Category Archives: Previews

A New Carnaval Celebration at the NHCC and a New Album from Frank Leto

Carnaval masters Pilar and Frank Leto

On February 9 and 10 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC), Frank and Pilar Leto will present “Carnaval 2024: Comunidade,” their 19th almost-annual celebration of Carnaval, which features vibrant original music and dance and lavish costumes. This year, they are paying tribute to the many dancers, musicians, actors, and sponsors from the Albuquerque community who have made these unique Carnaval performances possible year after year. In addition, Frank’s latest album, It Seems Like Yesterday, will be available at the event in advance of its official release.

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Pianist Harold López-Nussa Renovates the Cuban Tradition (at the Outpost 11/19)

Harold López-Nussa Quartet (l2r): Harold López-Nussa, Ruy Adrián López-Nussa, Luques Curtis, Grégoire Maret. Photo by Paulo Vitale.

Until recently, I was unfamiliar with award-winning Cuban pianist/composer Harold López-Nussa, and so my main interest in the appearance of his quartet at the Outpost was focused more on the phenomenal Swiss-born harmonica player Grégoire Maret, long a favorite of mine, who is a member of the quartet. Then, I heard López-Nussa’s most recent release, Timba a la Americana, and several previous releases, and now I’m as excited to see and hear him as I am to see and hear Maret. This Sunday, November 19, the equally phenomenal López-Nussa will introduce his innovative renovation of Latin jazz. Prepare to be wowed.

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Vocalist Patti Littlefield Fronts Stellar Band at the Outpost

Vocalist Patti Littlefield has been a popular mainstay on the Albuquerque–Santa Fe scene for many years, but she’s been out of sight for several years thanks to a variety of personal circumstances that sapped her energy. On November 2, at the Outpost, newly energized, she’ll be fronting a band of local all-stars for the first time in almost five years, and you will want to hear what she’s been cooking up.

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Alex Murzyn, John Funkhouser, and Terry Burns Release Terrific Album: ‘Artrio—one’

Alex Murzyn
John Funkhouser
Terry Burns

Artrio—one, a new release from saxophonist Alex Murzyn, pianist John Funkhouser, and bassist Terry Burns—resident New Mexicans all—offers a master class in small ensemble jazz and a satisfying reminder of the high quality of the musicians here in New Mexico. They’ll celebrate their work with a CD release party at Q Bar, Friday, October 6. I was honored by their invitation to write the album’s liner notes, which, slightly adapted, also provide this review.

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Edward Simon Brings New Album, ‘Femeninas: Songs of Latin American Women,’ to the Outpost

Edward Simon Group (l2r): Reuben Rogers, Adam Cruz, Edward Simon, Luis Quintero, Magos Herrera. Photo by Goren Sarriegui-Simon.

One of the leading jazz artists from Latin America and perhaps best known as a member of the SF Jazz Collective, award-winning Venezuelan composer and pianist Edward Simon makes good use of both his jazz chops and his Latin background on his latest release, Las Femeninas, Songs of Latin American Women, which features jewels from the Latin American songbook—all by female songwriters—in exquisite jazz settings. In addition to those songs, Simon’s Latino Soy suite graces the album with three original compositions. Simon’s trio, with Reuben Rogers on bass and Adam Cruz on drums, will bring that music to the Outpost this week, along with two guest artists, Grammy-nominated Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera and Venezuelan percussionist Luis Quintero.

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