Articles by Chip Boaz
Elio Villafranca: The Source In Between
by Chip Boaz
Cuban born pianist Elio Villafranca has spent a lifetime observing the space between different worlds. He spent his childhood in the small Piñar de Rio region on the Western coast of Cuba and then jumped into the centralized bustle of Havana. He went through a broad and varied musical education that not only focused on the piano, but also included intensive investigations of the guitar, percussion, and composition. He immersed himself in the complex musical constructions of Havana's academic classical ...
read moreSteven Kroon: Looking Beyond
by Chip Boaz
Percussionist Steve Kroon has spent many years walking through a variety of musical worlds. He spent his childhood years surrounded by all sorts of musical figures, with connections to jazz, Cuban music, rhythm and blues, Brazilian music, and more. His deep involvement led to local performance and recording jobs, and eventually a high profile gig with singer Luther Vandross that lasted twenty years. At the same time, Kroon began an association another musical icon, jazz bassist Ron Carter; their musical ...
read moreJovino Santos Neto: Alma do Nordeste (Soul of the Northeast)
by Chip Boaz
Great composers take their listeners past the simple execution of traditional form; instead they vividly describe their subject matter. Musical building blocks like tempo, texture, and dynamics shape mood and guide the listener's feelings. Cultural instruments reference specific countries. Creative interpretation adds perspective and displays the subject through the composer's eyes. Personal expression invites creative interpretations of the musician's opinions. Jovino Santos Neto brings all these pieces together into a striking set of compositions that describe the Northeastern region of ...
read moreOmar Sosa: Afreecanos
by Chip Boaz
Forward-thinking Latin Jazz grows like a tree, starting with its roots and then the tree itself reaching high into the air. The roots represent the music's heritage; they are both the starting point and the foundation. The trunk symbolizes the musician's strongest connection to their roots, their background. The branches reach away from the tree, just as the musician experiments with new approaches. Omar Sosa does just this on Afreecanos, as he brings together a strong vision solidly representing the ...
read moreAlfredo Naranjo: Y El Guajeo
by Chip Boaz
Pulling jazz and salsa into a unique mixture requires a balance between freedom and structure. Salsa recordings benefit from tightly arranged forms with commercially dictated norms. Jazz thrives upon variation and the liberty to explore new directions spontaneously. Vibraphonist Alfredo Naranjo and his musicians find an aesthetic balance between freedom and structure on Y El Guajeo, exploring a repertoire that moves between instrumental Latin jazz and danceable salsa.
Several tracks maintain an instrumental focus, creating arranged platforms for improvisation. A ...
read moreLuis Munoz: Of Soul and Shadow
by Chip Boaz
An artist's application of structure leaves both positive and negative impacts upon Latin jazz. Rhythmic structures dictate the embedded Latin style and determine melodic phrasing. The harmonic structure provides the improviser a reference point for melodic invention. Structure becomes dangerous when composers strictly impose it upon their performance. The expressive freedom of jazz becomes lost, and the music moves in a commercial direction. Luis Muñoz fights a battle between structure and freedom on Of Soul and Shadow, performing a group ...
read moreInsight: A Genesis
by Chip Boaz
Artists may travel different roads to create a unique Latin Jazz voice. Some musicians follow the established formula, repeating the success of the genre's “legends. Other artists explore a more unique approach, delving into influential musicians outside the genre's popular success stories. A smaller group looks into the most challenging avenues, finding connections between diverse concepts while staying true to tradition. The Curtis brothers and their band Insight take this road less traveled on A Genesis, bringing together diverse influences ...
read moreSuenos Latin-Jazz: Azul Oscuro
by Chip Boaz
Interpretation exists as both a necessity and a dangerous path for the Latin Jazz artist. Creativity and personalization are important tenants of jazz; artists cannot repeatedly perform songs the same way. An artist makes their statement by interpreting melodic phrasing, harmonic alterations, and the rhythmic feel. When an artist interprets stylistic elements, they run the risk of diluting the music's historical foundations. Altering fundamental Latin rhythmic structures displays a blatant disregard for the music's lineage. Sueños Latin-Jazz pushes the boundaries ...
read moreJos: Tambolero
by Chip Boaz
All-star bands create music that brims with possibilities; yet the outcome runs the risk of positive or negative results. Combining high caliber musicians brings expectations of powerful music. Experience gives these artists knowledge and skill, increasing the chance of memorable music. When distinctive artists join forces, a possible mismatch can also occur. Groups sometimes lack a central focus, and the resultant recordings capture grand jam sessions. Each musician's individual approach shines through, but the voices never gel. José Rizo's Jazz ...
read moreWilson "Chembo" Corniel: For The Rest Of Your Life
by Chip Boaz
Our expectations shape our listening experiences, even before we hear an artist's recorded work. We anticipate musical genres based on a musician's past and assume that the bandleader will be featured prominently. We judge unfamiliar artists on their instrument, album covers, or websites; and then we decide whether that artist deserves our attention. Once we listen to a recording, we constantly compare how the work aligns with our pre-conceived notions. Percussionist Chembo Corniel shatters all expectations on For The Rest ...
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