专辑简介

The San Francisco Bay Area, a common landing ground for many travelers in flight looking for a place to grow new roots. For most, the draw is the overall culture of acceptance, diversity and progressive thought, or the cutting edge technology of Silicon Valley. Neither of those things brought me here well over a decade ago. For me, it was the echoes of a Cal Tjader mambo or the rumba jazz of the groundbreaking Machete Ensemble. Latin jazz recordings from San Francisco kept piling up on my cd player and I began feeling the urge to head West. I needed to immerse myself in the scene in the Bay Area, to see those sounds being created live, to meet the men and women making them, to become part of it. I formed the Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel to be a collaboration between some of the most talented players, composers and arrangers residing in the Bay Area. Together we strive to make our collective mark in the field of Latin jazz. The musicians in the Cartel were born in Europe, Latin America or numerous locations within the United States. Some were born in The Bay Area. Regardless of our land of origin, all of us reside here now, drawn to the rich heritage and continuing dynasty of Latin Jazz in San Francisco and feel the intense desire to contribute to it. Whether composing, arranging, or playing, a deep understanding of Caribbean rhythms and musical forms and the ability to create, improvise, and groove are all prerequisites for being a member of the ACJC. High caliber musicianship is embodied by everyone on this recording. I’m very proud to present to you this audio snap shot of Latin Jazz at this moment in time in the SF Bay Area. Brian Andres The San Francisco Bay Area 2013