When asked to label Sonido
Isleño’s music, critics and fans agree that it is Latin Jazz in the truest sense
of the term: Sonido Isleño explores different ways of mixing Jazz and
Spanish-Caribbean music, while making the music accessible, organic, and logical.
This is the direct result of the New York musicians involved, who are completely
bi-cultural, a benefit of being residents of the largest Caribbean city in the
United States. Active since 1996, Sonido Isleño is the brainchild of Dr.
Benjamin Lapidus and is made up of master musicians who have performed and
recorded with a who’s who of Latin music including Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz,
Ray Barretto, and The Buena Vista Social Club, among others.
In an August 2004 interview with Nestor Gómez for Barranquilla’s major newspaper,
El Heraldo, Lapidus explained his musical concept: “Many people say
that Latin Jazz must have certain characteristics. But I look for ways to put
jazz into Latin music rather than making Latin music subordinate to jazz, which
is the classic notion of Latin Jazz. I try to present musical situations that
can bring folkore and jazz together in a straight-forward fashion, so that the
listener doesn’t lose the harmonic complexity of jazz.”
Unlike other Latin Jazz groups that feature traditional jazz instruments, Sonido
Isleño achieves its sound with string instruments and percussion. Their first
album, ¿Quién Tiene Ritmo? (1998), was an instant critics’ favorite and
received solid airplay. El Asunto (1998) won the group more fans around
the world and earned a position on many year-end critics’ lists. The band
performed on CBS – The Morning Show with Bryant Gumbel and Jane Clayson and made
numerous radio appearances throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico to promote the
record. In August 2000, EMI-Capitol released Real Latin Jazz - Percussion,
Piano & Strings, featuring Sonido Isleño’s “Jazz Changüí.” This compilation
of Latin jazz placed Sonido Isleño in the company of such Grammy award-winning
artists such as Chucho Valdés, Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sánchez, and Giovanni
Hidalgo. Tres is the Place (2001) cemented Sonido Isleño’s position
amongst Latin jazz fans and radio programmers. Many critics named it in their
top ten albums of 2001. The band performed in TNN’s James Bond commercials and
performed at various high-profile jazz venues in the U.S. and Europe. In 2004,
Blue Tres was hailed by critics as their best album to date and the
band performed throughout the U.S. and in Colombia to support it. Blue Tres
made 4 top-ten lists for Latin Beat Magazine’s year-end issue in 2004.
Sonido Isleño’s newest release, Vive Jazz (2005), marks the next step
in this exciting group’s signature brand of Latin Jazz . . .
Musicians include:
Benjamin Lapidus Guitar, tres, cuatro, marimbula, coro
Francisco Javier Cotto Bass, coro
Felix Sanabria Congas, chékere, pandereta
Hector M. Torres Timbales, guagua, güiro, coro
Paul Carlon Tenor sax, flute
Evan Rapport Alto sax
Matt Ray Piano, side-splitting tumor
Harvie S. Bass
William Bausch Drumset
Greg Glassman Trumpet
Pedro Pablo Martinez Lead vocals, coro
Alberto "1st Male Bertie Joe" Levy Poem recitation
Jonathan Troncoso Tambora, güira
Juan Usera Pandereta
Jainardo Batista Guía, coro, maracas
Antonio DeVivo Coro, bongó de monte, guayo
SONIDO ISLENO - REVIEW3
SONIDO ISLENO - REVIEW2
SONIDO ISLENO - REVIEW1
1. La Suegra
2. East of el Son, Wes del Tres
3. Taino
4. Vive Jazz
5. Heebaro
6. Tambora
7. Ornetteando
8. M&D
9. Green Mill Mambo
10. Dialectics of a Soplapote
more
tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
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