Martín Arroyo Quintet

So I spent the past 60 days, mas o menos, unfocused and adapting to new rules. I'm done with all that crap and I'm now focused coño!

Martín Arroyo Quintet

(Bronx, New York, 1965 - December 2000) was a pianist, saxophonist, orchestra conductor, composer and arranger.

His early demise, due to post surgical complications, took away from all Latin jazz enthusiasts an extraordinary man at the age of 35. His contribution of 2 robust albums, Martín Arroyo and Now Is The Time showcase a talent influenced by his Latin mentors, Cuban pianist Carlos Jiménez, and Joel Diamond. With Diamonds help, Martín entered the Martín the Mannes College of Music, and completed his tenure with a Professional Diploma of Studies. His craft continued to be polished while attending Jazz and Contemporary Music from May '91 onward and eventually acquired his Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Martín had additional musical inspiration from American jazz greats, notably, Thelonious Monk. The track "Monk Lives" is a favorite of mine which saddens me because his art ended so soon. Listen to "Monk Lives" and segue right to "On a Silver Platter". This is a humble example of a future Latin jazz great evolving right before our very eyes. Close your eye's, open your minds, let the sound reach your soul with patient breaths and then gyrate your hips, tap your toes, snap your fingers and SMILE coño!

I bring you joy today with The Martín Arroyo Quintet, talk about it and share it with your jazz community. As I continue to beat the crap out of this bacteria I have, Latin jazz and my wife are my two inspirations to carry on. Now make some noise and take a minute to enjoy the five tracks below.

Here are my five selections in order:

On a Silver Platter - makes me feel like I''m in a 1940's dream and suddenly, bebop emerges, led by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk. Then Machito, Mario Bauzá and Chucho Valdés fill in the gaps a lo Cubano.
There's No Place Like Home
Monk Lives - Yeah, Monk still influences Latin jazz style and rhythms via a percussion piano. This track exemplifies breakout Latin percussion and a BIG BAND sound and it's only a quintet.
J.T.
Language of the Ghetto