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Masacote
CD (Masacote Records 33510), Released 2006;
Produced by Joel "Masacote" Massicot
Editor's Pick:
Swinging Latin jazz project led by pianist Joel "Masacote" Massicot. Opening with the sizzling "5 Beat Mambo," you can tell that they mean it. I especially like the breadth and drive on the extended jam "Estasy." Would make a fitting backdrop to a film noire thriller. Highly percussive, as one might expect for a project that features Pablo "Chino" Nuñez and Luisito Quintero. Listen to timbalero Nuñez let loose on the track "Impressionalize." With a top-notch lineup of additional New York heavies: bassist Ruben Rodriguez, trumpeter Raul Agraz, and sax player Ivan Renta. Trombone player Jimmy Bosch makes a fabulous appearance as a guest soloist on "Lament." What a moña this guy packs. The Moña Lisa. (Jimmy, I want credit if you use that title for you next release — B.).
Recommended - Descarga.com
Discography
Masacote
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Bio
Ritmo Masacote is a 9 piece Latin jazz band that creates a unique blend of Salsa and Jazz for dancers and hardcore music afficionados alike. Led by pianist Joel "Masacote" Massicot, the band performs original scores with highly percussive songs and infectious rhythms. The band performs a mix of high tempo and upbeat Salsa to smooth, melodic Latin Jazz. Its versatility has made it a crowd pleaser from the salsa club setting to festivals to intimate gatherings. Moreover, the band has become quite popular for being coupled in special stage appearances with the company's dancers (Masacote Dance Company), an internationally renowned group of dancers known for their breathtaking performances and visually stunning choreographies.
Joel, an accomplished jazz & reggae musician, has studied piano since the year 1986, trumpet since 1987, and saxophone and drums since 1991. Although this versatile musician has trained to play in different musical genres (jazz, reggae, funk, salsa, and Latin jazz), he decided to focus on his love for Latin jazz in 1997 and has since trained with some of the top musicians in the industry.
While living in St. Croix, Joel was the director of “Various Artists”, his own reggae, jazz, and funk band, and a part of the 666th Army National Guard Band. When Howard University’s School of Fine Arts Music Department in DC recruited him as a Jazz studies piano major in 1998, Joel ventured from St. Croix to Washington, DC to pursue his musical career.
Since then, he has had the honor of playing with such highly acclaimed bands as Orquesta La Romana (Washington,DC), voted best salsa orchestra by salsametro.com consecutively 2001-2005, the 257th Army National Guard Band (Washington, DC), Sound V.I. Zion Records Reggae Band (St. Croix, VI), and Edwin Pabon and Orchestra (Boston, MA). In early 2005, he was selected to tour with Sound V.I.Zion Records during its Spring 2005 East Coast Tour. He has also had the honor of performing on stage with such Grammy winning salsa bands and artists as “Mambo 911” (Chicago, IL), New Swing Sextet, Chino Nuñez, Bobby Allende, Ray De La Paz, Frankie Vazquez, and Roberto Roena, among others.
Joel’s recordings include Howard University’s 1998 Jazz Ensemble as well as compositions and arrangements with 3 major record labels (B'neath Da Underground Sounds, LLS Records, and Sound V.I. Zion Records). He has also co-produced a cd entitled “Jerome Austrie”, a vocalist and guitarist.
In 2006, Joel released his own much anticipated, Latin jazz cd with his original musical compositions. His focus lies specifically on the relation of notes to movement.
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