A musical force to be reckoned
with
Only a year and a half after exploding onto the New Orleans scene,
the groundbreaking band Los Hombres Calientes: Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers,
Jason Marsalis, has truly become a force with which to be reckoned, winning
over more fans and critics with each performance. The Los Hombres Calientes
sound is the realization of an audacious vision, a fusion of modern, acoustic
jazz, New Orleans soul, Latin grooves and an afro-centric "world music"
sensibility. It's a captivating gourmet gumbo that appeals to a wide spectrum
of listeners. Downbeat Magazine's Critics Poll named them Talent Deserving
Wider Recognition in both the "Acoustic Jazz Group" and "Beyond Group" categories,
and a New York Times article cited Los Hombres Calientes as an example of
how regional, indie-jazz projects can rejuvenate the jazz marketplace. In
May 1999, the debut CD made the top 25 on Billboard Magazine's "Top Jazz
Albums" chart, an astonishing feat for an album lacking major label support
and distribution. Notable artists that have "sat in" with Los Hombres include
Danilo Perez, Donald Harrison, Ellis, Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo Marsalis
and Wess Anderson. Throughout this rapid ascension, Los Hombres Calientes
has consistently demonstrated the ability to transcend genre, geography,
venue and expectation, connecting with audiences in both a cerebral and
sensual manner. Now, with the release of a second album, "Volume 2", the
group continues this trend while making a quantum leap forward. The new
record displays a much-increased range and depth, and the myriad compositional
possibilities inherent in this talented collective. |
