Mexican drummer, composer, and educator David Najera Gonzalez introduces Viento, the debut EP from his jazz-rock trio of the same name. Based in New York City, Najera Gonzalez brings together elements of jazz fusion, funk, rock, and improvisation in a project shaped by movement, personal change, and a renewed sense of creative freedom. The self-titled EP will be released on June 5th.
Written during a period of emotional and personal transition, the music reflects experiences ranging from marriage and shifting friendships to the realization of long-held aspirations. “Writing this EP reconnected me with the freedom of creating music,” Najera Gonzalez explains. “I wanted to make groove-based music that could stay open and flexible in an improvisational setting.”
Built around the stripped-back format of guitar, bass, and drums, Viento explores how much musical depth and energy can emerge from a small ensemble. Rather than relying on dense arrangements, the trio leans into interaction, rhythm, and spontaneity, drawing inspiration from the spirit of 1970s jazz fusion while remaining grounded in a contemporary sensibility.
Among the EP’s standout moments is a reimagining of Bobby Timmons’ Moanin’, transformed into a funk-rock interpretation inspired in part by Tony Allen’s Afrobeat approach to the tune. The arrangement reflects the wide musical world behind the project, with influences ranging from Sly Stone, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo to Lenny Kravitz and classic jazz traditions.
Since moving to New York from Mexico at the age of 19, Najera Gonzalez has steadily built his voice as both performer and bandleader. After completing studies at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and Queens College, where he was mentored by musicians including Dennis Mackrel, Eric McPherson, and Antonio Hart, he released his debut large-ensemble project Patos in 2024. The music received attention from All About Jazz, while earning radio support across Mexico through stations such as Horizonte Jazz FM and Jalisco Radio.
Viento has already begun establishing itself on stage, touring Mexico in 2024 and performing at venues including Zinco Jazz Club, with coverage from publications such as La Jornada and Milenio. The trio format has become a space where Najera Gonzalez can bring together his interests in groove, improvisation, and direct musical communication without excess.
With Viento, David Najera Gonzalez offers a debut that feels immediate, energetic, and deeply personal, music built not around genre boundaries, but around feel, movement, and the chemistry of musicians listening closely to one another.
Written during a period of emotional and personal transition, the music reflects experiences ranging from marriage and shifting friendships to the realization of long-held aspirations. “Writing this EP reconnected me with the freedom of creating music,” Najera Gonzalez explains. “I wanted to make groove-based music that could stay open and flexible in an improvisational setting.”
Built around the stripped-back format of guitar, bass, and drums, Viento explores how much musical depth and energy can emerge from a small ensemble. Rather than relying on dense arrangements, the trio leans into interaction, rhythm, and spontaneity, drawing inspiration from the spirit of 1970s jazz fusion while remaining grounded in a contemporary sensibility.
Among the EP’s standout moments is a reimagining of Bobby Timmons’ Moanin’, transformed into a funk-rock interpretation inspired in part by Tony Allen’s Afrobeat approach to the tune. The arrangement reflects the wide musical world behind the project, with influences ranging from Sly Stone, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo to Lenny Kravitz and classic jazz traditions.
Since moving to New York from Mexico at the age of 19, Najera Gonzalez has steadily built his voice as both performer and bandleader. After completing studies at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and Queens College, where he was mentored by musicians including Dennis Mackrel, Eric McPherson, and Antonio Hart, he released his debut large-ensemble project Patos in 2024. The music received attention from All About Jazz, while earning radio support across Mexico through stations such as Horizonte Jazz FM and Jalisco Radio.
Viento has already begun establishing itself on stage, touring Mexico in 2024 and performing at venues including Zinco Jazz Club, with coverage from publications such as La Jornada and Milenio. The trio format has become a space where Najera Gonzalez can bring together his interests in groove, improvisation, and direct musical communication without excess.
With Viento, David Najera Gonzalez offers a debut that feels immediate, energetic, and deeply personal, music built not around genre boundaries, but around feel, movement, and the chemistry of musicians listening closely to one another.
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