Alex Diaz: Beyond 145th Street (2012)

James Nadal

Musician Profile Editor since 2007

...for the people who created the music, and those who listen.

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Published: February 1, 2012

Merengue, the national music of the Dominican Republic ferociously driven by percussive provincial rhythms such as pambiche, perico ripiao, el maco, guinchao and palo, is the natural choice for conga master Alex Diaz to blend his native roots with jazz improvisation in Beyond 145th Street .

Diaz and featured saxophonist Ivan Renta Ivan Renta
b.1980
saxophone continue their musical innovations and tribute to the late saxophonist Mario Rivera Mario Rivera
1939 - 2007
saxophone , who was associated with Tito Puente Tito Puente
1923 - 2000
band/orchestra , which began with the release of Merengue Jazz King (Self Produced, 2010+). There is a time-honored lineage of merengue saxophonists hailing back to the legendary Tavito Vasquez, who influenced Rivera, popularized the instrument within this genre, and was fundamental in literally picking up the pace of the rhythms. Rivera disciple Renta, who composed "El Comandante" in honor of his mentor, is beneficiary of this hierarchy with his virtuoso contributions throughout this recording.

Pianist Pedro Bermudez Pedro Bermudez
b.1976
piano ,who penned "El Tigerazo del Bebop" and the title track, displays not only a instinctive sense of the merengue patterns of guajeo, but is a bebop player of the highest caliber. He adds the bona fide element of jazz into the mix with dexterity and technique heightened by the rapid tempos which demand exact execution.

The contagious rhythms are merged with jazz dynamics providing an ideal concept of How Diaz wants merengue jazz to sound. The song choices—Jerome Kern Jerome Kern
1895 - 1945
arranger 's "Yesterdays," Vince Guaraldi Vince Guaraldi
1928 - 1976
piano 's "Ginza Samba" Cal Tjader Cal Tjader
1925 - 1982
vibraphone 's obvious "Santo Domingo"—prove to be the perfect medium from which to expand this unique musical approach. Of course this would not be possible without the superb low-end anchoring of consummate bassist Ruben Rodriguez Ruben Rodriguez
and hard-hitting trumpeter Nelson "Gazu" Jaime, who is a vital voice of the horn charts.

As global sounds and textures continue to be added to what is known as jazz or improvised music, it continues to transform into novel and vibrant mutant forms. Latin jazz, with its expansive arsenal of intricate cadences and melodies, has definitely been at the forefront of this trend, confirmed by the merengue jazz of Beyond 145th Street .

Track Listing: Yesterdays; Unit Seven; Santo Domingo; Catarey Meren Jam; All Or Nothing At All; El Tigerazo del Bebop; Ginza Samba; El Comandante; Beyond 145th Street.

Personnel: Alex Diaz: congas, timbales; Ray "Chinito" Diaz: tambora, guira; Ivan Renta: alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones; Nelson "Gazu" Jaime: trumpet; Pedro Bermudez: piano; Ruben Rodriguez: bass; Diego Lopez: drums.

Record Label: Self Produced
Style: Latin/World