Free Latino Concerts in New York and Puerto Rico, August 2009

Puerto Rico

The summer of Free Latino Concerts in New York City and Puerto Rico wound down on Sunday, August 30, the second day of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, with a performance by the Afro-Caribbean group Papo Vazquez Pirates Troubadours at Tompkins Square Park, New York.  In the middle of August, it was the turn of the PR Latin Jazz fans to partake of the 5th International Festival of Latin Jazz – another free event – at the Center for Municipal Services and Urban Garden in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.

The connection between these two freebies was Papo Vazquez. Vazquez is originally from North Philadelphia, but spent his early years in Puerto Rico before returning to the United States where he is currently based.  He returned to PR for a few years later on and while there helped found Batacumbele, a Puerto Rican Latin Fusion band, and Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band.

Papo Vazquez‘ penchant for and skill at fusing Afro-Caribbean – principally Puerto Rican – rhythms with Progressive Jazz opened up opportunities for him to play his instrument, the trombone, with a range of artists – Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Mel Lewis, The Fania All Stars, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon and Eddie Palmieri among the lot.

Nonetheless, his voice goes beyond the ‘Bone’ to being a Jazz and Classical music composer.  Apart from writing five recordings of his own, his Jazz works have been shared with other Latin artists such as Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin; and surfaced on Grammy winning CDs by Wayne Shorter and Bebo Valdes; and in Spike Lee’s film “Mo’ Better Blues.”

Vazquez was not a part of the 5th International Festival of Latin Jazz, but that was alright.  The fans and the student musicians who attended the free symposium, workshops and live performances from August 13 – 15, 2009 were taken care of by a competent roster of Latin Jazzers: festival producer and director of the Carolina Latin Jazz Big Band, Luis ‘Perico’ Ortiz; Charlie Sepúlveda & the Turnaround with Dave Valentín, Néstor Torres and the Trumpets of Puerto Rico, Paoli Mejias & Jazzambia among others.

This years festival was dedicated to the memory of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.  Hence, each of the leaders was expected to interpret the canon of these icons as part of their respective repertoires.

Full lineup for the 5th International Festival of Latin Jazz: Paoli Mejías & Jazzambia, Charlie Sepúlveda & the Turnaround with Dave Valentín, the Fidel Morales Quartet, the Carolina Latin Jazz Big Band, Néstor Torres and the Trumpets of Puerto Rico (including Humberto Ramírez, Luis Aquino, Jan Duclerc, Elías Lopés, Luis “Perico” Ortiz and the School of Fine Arts Ensemble). Source: repeatingislands.com)