September 20, 2014
Rose Theater – New York
Since the late 1990s, Jazz at Lincoln Center has celebrated Cuban music with collaborations with some of the island nation’s finest musicians like Celia Cruz, Israel “Cachao” López, Candido Camero, and Bebo Valdés. Continuing this tradition, the 2014-15 season opened with “Ochas” a world premiere commission from Wynton Marsalis featuring influential pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés; star percussionist and vocalist Pedrito Martinez; and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Together, they blended jazz with the traditional folkloric music of Cuba and the Santería religion to create a work that illustrates the ability of music to elevate us from social and political unrest to the greatest heights of humanity.
Personnel
- Ali Jackson – drums, tambourine
- Carlos Henriquez – bass
- Dan Nimmer – piano
- Clemente Medina – batá, vocals
- Román Díaz – batá, vocals
- Pedrito Martinez – batá, vocals
- Amma Dawn Mcken – vocals
- Denise Ola De-Jean – vocals
- Dreiser Durruthy Bombalé – percussion
- Marcus Printup – trumpet
- Kenny Rampton – trumpet
- Greg Gisbert – trumpet
- Elliot Mason – trombone
- Chris Crenshaw – trombone
- Vincent Gardner – trombone
- Victor Goines – tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet
- Ted Nash – alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, flute, piccolo
- Sherman Irby – alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, flute
- Walter Blanding – tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet
- Paul Nedzela – baritone sax, bass clarinet
