Conga Buena - September 17, Fall 2013

Press Release

 

THE AC JAZZ PROJECT PRESENTS NEW RECORDING:  CONGA BUENA
Available for Purchase Now online at CD Baby, iTunes, and Amazon!

 

JPJ Records and Lucumi Productions, Los Angeles, CA – September 6, 2013:

After a long hiatus, the AC Jazz Project returns with an exciting new recording, Conga Buena, featuring a new bandleader, new band members and a new high energy mix of Afro-Cuban Jazz and modern Cuban dance music. Effective September 17^th, Conga Buena’s physical CD and digital downloads have been available for purchase online at CD Baby, I-Tunes and Amazon

 

The AC Jazz Project is one of the most versatile contemporary Cuban bands in Los Angeles. The band is composed of former members of Maraca, NG La Banda, Cuba LA, Grupo Afro-Cuba, and Opus 13, and its outstanding repertoire and style is a fusion of jazz improvisations mixed with Cuban music genres (Rumba, Latin Jazz, Son Montuno and Timba) The first version of the group was led and created in 2001 by the late Jazz Rumbero Juan "Long John" Oliva aka “Penalti” (whose belief that “music is more than clave”), who shockingly passed away on June 21, 2004, leaving his wife PJ Oliva and fans devastated one week after gaining the title of 88.1FM Kjazz Latin Jazz Artists of the year. PJ continued on with the AC Jazz Project in honor of Long John, engaging, interacting, and connecting with audiences on all levels, including a televised Christmas Eve performance on KCET at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a high profile fund raiser at MOCA with host Paula Abdul, a stellar showcase at the IAJE Conference in New York City (after receiving the IAJE Latin Jazz Award), and an amazing performance at the famous "Playboy Jazz Festival".  However, it was difficult to maintain the right combination of personnel, and over time, those musicians went their own separate ways.  The AC Jazz Project now returns with a winning new lineup. 

 

Personnel for Conga Buena includes: highly talented bandleader / composer / arranger Josiel Perez Hernandez (Klimax / Maraca) on trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals, lead and backup vocalist Alberto Tamayo (Opus 13), Fermin Sifontes (Grupo Afro-Cuba) - piano & vocals, Yosmel Montejo (Haila / Maraca) - bass, featuring Luis Conte (Cuba L.A.) - congas, timbal, bongo, Jimmy Branly (NG La Banda) - drums, timbal, and very special guests Kamasi Washington (Chaka Khan / Stanley Clarke) on tenor & soprano, and Dennis Chambers on "Three Nuts Rumba", where he and Jimmy Branly display tasty drum solos on top of a Rumba Guaguanco.

 

by PJ Oliva