Acting Up

The Banda Brothers' first release is an example of Latin jazz as art. Their treatment of Latin jazz lies within the conceptual foundation of legends like Mario Bauza, Dizzy Gillespie, and Chano Pozo who signaled the direction and promise this music could have by combining Afro-Cuban and jazz musical elements. This CD eloquently displays the fulfillment of that promise by showcasing the talents of an ensemble that has a deep understanding of both Afro-Latin music and American jazz. Part of the Latin jazz scene for over 30 years, the group features Tony Banda (bass), Ramon Banda (drums), Chris Barron (piano/keyboards), Joey DeLeon Jr. (percussion), Javier Vergara (tenor Sax), Francisco Torres (trombone), and guests Jose Papo Rodriguez and Alfred Ortiz.