When the visionary creative team of husband-and-wife duo Margee Minier-Tubbs & Premik Russell Tubbs first released their infectious hipster, jazz and spoken word piece “The Bells,” it was the playful closing track of their inspirational global fusion masterwork Oneness-World . Released in May, it was simply another fascinating entry among many other more prominent focal points on the album – and something of a colorful outlier on a project that was about so many other more s

When a debut album is as melodically and harmonically grandeur-filled, intricately and ambitiously produced and star-studded (Munyungo Jackson, Otmaro Ruiz) as Brazilian guitarist Roberto Montero’s Todos os Tempos , there must be a ton of incredible professional history paving the way. As listeners journey on a beautiful, rhythmically diverse free-flowing ride from the lively, percussion, Fender Rhodes and vocal fueled breezes of “Igarape (Caminho de Canoa)” through the balmy

After a prolific career composing for big bands, Latin and ensembles and popular artists,  playing a key role with Puerto Rico salsa band La Sonora Pancena and forming the Steely Dan tribute band Royal Scam, veteran pianist and arranger Gino Amato put his expansive talents to use as a bandleader, arranger and co-producer (with fellow pianist Oscar Hernandez) on Latin Crossroads – an epic, uber ambitious album re-imagining and Afro-Cubanizing pop and Songbook standards leading

In a streaming focused world where cover art is often limited to thumbnail images, the artfufl comic book like painting of a street in the City by the Bay circa late 40’s offers a stirring invitation to experience the stylistically eclectic, bebop and Latin leaning excitement and soulfulness of the Steve Rosenbloom Big Band’s stellar, emotionally engaging and constantly hoppin’ album San Francisco 1948. The time traveling aspect of its title and dreamy, nostalgic title track

A four time Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Creative Engagement grant recipient, multi-talented vibraphonist, composer, arranger and bandleader Mike Freeman is renowned throughout NYC for concert productions that highlight the history of Latin music in his Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, the tradition of vibes in Latin music and the countless original pieces he’s released on his solo albums and with Mike Freeman Zonavibe since 2007. From the fast grooving, super percussive high

On his fourth album as a soloist, veteran saxophonist pays wildly adventurous, hard boppin’, and soulfully smooth homage to Captain Hubs , aka trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard, whose quintet he played in for two years somewhere between his time with the Charles Earland Quartet and his move to NYC in 1997. Starting with the fiery and furious original title track, Herbert makes this an emotionally charged, rhythmically diverse and improvisation filled tribute, complementing his f