Music
Press
Andres and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel expand our understanding of a drummer’s musicality while delivering an outstanding collection of music on Drummers Speak. The repertoire selection offers a strong variety of approaches, resulting in a constantly interesting album. Andres’ use of material from Latin Jazz drummers makes a firm connection with the style while his integration of songs from straight-ahead jazz drummers exposes range. Both Tumalan and Sierra’s arrangements place a distinct spin on the songs, and their creativity drives the album into “must-hear” territory. - Chip Boaz
...Brian Andres presents a hot debut album that pays tribute to a long list of drummers who have influenced him. To show what he has gleamed from these giants, he chose a composition by each of such icons, and worked it into a hot salsa or latin jazz vehicle...and came up with a refreshing result, reflecting the new blood on the Bay Area Latin scene today....the result is a technically sound album with plenty of energy and enthusiasm. - Chuy Varela
Discography
In 2007 Brian Andres and Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel released their debut CD “Drummers Speak”. Featuring all original arrangements of nine tunes written by noteworthy drummer/percussionist’s such as Tito Puente, Art Blakey, Jack DeJohnette, Francisco Aguabella, Tony Williams, Bobby Sanabria and more, the CD has been met by critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences.
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Bio
The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel
Latin Jazz. It’s been called La Combinación Perfecta. The perfect combination. The coming together of two worlds. The blending of two musical traditions. Jazz, a truly original art form born in the United States, espouses the freedom in music that its birth nation represents to the world. Latin: a generic term meant to encompass the numerous dance and folkloric musical styles of the Caribbean. Latin Jazz: part African, part European, it is to some, the ultimate American musical expression.
The San Francisco Bay Area has been a historic hotbed for Latin Jazz artists. From Cal Tjader to Armando Peraza, John Santos to Rebeca Mauleon. The latin jazz tradition has thrived in the Bay Area. It is from this tradition that The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel arrives. Lead by drummer Brian Andres, the group was formed to contribute its own mark to that storied history. Comprised of some of the most sought after musicians and music educators that the Bay Area has to offer, the ACJC never fails to perform its music at the highest level. The repertoire consists of original compositions as well as exciting original arrangements of classics from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the United States. The group is equally capable of performing a dance or concert repertoire, as well as educational presentations such as lectures, workshops or instruction focused on the musical instrumentation, composition and arranging or cultural significance and history of the music they perform.
While still having it's own unique sound, the Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel has been likened to the music of Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sanchez, Tony Martinez and the Cuban Power or Tito Puente.
The group generally performs as an octet when without vocals, and a 9 piece ensemble when vocals are desired. The group can be downsized to a Trio, or increased up to an 11 piece ensemble to meet any specifics needs.
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