Latin Giants of Jazz
New York City, New York, United States
Music
Press
“With the Latin Giants of Jazz concert, history was made in Portugal. Everyone loved your performance and said only wonderful things about it. The general opinion is that this was the best Congress ever. The performance was fantastic. The dancing wouldn’t stop.”
- Jose Ferraz
"The response to the Buena Vista Social Club...one of the strongest and most sonorous bands of our time." - Latin Beat
"This band has mor rhthym than should be allowed...a welcome harken to the rich, fat dance orchestras...and dance you will." - La Conga
"Playing to a sold out crowd, it was immensely electrifying...since true to my culture and heritage, my heart, soul and body, and especially my feet were uncontrollably lifted from my seat to swing to the music." - Impacto Magazine
"The performance was outstanding. There was an amazing chemistry that developed between the musicians and the audience from the moment the musicians took the stage." - Longmont Culture Center
The show put on by the Latin Giants, under the direction of Jose Madera, last night was the best in the 15 years of the Tempo Latino Festival. With seventeen of the best known and experienced musicians and legends of best that Latin Music has to offer, they played in the plaza bull ring at Vic Fezensac and enchanted the crowd with their music; the Mambo. They demonstrated that despite all of the advances and fusions that have been done to Latin music over the years, they preserve that real original big band mambo sound intact. It's the best Latin Big Band ever to play at Tempo Latino and they didnt just play any mambo; they played mambo-jazz, cha cha cha, son, guajira and guaguanco. They played Salsa and took complete advantage of the talents of their singer Frankie Vazquez, one of the greatest salsa singers and soneros in the world today. - SalsaJazz.com
When the 15-member Latin Giants of Jazz finished their last song, a Tito Puente cover, the Harbor Pointe crowd gave them a well-deserved standing ovation.
It was the first standing ovation I've seen at one of the festival's free shows. The Giants brought their south-of-the-border sound for more than an hour, complete with splashy brass, layered percussion and Spanish lyrics.
Kenny Liner, beatboxer for the Bridge (the next act today), was digging the Giants. He clapped his hands and bobbed his head from the side of the stage where he stood.
"These guys are amazing," he said. "It's great to have music available in Baltimore for free. It was a great idea. I hope they do it again next year."
- Sam Sessa
Discography
"The Latin Giants Play the Music of the Palladium"
Gigante Records, Inc., June 2002 (CD)
"Trip to Mamboland"
Gigante Records, Inc., August 2007 (CD)
"Ven Baila Conmigo (Come Dance With Me)!"
Gigante Records, Inc., January 2009 (CD)
Photos
Bio
The Latin Giants of Jazz was formed in late 2001 bringing Tito Puente’s All Star Orchestra back together. The band is driven by the dedication to keeping the sound of the 40’s and 50’s Palladium era music thriving and enduring. The orchestra has successfully kept the sound of the Big 3 (Machito, Tito Rodriguez and Tito Puente) alive and well, while allowing for its progression by working with new musical concepts.
The Latin Giants of Jazz moved forward and have been entertaining crowds worldwide, receiving rave reviews from each performance. The Tempo Latino Festival in Vic Frezensac, France is one of the many; here they were hailed as being the best band to hit the stage in the 15 year history of the festival. "The Latin Giants causes the public to explode at Tempo Latino. The show put on by the Latin Giants last night was the best in the 15 years of the Tempo Latino Festival." With seventeen of the best known and experienced musicians and legends of best that Latin Music has to offer, they played in the plaza bull ring at Vic Fezensac and enchanted the crowd with their music, the Mambo. They demonstrated that despite all of the advances and fusions that have been done to Latin music over the years, they preserve that real original big band mambo sound intact. It's the best Latin Big Band ever to play at Tempo Latino and they didn’t just play any mambo; they played mambo-jazz, cha cha cha, son, guajira and guaguanco.
The band’s debut album was released in 2002 entitled “The Latin Giants of Jazz Play the Music of the Palladium…Tito Lives," an album dedicated to the astounding musicians who came before them and of course, to their dear friend and colleague of so many years, Tito Puente. The album received wonderful reviews and a great deal of airplay worldwide.
The second album to be released by the Latin Giants of Jazz was entitled “Trip to Mamboland" in 2007. Received with open arms, the album has held steady on top 10 charts internationally since its release. This album features the last recorded saxophone solo of the late Mario Rivera, who sadly passed away later that year.
The latest album released in January of 2009 is Ven Baila Conmigo.
The Latin Giants of Jazz transcend boundaries and they bring together fans that are nostalgic and crave a taste of what they once heard with fans that are experiencing it for the first time. Crossing age, cultural and linguistic boundaries, their music has reached out to everyone listening and brought them to common ground…where the excitement of amazing music is the tie that binds them. These are songs that don’t allow you to be still, they beckon you to the dance floor, making you move and sway!
Links
