Layla Angulo
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Layla Angulo

New York City, New York, United States | SELF

New York City, New York, United States | SELF
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"A Sampling of World Beats"

...How does one get started on the long road to recognition?

Local Latin-jazz alto saxophonist Layla Angulo is at the start of that journey. Her career is an object lesson in why it always pays to take a second listen.

When her first CD came out a few years ago, I wasn't impressed by this former Cornish student, who seemed to be relying more on chutzpah and sexy promotional photographs than musical accuracy.

Then one night a few weeks ago, I heard a sensational salsa track on Johnny Conga's KBCS show, "Al Lado Latino," and was astonished to hear it was from Angulo's new album, "Live at the Triple Door."

What a change! Angulo's current combination of vivid, jazz-inflected horn writing, energetic salsa rhythms and — her most recent flame — Afro-Peruvian beats is altogether original and captivating. Still no sax virtuoso, Angulo does have a rich, deep sound in the lower register, good control of her instrument and what she plays makes musical sense.

Even more impressive, she's writing first-rate, original tunes in Spanish — not bad, for a woman whose parents were Irish and Greek.

Angulo returns to the Triple Door at 7:30 p.m. Thursday ($15; 206-838-4333; www.thetripledoor.net) for a reprise of the live album, plus more Afro-Peruvian material.

"That first album was really more of a demo," admitted the 30-year-old saxophonist in a phone interview earlier this week. "I've done a lot more learning and experimenting since then."

Though the band's personnel has changed (and shrunken) since the album, the stupendous vocalist Carlos Cascante is still on board, as is conguero Walter A. Torres.

Angulo is determined to take her act on the road and snag a record contract.

With her business savvy, musical curiosity and good looks — "Hey, if you've got it, use it," she says of those promo photos — she just might find her way to the international stage.

Paul de Barros: 206-464-3247
- Seattle Times


"The Score"

Sometimes the best part of interviewing a musician has nothing to do with the upcoming gig, album, tour, or other pretext for the interview. My recent conversation with Layla Angulo did cover the requisite topics: her impressive self-released live disc, Layla Angulo and Her Latin Jazz Orchestra: Live at the Triple Door; the band's upcoming return engagement; and her plans—she's enlisted several veterans of Paquito D'Rivera's band for a forthcoming album of Afro-Peruvian jazz.

Instead, I'm stuck on a tidbit that came up as she discussed her musical roots. "I find inspiration in the old school," states Angulo. "Machito, Dizzy [Gillespie]'s Afro-Cuban group, Paquito D'Rivera." Then she startled me by asking if I knew the tune "Things to Come." I hadn't listened to that classic in almost a decade, but I could still hear it in my head, so I gave a hesitant "yes."

Recorded in 1946 by an all-star big band led by Gillespie, the apocalyptic "Things to Come" still stuns listeners used to the bouncy, up-tempo bebop sides recorded by small groups led by Charlie Parker, Dizzy, Kenny Clarke, and others. "Things..." rampages at breakneck speed; quicksilver trumpets soar and skid around scurrying saxophones, cramming in a dozen solid musical ideas in under three minutes.

Angulo and I continued talking about the gig. I was pleased to find out that arranger Walter Torres and Costa Rican vocalist Carlos Cascante would still anchor the percussion section. Afterward, I put "Things to Come" on my CD player. Although stylistically separate from "Things...", Angulo's band's version aims for what Dizzy and Co. were doing a half century ago, which is make smart dance music that moves the mind and behind. CHRISTOPHER DeLAURENTI

- The Stranger


"Live At the Triple Door"

Layla Angulo brought her brand of Afro-Peruvian rhythms and jazz to the Triple Door in Seattle for this set, which turns out to be an entertaining one. Angulo wrote all the music except for “Muñeca,” a Eddie Palmieri composition. The band is tight and can essay ideas that please and also work on long jams.

One of the most sparkling tunes is “La Rumbera,” which has a lot going for it in the seamless lines of the horns, the percussion's showering dancing beats, and the singing of Eddie Rodriquez. Pianist Eric Verlinde lays improvisation open in clean and lithe lines. Angulo has her say, and she shows a deep tonality that grooves the melody. Percussion holds sway on “A Golpe De Cajon” as the piece gradually builds in tempo, the ride getting more giddy as the musicians go along. The rhythm becomes sensuous, punctuated by Galand Green on trombone and Angulo as she comes up with an edgy, bristling solo.

“Muñeca” flies right off. Green brings in an airy tone on his flight of becoming imagery with the flute, Verlinde enunciates emphatically on the piano, and Randy Burgeson is exuberant on the trumpet, his tonality adding resplendent colour. The rhythm section makes it all the more intense, each of the players engaging in the conversation and adding that extra dimension which serves to make a tune captivating.


This is a fun record. Sit back and listen or get up and dance. It'll get you either way.

- All About Jazz.com


"Layla Angulo"

Layla Angulo is a very talented saxophonist/composer from Seattle, Washington that just debuted with her CD, Live at the Triple Door
Layla Angulo is a very talented saxophonist/composer from Seattle, Washington that just debuted with her CD, Live at the Triple Door (February 4th, 2005).

Latin Beat Magazine, 10/1/05 by Nelson Rodríguez · Save - Latin Beat Magazine


"Featured Artist"

Latin Jazz, what can I say - I love the excitement of the percussion and vibrancy of the horns. I typically enjoy good Latin music with very little exception. So, when I received Layla Angulo's new release, Live at the Triple Door, I was excited and anxious at the same time.

Excited, because the person Layla Angulo is as sexy as mysterious; anxious, to see if the CD had what it took to make people get past her looks. I can only tell you Layla has and continues to pay her dues. Her webpage say's that Layla was born in Louisiana, and raised in a variety of locales - Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Layla started her musical journey at the age of five, finding the saxophone at the young age of ten. By the time she was fourteen, Layla had begun performing at jazz clubs in Boston.

Finishing a formal music education, Layla continued her professional life in Europe. She took Spain by storm and continued gobbling up the cultural musicality’s of her new peers. Determined that she must lead her own band, her first release The Layla Angulo Sextet, combined the rhythms of Afro-Peruvian and Latin jazz, taking it into entirely new realms.

Layla and the band remain primarily in the Pacific Northwest, tantalizing audiences of all sizes. A recent highlight in her career, Layla shared the stage with Tony Bennet, at the 75th Anniversary Gala of the Paramount Theatre.

Layla's newest release, Live at the Triple Door, is a collection of mostly original arrangements, showcasing the band in a live recording. The inclusion of Eddie Palmieri's 'Muneca' pays homage to the artform that set Ms. Angulo in her musical direction. This recording clearly documents the leadership and musical capabilities of this dynamic young lady.

Layla's website suggests that she may very well be the only female saxophonist, composing her own music for a large band. This may be true, I cannot say - but she is certainly one of a handful of women instrumentalists performing in the Latin Jazz genre, and doing a terrific job at it.



Tracks: Intro, La Noche Del Tambor, Desesperos, Luna Rosa, Muneca, A Golpe De Cajon, Que Te Valle Bien Sin Mi, Tus Manos, La Rumbera

Artist's Website: http://www.LaylaAngulo.com

Reviewed by: Richard Gangi
- JazzReview.com


"Live at the Triple Door"

Sizzling hot live salsa performance led by Seattle based sax player and vocalist Layla Angulo. This one was a totally unexpected surprise ….One of the best live performances we have come across in a while. We will definitely be watching for more of Ms. Angulo. Highly Recommended." - Editor's Pick: (BP, 2005-06-19) Descarga.com - Descarga


"Focusing the Spotlight"

The Best of 2007 Awards and the New Year have been center stage for a while, but I wanted to make sure that I returned to our current Spotlight artist, Layla Angulo. She brings a lively energy and serious musicality to Live At The Triple Door, making it an exciting listen. As I return to this album, I’ve come to increasingly appreciate Angulo’s compositions - she’s got a creative vision for horn writing in Latin music that intrigues me. She also displays a vested interest in Afro-Peruvian rhythms, a current interest of mine. Her performance reveals depth in both jazz and Latin idioms, allowing her to make a strong statement. - Chip Boaz


"Mientras..."

Editor's Pick:
Layla Angulo is a sultry Seattle based sax siren who returns here with her second project as a leader. Angulo is joined by bassist Oscar Stagnaro, pianist Dario Eskanazi, conguero/percussionist Roberto Quintero, with guests Orlando 'Maraca' Valle, Arturo O'Farill, and Costa Rican singer Carlos Cascante on some cuts. Angulo’s sexy, jazzy, slurred vocal style puts me in mind of Shakira, and she is a decent sax player as well. There are a lot of different styles on here, from pop salsa, to MPB (she covers Gal Costa’s hit “Sonho Meu”), from jazz-fusion to son montuno. There are Peruvian flavors that may put you in mind of Susana Baca (but with a more R&B approach like La India), and echoes of pop balada and the Cuban filín genre. It's smooth jazz with a Latin heart — and it is always refreshing to hear a self-possessed, talented woman in the field of Latin music (which is all too often dominated by men). Listen especially to the last track: simple, graceful, unadorned, melancholy, haunting, with acoustic bass, sax, and piano - Pablo Yglesias - Descarga


"Bumbershoot Performers"

…..based in Seattle, saxophonist Layla Angulo has lived and worked in Boston and Spain. The result is eclectic, informed equally by Paquito D’rivera and Charlie Parker, where the rippling Afro-Peruvian rhythms meet the chord-based improvisations of bebop.


- Seattle Times


"Back to Their Roots"

In her quest for acceptance as an artist, Latin Jazz saxophonist Layla Angulo faces a couple of ongoing obstacles, but neither has deterred this Louisiana native from making her mark on the cultural scene in the Pacific Northwest. She's a woman in what is largely a man's world. Making a new kind of music in a city where punk and grunge are king. "Most of the time, people doubt that can play until they hear me," she says of her new role as ambassador of Latin Jazz in Seattle, Washington. The city is famous for its alternative pop scene but is seldom mentioned when Latin music is the topic at hand. "People think I'm a singer. When they find out I'm a saxophonist, they doubt my ability. I've experienced sexism and obscenities from audience members and musicians alike, but I continue to do what I love."
What she loves best is making a particularly exotic brand of Latin Jazz, based on unique Afro-Peruvian rhythms. Her self-produced album, Layla Angulo Sextet, and increasingly busy performance schedule in the Northwest are dispelling old myths about the inadequacy of female musicians. "I hope that people will walk away feeling that they'fve heard something unique and honest," she says of her performances. "I want people to be left inspired and thoughtful." - Latina Style Magazine


Discography

Layla Angulo Sextet
Layla Angulo - Live at the Triple Door
MIENTRAS...

Photos

Bio


Layla Angulo is a NYC based Latin Jazz/Salsa artist. Most recently, she has toured much of the world with Reggaeton Superstar, Don Omar, and Tito Puente Jr. She has worked with many popular artists around NYC including the Sugarhons (Beyonce's horn section), Danny Rojo, Jill Sobule and many others. Layla recorded on Elvis Crespo's latest CD, 'Indestructible', as well as had a private performance with the Ladies Latin band, '809' for Marc Anthony.

After more than a year of touring with other people's groups, she is now back at her own music.

Layla toured Sicily where she performed sold-out concerts with some of Italy’s finest jazz musicians. The song La Rumbera, written by Layla Angulo and Walter Torres, was Semi-Finalist in the 2005 International Songwriting Competition (ICS) and in 2006 it received an Honorable Mention. Layla not only composes for herself and her group, but has also written numerous songs and albums for other artists and for a short films including Cinder starring Julia Ling (Jackie Chan Disciples), which is due out later this year.

With the release of two Latin Jazz CDs, and an intensely loyal and growing fan base, Layla and her band create a thrilling musical experience wherever they perform whether it is a quintet or her large 13 piece orchestra, as can be heard on Live at the Triple Door. Live at the Triple Door has received high praise from not only the Seattle Times and the Stranger, but is being played on a regular basis in Radio Stations across the world.

The fierce enthusiasm and encouragement of her fans keep pushing Layla to reach for even higher musical planes. She released her latest CD, 'MIENTRAS…' with some of the most well-known and highly respected musicians in the business, including Oscar Stagnaro, Roberto Quintero, Dario Eskanazi, (all tour with Paquito D’Rivera and Diane Schuur) Arturo O’Farrill, Orlando 'Maraca' Valle (Irakere), and Tony Escapa (Ricky Martin). In this upcoming release, this is the first cd with Layla singing her own vocal tracks on her own compositions. Not only does she sing, compose, arrange and play alto and soprano saxophones in MIENTRAS…, but she also wears the hat of producer.