Mi Raiz (G-THREE)
Alexis Baro
Released July 2022
JAZZ FM 25 Best Jazz Albums of 2022
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nBKIdc5yWrCL3ZiCMR8GTy6aEv4MzOnlI
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4roL1R29XzllPhGjm2XdXi?si=uykWQCvuSA2nZ8oxcCAs4A
About:
Alexis Baro was born into a musical family in Havana, Cuba. Classically trained, he took up the trumpet at the age of age 8 and completed his musical education receiving a teaching certification at the prestigious Amadeo Roldán Music Conservatory in Havana.
While in school he became a member of the Buena Vista Social Club super star Omara Portuondo’s band, and later at the age of 19 played lead trumpet for the National Radio and Television Orchestra.After moving to Toronto, Canada in 2001, he was discovered by iconic Canadian jazz drummer Archie Alleyne where he florished as a writer and performer for eight years as a member of the Canadian award winning ‘hard-bop” band Kollage. As a band member he was nominated for “Best Jazz Trumpeter” by the Canadian National Jazz Awards in the years 2006, 2007, and 2008. Baro has participated in more than 80 albums and can be heard as a feature solist on some of the most transcendent Latin albums made in Canada such as Hilario Duran’s Grammy Award nominated album “From The Heart”.
He has performed with such artists as Nikky Yanofsky, David Foster, Michael Bublé, Paul Anka, Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Paquito d’ Rivera, Jimmy Bosch, Miguel Zenon, Hilario Duran, Robi Botos, Jesus Alemaney & Cubanismo, David Virelles, Andrea Boccelli, Gino Vanelli, Esthero, David Rudder, Juan de Marco & The Afro-Cuban All Stars, and Horacio “el negro” Hernandez.
Highlights in his solo career include opening for Herbie Hancock, and tours of South America and the West Indies. He’s released six albums as a solo artist “Havana Banana”, “From the Other Side”, “Blue Skin”, the Gold Medal “Global Music Award winner in the jazz category “Guilty Pleasure” , “Sugar Rush” and “Sandstorm”. his Juno Awards Nominated 2018 release.
Alexis Baro’s new album “Mi Raiz” pays tribute to the historic relevance of The Cuban Trumpet.
“This work is my dedication to all of the Cuban musicians from the past and present who have made this recognizable tradition of greatness known worldwide.”
Alexis Baro
Track Listing:
1. Campo De Batalla (Intro) (Alexis Baro) 01:21
2. Tan Lejos (Alexis Baro) 03:49
3. Homenaje A La Trompeta Cubana (Alexis Baro) 05:20
4. Tú (Habanera) (E. Sanchez De Fuentes) 03:13
5. Que Me Castigue Dios (M. Salazar) 04:37
6. Yo Si Como Candela (F. Chapooten) 04:09
7. 100 Años De Juventud (J. Valdes) 07:19
8. No Puedo Ser Feliz (A. Guzman) 04:31
9. En Son de Descarga (Alexis Baro) 05:50
10. Timba Jam (Alexis Baro) 05:35
11. Campo de Batalla/ Battle Ground (Alexis Baro) 05:28
12. El Clarin de Pueblo Nuevo (Alexis Baro) 05:42
Personnel:
Yordan Martinez: trombone (2, 5, 8, 10, 12)
Jorge Betancourt: piano (2, 3, 6, 9, 12)
Yoser Rodriguez: bass (3, 6, 9)
Roberto Riveron: bass (5, 7, 8)
Juan Pablo Dominguez: bass (2, 10, 12)
Jorge L. Torres “Papiosco”: percussion (2, 5, 7-10, 12)
Rosendo “Chendy” Leon: percussion (3, 6, 9)
Ahmed Mitchel: drums, background vocals (1-3, 7, 8, 10-12)
Guest Performers
El Gaya Quartetto (Aleksandar Gajic, violin; Alain Bouvie, violin; Laurence Schaufele, viola; Greg Gallagher, cello): strings (4)
Miguelito Valdes: trumpet (3)
Alexander Brown: trumpet (3)
Jesus Alemany: trumpet (3)
Jeff King: tenor and soprano saxophones (5, 8)
Giovany Arteaga: tenor saxophone (10, 12)
Rafaela Zaldivar: piano (1, 11)
Hilario Duran: piano (5, 8)
Miguel A. de Armas “Pan com Salsa”: piano (7, 10)
Jeremy Ledbetter: piano, strings conductor (4)
Pablosky Rosales: tres (6)
Kiki Valera: Cuarto Cubano (9)
Nestor del Prado: bass (1, 4, 11)
Aris Montenegro: percussion (9)
Alberto Alberto: vocals (6, 12)
Adis Rodriguez Galindo: background vocals (2, 3)
Recorded at Homemade Studios
Mixed by Ahmed Mitchel
Mastering by Samuel Williams
Painting by Agustin Rogas
Review:
Havana-born trumpeter Alexis Baro is now one of the most respected trumpeters on the Toronto jazz scene. He has participated in more than 100 recordings and previously released six of his own to multiple accolades. His seventh album Mi Raiz is a celebration of Cuban trumpet playing. Here, Baro embraces his roots and thoroughly revels in the tradition of his homeland. Joyful and accessible, the album expresses the complexity and nuance of the instrument as well as its beautiful simplicity.
Laura Fernandez (JAZZ.FM 91)
