Furito Ríos Proudly Presents”Festival de Jazz Boriquén”

Jose Furito Ríos is a multi-talented musician, composer, arranger, director, and producer widely recognized for blending Afro-Caribbean rhythms with North American jazz standards. However, many people may not know that Rios has been a strong advocate for Puerto Rican art, culture, and music and has made significant contributions to the development of jazz music on the island.

The “Festival De Jazz Boriquén” was created, produced, and directed by Ríos, inspired by the legacies of several renowned musicians such as saxophonist Charlie Rodrigues, pianist Ray Coen, trumpeters Juancito Torres and Mario Ortiz, saxophonist Jesús Caunedo, and the San Juan Juan Workshop and the Don Pedro Workshop. From 2001 to 2004, Rios brought together a lineup of talented artists which included Papo Vazquez, Henry Cole, Giovanni Hidalgo, Angel David Mattos, Jerry Gonzalez, Pedro Guzman, William Cepeda, Jane Bunnett, Brenda Hopkins, Paoli Mejias, Eddie Gomez, Carli Muñoz, John Benitez, and Hilton Ruiz, among others. In 2009, Rios directed a series of concerts called “Jazzeando En La Plaza,” where he united local artists to perform live jazz in public spaces free of charge.

In 2022, Ríos released “Festival de Jazz Boriquén” volumes 1-4, which featured historic lineups and an expansive repertoire. Jaime Torres wrote the liner notes for the albums. These recordings offer a rare opportunity for listeners to experience history in the making. “Festival de Jazz Boriquén” is a cultural treasure that deserves wider recognition. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

TRACKS

VOLUME 1 – Cante Condo, Obsesión, One by One, Mr. PC, Ugetzu, Talita Cumi, Moment’s Notice.

VOLUME 2 – ETA, Equinox, To My Country, Ping-Pong, Vals de las Flores, Space Invaders, Some Day Will Come.

VOLUME 3 – Seis con Décima, Energy, My Love, Mrs. BC, This is For Albert, Little Sunflower, Décima en Blues,

VOLUME 4 – Las Comadrejas, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, Peace, Baby Boy, Resolution, Que Te Pedi.

THE MUSICIANS

Furito Rios, Victor Sanabria, Mariano Cotto, Angel Machado, Jose Rodriguez, Jose Encarnación, Miguel Rodriguez, Tony Rijos, Yan Carlos Artime, Paolo Mejias, Pablo Rosario, Javier Oquendo, Candido Reyes, Selénica, Ramon Vazquez, Hilton Ruiz, David (Piro) Rodriguez, Jerry Gonzalez, Hector Veneros, John Benitez, Angel (Papo) Vazquez, Fermin, Raul Rodriguez, Endel Dueño, Henry Cole, Ricky Rodriguez, Pablo Guzman, William Cepeda, Victor Vazquez, Hommy Ramos, Dave Valentin, Jerry Medina, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Hector Matos, Ricardo Pons, Jimmy Rivera, Gabriel Rodriguez, Eligio “Prodigio” Claudio, among others.

PURCHASE

ABOUT “FURITO” RIOS

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

STANDARD BOMBA (2015)

LA MAESTRIA (2012)

STANDARD BOMBA II – ESTA ES MI BOMBA! (2018)