Jazz this week, from around Latin America. From experimental de Mexico, to Brazilian beat jazz and a lot in between. See what tickles your fancy.
140 songs and albums and videos submitted for review this week
Agua y Sol, single by Laura Dryer. Happy, melodic flute-led jazz with a Brazilian feel from this New York‑based saxophonist, flutist, and composer whose original music fuses lyrical jazz with Brazilian rhythms to create a contemporary, rhythmically driven sound. It will keep you moving and smiling. Stream on major platforms.
Portal by Camilia Meza. Kind of jazz, kind of mystery. Dreamy and relaxing from this Chilean jazz guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for blending intricate jazz harmony with South American folk influences in a personal, melodic style. Spanish. Stream on major platforms.
Jazz Orishas, album by Melvis Santa. She is a Havana‑born singer, pianist, composer, Afro‑Cuban dancer, actress, and educator who fuses Afro‑Cuban traditions with jazz, leading projects like the albumand her group Ashedí. The album is 9 songs plus a bonus, all Cuban-African-Latin infused but wide ranging. Good solid jazz, some experimental, all of it good. If you are a jazz fan – or even if you are not – take a listen. Stream on major platforms.
Nican Tlacah, album by Juan Castanon. An experimental jazz album by one of Mexico’s best jazz guitarists. Castanon is known for his ability to play anything from rock to blues to jazz, but he is happiest when he and his fellow musicians are experimenting. And experiment they do in this new album – if you love experimental jazz, you will love this. If you don’t know it, this is a good way to road test your ears. Stream on Bandcamp.
Todos Los Fuegos álbum by Roxana Amed. This is big band Latin jazz but with a twist – actually a lot of twists.. There are horns and drums, but the songs move from love song jazz to dance jazz to just their own thing. And all of them carried by Amed’s incredible voice/. A unique work of jazz art. Stream on major platforms.
Zigzag, single by Sophia Rei. An Argentine vocalist, composer, producer, and educator who blends South American folk traditions with jazz, experimental, and electronic music. This single is a great example of that- it zig zags from gentle voice and guitar to wild fun, Latin style. Sit back and enjoy. Stream on Spotify
Patrick O’Heffernan
Banner. Juan Castanon at an intimate jazz concert at his home.