D'Cuba Jazz

Fecha: 2012.05.25
Fuente: Michel Herrera

Michel Herrera had the incredible honor of being one of the 13 musicians that Wynton Marsalis chose as guest stars for his closing performance in Cuba on October 9, 2010
The details of this historic event can be found in the New York Times article here.

“At the age of 26, the prodigious saxophonist and composer Michel Herrera is one of the brightest young stars in today`s Cuba... The following interview reveals the multifaceted artistry of one of the greatest saxophonists to emerge in the largest Caribbean island since Paquito D’Rivera defected to the U.S.A. in 1980.” See interview here.

-Luis Tamargo, Latin Beat Magazine
Luis Tamargo also named En La Espera one of the top 10 CD’s of 2010 in the #2 position.

See full interview at the link below:
http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html

“Straight from Cuba comes alto saxophone phenom and bandleader Michel Herrera, with a far more modern sound. Although rooted in Afro-Cuban rhythms, especially clave, he and his band – the core includes Roger Riso on keys, Julio Cesar Gonzales on bass, Hector Quintana on guitar, Ismel Witnall on percussion, Yissi Garcia on drums and Eduardo Sandoval on trombone - shoot for a sound that’s jazzier and more deliberately cerebral. His compositions shift shape, sometimes on a dime, go doublespeed, go back in time eighty years (once with a beautifully rustic percussion-and-piano interlude) and give his band – especially trumpeter Julio Regal, whose work with a mute packs a thoughtfully crescendoing punch – a wide playing field. Pequena Historia, the first full-length track on his new album En La Espera, sets buoyant horns over a funky rhythm section, Herrera’s sax moving from balminess to bluster, followed by an eerily fluid, portamento-ish electric organ solo. The slinky clave groove Estaciones surprisingly serves as a launching pad for the most boisterous, bop-tinged playing here; with its sizzling piano cascades, soul-flavored electric guitar and tricky polyrhythms, the title track attests to Herrera’s wide-ranging eclecticism.”

-Lucid Culture

“Most of the eleven tunes on EN LA ESPERA were written and arranged by Alvarez, and each shows off his lyrical, introspective approach to jazz. Eschewing loud, flashy effects, he brings out the heart and soul of his compositions in a delicate, deeply felt way.  This isn`t to say he can`t swing--he just prefers not to show off. Alvarez is one of jazz`s most promising and exciting young stars.”

Wilfred Manus, www.Lively-arts.com


"Michel Herrera and Joven Jazz are quickly becoming my favorite band.  The new CD "En La Espera" is fresh, lively and a mix of solid tunes - highly recommended."

Leon James (DC Bebop.com)

Check out Joven Jazz’s Featured musician page on DC Bebop:

http://www.dcbebop.com/dcbmusic-6_MichelHerrera.asp

“Staying true to their name, what shines through on JovenJazz’s debut album more than anything is their youth.  There is a relentless energy and perpetual motion throughout all of Herrera’s compositions that compels the listener to stay on.”

Elana Milstein, Ethnomusicolist with a specialty in Cuban Studies

The Madriguera (headquarters of the Hermanos Saiz Cultural Association) looks like a bewitched venue where time stands still. The music should have begun at 8:00 p.m. but it was after nine-thirty when the trees that surround this outdoor venue began to dance with the saxophone of Michel Herrera, who has won the Special Prize at several Jojazz events.

“Thanks for coming, this concert isn’t mine, everyone is going to play,” welcomed Herrera. He wasn’t concerned if the audience is the same that heard him play with Jorge Chicoy or with Bobby Carcasses. He caresses his instrument as if it were an old romance.

Irina Echarry, www.havanatimes.org

The director and arranger also presented the quintet of saxophone player Michel Herrera, with which the musicians of Lincoln Center interacted until the end of the night.
 
“This encounter with Cuba is very important for North American music,” expressed Marsalis after having enjoyed the performance of the young jazz musicians. The artistic director of the JLCO sounded his trumpet accompanying the musicians of the patio and demonstrated a great identification with the executors. When the concert ended, Wynton had time to converse with some of them, he recognized their abilities and projected their clean execution, he gave them recommendations and he invited them to “speak about music” during the days of his visit to Havana .
 
Marsalis, who once again declared his admiration for Cubans such as Maurio Bauza, Chico O’ Farrill, Chapottin, Florecita y Chocolate, and of all the “many great musicians here,) also expressed that the new jazz musicians that he had met on the island “possess great talent.”

Notidisco-November Issue by Mabel Machando and R.A. Hernandez

Young saxophonist and composer, has received the Special prize in various editions of the JO JAZZ (Young JAZZ) festival. He has performed with famous musicians such as Chicoy, Orlando (Cubajazz), Jorge Reyes, Bobby Carcasses, among others. He is a talented musician, lover and interpreter of a pure and exquisite form of jazz. He has his project comprised of alto saxophone, piano, bass, trumpet and drums and Michel plays music that he has composed and standards of his genre. He shows us music that is filled with “Cubaness” and with a marked influence of free jazz.

Montunocubano.com

In "On green dolphin street," the winner of the 2005 Jo Jazz special prize, Michel Herrera, one of those boys that like many others, should be followed closely.

Jose Luis Estrada Betancourt, Juventud Rebelde Digital

“Their backing band alone were incredible! I later found out that it wasn`t surprising since they were all top musicians in Cuba, the drummer Jorge Baglan coming from NG La Banda and Paulito FG and the award-winning saxophonist Michel Herrera having performed with Winton Marsalis, to name just two.”

www.worldmusic.co.uk

The Cuban Institute of Music was vibrating with energy as the saxophone player had a great interchange with the multifaceted Bobby Carcasses, the trumpet player Yasek Manzano and Michel Herrera’s group.

Isachi Fernandez Fernandez, Cubarte
 
On April the 7th, the great group of alto saxophonist Michel Herrera raises the bar. The band, an octet Herrera calls his Jojazz (as a reference to the annual jazz contest where most of his musicians have been awarded prizes), is young and composed of Cubans of African descent - apart from the guitarist. And this Jazz exudes Africanism The dynamics, the implication, are reminiscent of the group Rumbatere, of aforementioned Sarduy, Molina and Harold Lopez Nussa... a tornado that passed over 5 years ago. Just like their leader, who leaves them space, the musicians are inspired and seek motivation deep inside. The band shows unity with great solos from Herrera and Chapottin. Again, we are in presence of a first-class pianist, Rizo and the whole band is well supported by Reneir Mendoza’s drums, as well as bass, guitar and congas. Herrera plays with nuances and rhythms; tempos are varied. There is no concession to mediocrity... delightful.
 
Patrick Dalmace, www.jazzhot.net (Translated from French)