Day 2 of the 92nd Street Y’s Latin on Lex series celebrated “a snapshot of a musical movement that could only have taken place in New York City,” said Artistic Director Brian Lynch.
The event featured Grammy nominees Yosvany Terry, Pedro “Pedrito” Martinez, and Manuel Valera, who made the pilgrimage from Cuba to New York, remained, and enriched the musical life of the Jazz Mecca as performers, composers, and bandleaders.
Brian Lynch’s involvement with the players since they arrived in New York 20 years ago inspired the performance. According to Lynch, “I’m proud of any modest ‘cross-pollinating’ role I may have played in working alongside these phenomenal musicians in both my groups and their own.”
The repertoire included nine original compositions: Dance the Way You Want To; Noticiero; Story Teller; Keep Talking; Aw Shucks; La Gloria Eres Tu; Harlem Matinee; Summer Relief, and Descargando.
Highlights include Briany Lynch’s crisp, sophisticated “En Clave” trumpet work. Admirable improvisations and use of harmonics by Lynch, Yosvany Terry, and Greg Tardy’s bass and reads. Manuel Valera’s superb piano flows, and Pedro Martinez’s Abakua recitations and chants. Yosvany Terry on the sax and shekere. Impressive acoustic work by bassist Hans Glawischnig and hyper-fluent trap work by Haitian drummer Obed Calvaire.
At the pre-concert discussion, Brian Lynch discussed the philosophy of Afro-Atlantic religious traditions, such as Yoruba and Lukumi, the links between Afro-Cuban Jazz and Afro-Caribbean jazz, and their ability to evoke a state of being that touches the heart, body, and mind. Furthermore, he explained why these musicians and their music are indispensable to the New York jazz scene and modern jazz in the 21st century.
Kudos to the 92nd Street Y for giving the series home and the Kaufmann Concert Hall for an earthy, organic audio experience.
