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The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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Cortadito is listed on the 20 Outstanding Albums!

by the prestigious Fundacion Nacional para la cultura popular

Cortadito is listed on the top jazz albums from Puerto Rico 2025!

by wilbert sostre of Puerto Rico jazz radio

A.c.j.c. Listed in Roots music reports top latin jazz album chart of 2025! Not once, but twice!

Preview our Upcoming album & Shows!

Cortadito by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

Cortadito

The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

You are listening to the samples of our fourth release, Cortadito! The Collective visited the folks over in Rax Trax Studios to record 7 original tunes and arrangements that includes Puerto Rican bomba among the rhythmic Read more

You are listening to the samples of our fourth release, Cortadito! The Collective visited the folks over in Rax Trax Studios to record 7 original tunes and arrangements that includes Puerto Rican bomba among the rhythmic palette that is found on this album. The stellar roster includes Victor Garcia on trumpet, Brian Stark on saxophone, Ben Carrasquillo on trombone, Javier Quintana on congas, Victor "Junito" Gonzalez on bongos and bell, Michael Rodriguez on timbales, Andrey Goncalvez on bass, and Jose Guzman on guitar and penmanship. Andy Shoemaker on the audio engineering.

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Fiesta at Caroga by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

Fiesta at Caroga

The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

Release date: Fall 2023 FOR PRESS ONLY - The album will be released in later in the year with the help of the DCASE Grant. Reach out to jguzmusic@gmail.com for inquiries. PARA MEDIOS DE PRENSA SOLAMENTE - El álbum será Read more

Release date: Fall 2023

FOR PRESS ONLY - The album will be released in later in the year with the help of the DCASE Grant. Reach out to jguzmusic@gmail.com for inquiries.

PARA MEDIOS DE PRENSA SOLAMENTE - El álbum será lanzado a finales de año con la ayuda de la beca DCASE. Contacte a jguzmusic@gmail.com para cualquier pregunta.

Live recording of the performance at the Caroga Lake Music Festival 2022.

(English) Each track tells a story that pays homage to salsa musical forms such as Descarga 2, Xipirona Cha-Cha, and the highly energetic tune El Volcan. El Cañaveral explores the mysterious atmosphere of the coastal sugar cane fields by using a bembe groove, sparse percussion in the introduction, slow melodic development, and improvisation. The Caroga Arts String Orchestra joins the group for the last two tracks of the album. Cariño is a slow bolero that speaks about trying to find joy after sorrow and the album closes with Baile Bailekita, a high energetic tribute to Champaign West African Dance teacher Bailekita.

(En Español) Grabación en vivo del concierto en el Caroga Lake Music Festival.

El disco le hace homenaje a formas musicales de la salsa como en Descarga 2, Xipirona Cha Cha, y el tema energético, El Volcán. El Cañaveral explora el ambiente misterioso en los cañaverales costeros utilizando armonías disonantes al pulso lento que evoca el ritmo africano de sus trabajadores fantasmas. La orquesta de cuerdas del Caroga Arts String Orchestra se une a la banda para el cierre del álbum. Cariño es un bolero que comienza con una melodía triste, languidecida, buscando alegría. El álbum cierra con Baile Bailekita, un tributo energético dedicado a Jean Pierre Bailekita, un maestro de Danza Africana en el pueblo de Champaign, IL.

Trumpet - Eric Devey Tenor Sax - Brian Stark Trombone - Ben Weisger Congas - Stephen Busath Timbales - Sebastian Nassar Percussion - Brian Shank Bass - Ian Stewart Guitar - Jose Guzman

Album artwork - Alejandro Rodriguez Audio Engineer, Mixing, & Mastering - Geoff Saunders Video and Photography - Ronald Lau Recorded live at the Caroga Lake Music Festival on August 10, 2023. Special thanks to Kyle Price and the Caroga Arts Collective for sponsoring and documenting the event.

Tracks 1,2,3, and 5 by Jose Guzman Tracks 4 and 6 by Brian Stark

© Copyright 2023 JGB Music (ASCAP)

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    Descarga 2 7:33
    Descarga 2
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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    Xipirona Cha Cha 6:57
    Xipirona Cha Cha
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  3. 3
    El Cañaveral 7:49
    El Cañaveral
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  4. 4
    El Volcan 8:08
    El Volcan
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  5. 5
    Carino 5:28
    Carino
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  6. 6
    Baile Bailekita 6:05
    Baile Bailekita
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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Fiesta at Caroga makes Jazzweek's year end top 100!!

https://www.jazzweek.com/year-end/2024/

Album Reviews

 

The reviews for Fiesta at Caroga are coming in!!

https://latinjazznet.com/reviews/albums/the-afro-caribbean-jazz-collective-fiesta-at-caroga/

“It is hard not to fall for the vivacious music of José Guzmán and The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective; even to want more once Fiesta at Caroga ends…Guzmán and his collective deliver the six pieces with appropriate effervescence – particularly the opening Descarga 2 – and the slower numbers – including the wonderfully danceable Xipirona Cha Cha, and the slower bolero with heartfelt emotion.”

https://wdcb.org/music-lounge/general/484

"…The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective follows in the footsteps of phenomenal bands that graced the stages of festivals, concert halls and various Latin American restaurants throughout the city and suburbs…"

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fiesta-at-caroga-afro-caribbean-jazz-collective-jgb-music

“…As for the music itself, it leans heavily on such African and Caribbean staples as the Cuban son, Puerto Rican bamba, salsa, descarga, cha-cha and bembe, among other rhythms, using jazz as its counterpoint. Fiesta at Caroga marks the A-CJC's recorded debut, and a very good one it is…”

Fiesta at Caroga reaches #1 on Roots Music Report jazz charts!
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  1. 1
    Maria Cervantes 4:45
    Maria Cervantes
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  2. 2
    Xipirona Cha Cha 6:57
    Xipirona Cha Cha
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  3. 3
    Descarga 2 7:33
    Descarga 2
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  4. 4
    Carino 5:28
    Carino
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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  5. 5
    El Canaveral 7:48
    El Canaveral
    by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

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