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Jazz Articles about Gustavo Cortiñas
Gustavo Cortiñas Inspires Unity and Empathy Through Music
by Dean Nardi
The renowned French writer Victor Hugo once wrote that “music is noise that thinks." Hugo was highlighting the profound and intellectual nature of music, suggesting that while it may seem like disorganized sound ("noise"), it carries deep meaning and expresses complex ideas and emotions that can only be conveyed through this medium. Hugo also wrote of music which expresses what cannot remain silent. And on that note, we come to the project of Chicago-based drummer and composer Gustavo ...
Continue ReadingGustavo Cortiñas, Teis Semey, Bugge Wesseltoft, Alexander Hawkins & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Stamp your jazz passport without packing a bag: this week's playlist gathers Scandinavian trailblazers, both fresh and seasoned, alongside British, Mexican, and Italian adventurers pushing jazz into new territory.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Teis Semey “Hippity Hoppity Abolish Private Property" En masse! (Loumi) 0:16 Host talks 7:01 Bugge Wesseltoft feat. Arild Andersen, Gard Nilssen “BAG" Am Are (Jazzland) 8:31 Host talks 15:28 Alexander Hawkins “Song of Work ...
Continue ReadingJuanjo López: Above, Beyond, Within
by Troy Dostert
In our troubling national moment of intensified nativism and ethnic fearmongering, it can be edifying to encounter the stories of people whose lives are directly affected by the current climate. One of them is Juanjo López, a guitarist now well-established in the Chicago scene but who came years ago to the United States with his family from Mexico. His story, reflected in his second release, Above, Beyond, Within, is about much more than geographic relocation, however. There is a strong ...
Continue ReadingGustavo Cortiñas: A Jazz Drummer's Call To Action
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on drummer and composer Gustavo Cortiñas.Gustavo's latest album, The Crisis Knows No Borders (Desafío Candente Records), tackles climate change head-on through music that's both urgent and beautiful. Working with guitarist Dave Miller, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and violinist Mark Feldman, he's created compositions that explore how global warming sparks conflicts, drives migration, and connects us all, whether we like it or not.The Chicago-based artist has built a career using jazz as a medium ...
Continue ReadingGustavo Cortiñas: The Crisis Knows No Borders
by Hrayr Attarian
Drummer Gustavo Cortinas is one of Chicago's most imaginative and exciting composers. This is not solely due to his brilliant creativity but also because he explores socially aware and relevant themes. He has honed a unique style that is easily recognizable as his own. His sixth release as a leader, the superb The Crisis Knows No Border, is about the impact of human-made climate change. Cortinas leads his quartet through the 10 provocative and richly-textured, interlinked originals ...
Continue ReadingNew Releases From Cortiñas, Muñeses, Wexler And More
by Bob Osborne
On this show we have a variety of new releases including latin jazz, classical crossover, and, live cuts. In addition a re-release of a classic album from Keith Jarrett and a dip in the archive for music from John Abercrombie and Julius Hemphill. I also continue my deep dive into the recent re-releases of Ivo Perelman's Leo Records catalogue. Playlist Gustavo Cortiñas “The Basic Economy Farsity" from The Crisis Knows No Borders (Desafio Candente Records) 00:00 Matthew Muñeses ...
Continue ReadingGustavo Cortinas: Live in Chicago
by Hrayr Attarian
Chicago composer and drummer Gustavo Cortinas is a musician with a message, one of social justice. He delivers it in a style that fuses the melodic sensibilities of his ancestral Mexico with the complex syncopations of jazz. The exciting Live in Chicago documents an unedited, two-set concert that was recorded at Constellation Chicago on December 15, 2022. The quintet interprets ten Cortinas originals, some of which appeared on his magnum opus, the multifaceted and provocative Desafío Candente (Woolgathering, 2021).
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