Wynton Marsalis Explores Afro-Cuban Jazz

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Latin music must be up to something good when a prominent jazz artist like Wynton Marsalis and a prominent radio station like NPR take note of the work of Latin Jazz musicians.

Marsalis solicited Cuban musicians Pedrito Martinez and Chucho Valdes for an Afro-Cuban Jazz project titled “Oshas”. This project was performed with his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra during “Jazz Night in America” opening concert. This project highlights the influence of Santería in Afro-Cuban jazz. As a matter of fact, it was inspired by Marsalis’ recent visit to Cuba.

NPR “Oshas” Concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center [Audio]

NPR captured the audio of the concert which lasts just short of 2 hours. You can access at the web site using the link I provided below. “Oshas” was performed at the opening night of the Jazz at Lincoln Center 2014-2015 calendar season. It will have “Jazz Across the Americas” as its theme.

NPR “Oshas” concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center (link to audio)

Behind Wynton Marsalis’ Afro-Cuban “Oshas” Suite [Audio]

Cuban dancers with Wynton Marsalis, Pedrito Martnez, and Chucho Valdes
Cuban dancers perform during Wynton Marsalis’ “Oshas” concert on “Jazz Night in America” featuring Pedrito Martinez and Chucho Valdes.

NPR went beyond the concert itself, and created a shortened version of some of the concert music. They included lots of commentary about the Afro-Cuban music and the creation of the “Oshas” musical project. Additionally, it has narrations by the NPR program host (and musician) Christian McBride, who injects parts of an interview with Wynton Marsalis. Marsalis injections describe in detail how this music was created!

I’ll leave it up to you to decide if Wynton got it right. However, the fact that Afro-Cuban music gets to be highlighted this way, means main media (which has notoriously ignored the contributions of our Latin music to jazz) is finally trying to catch-up to what Latin Jazz musicians have been doing for decades!

Behind Wynton Marsalis’ “Oshas” (link to audio)

Enjoy!

Cover & blog photos: Frank Stewart/Jazz at Lincoln Center

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