Jazz Articles about Alex Garcia

Alex Garcia's Afromantra: Espiritu Optimista

by Chip Boaz
September 25, 2007

When a Latin jazz artist shapes their approach, they can let rhythms drive the sound, or they can incorporate the rhythms into a compositional focus.

Emphasizing the music's rhythmic aspect highlights dance styles and simplistic harmonic writing. Such musicians rearrange standards and complete their repertoire with commercial compositions. Musicians that integrate Latin rhythms write original pieces that explore vast harmonic territories and multiple song forms. They create stimulating improvisational platforms and give their musicians space to ...