It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to update you all about myself and my various projects. I recently was signed to Latin Cool Records, a new record company who is into signing unknown talent, so I was very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. They just re-released my CD, “Remembered Dreams” and I am currently working on a new CD, which, by the way, is almost finished.
I have been thinking about the concept for this CD for quite awhile and it has finally come together. I remember about 3 or 4 years ago sitting in the club Gonzalez and Gonzalez, down on Broadway in NYC, with Ralph Irizarry talking about what a Charanga Jazz record would sound like. He laughed but said, go for it. So, here it is!! I tried to maintain the Charanga tradition and reharmonize the melodies using Jazz harmony. I also added some new mambos. This was a first for me to compose and arrange Charanga music so it was a challenge. I guess I’ll wait to see what you guys, the public, think. In any case it was definitely a learning experience for me!
My trip to Cuba, in which I participated in the Jazz Plaza 2002 Festival, was great! Many, many musicians were there from NY as well as from all over the world. Tons of music was performed simultaneously so it was hard to catch everyone. The highlights for me were Danilo Perez and his trio, Maraca y Otro Vision, and Steve Turre and his Sanctified Shells. I also had a chance to play with Maraca with the Bobby Carcasses Big Band. It was quite a thrill!! So, onward my friends. I hope everyone is taking some time out for themselves in order to realize their dreams, as for me, that is the most important task I have to accomplish on this planet!! Later.