cañaveral" explores the mysterious atmosphere of the coastal sugar cane fields by using a bembe groove, sparse percussion in the introduction, slow melodic development, and improvisation. The Caroga Arts String Orchestra joins the group for the last two tracks of the album. "Cariño" is a slow bolero that speaks about trying to find joy after sorrow and the album closes with "Baile Bailekita, " a high energetic tribute to Champaign West African Dance teacher Bailekita. This project is partially supported by an Individual Artist Program Grant from the City of Chicago's Department of Culture & Special Events. TRACKS, 1.Descarga 2 (Jose Guzman) 7:33 2.Xipirona Cha Cha (Jose Guzman) 6:57 3.El Cañaveral (Jose Guzman) 7:49 4.El Volcan 8:07 (Brian Stark) 5.Cariño 5:28 (Jose Guzman) 6.Baile Bailekita 6:05 (Brian Stark) INSTRUMENTS & PLAYERS: tenor sax - Brian Stark trombone - Ben Weisger congas - Stephen Busath timbales - Sebastian Nassar percussion - Brian Shank bass - Ian Stewart guitar - Jose Guzman write your comments about the article :: © 2024 Jazz News :: home page |