ZOHO debut and live recording from the Bronx's Pregones Theater, produced by multi-Grammy winner Arturo O'Farrill.

Bronx is old school. Its terrain is gritty, real and demanding of your best. It rewards you though. Music history oozes from there. Many of our heroes were either born here or passed through. That mixture of tough, demanding but fierce passion is born out of love for community, for raza (people) and for art.

Albert Marques is tough but sweet, a Catalan transplant from Spain who created a life for himself in New York, and whose passion at the piano is only matched by his huge humanity and kindness. Walter Stinson is bass. He lives by his instrument and pours his soul into every note he plays. Zack O'Farrill has an encyclopedic knowledge of music, an intellect to match and the virtuosity/creativity at the drums to realize those qualities musically.

The three of them are fierce, tough and passionate, but tempered by love and mad respect for each other. Music is a demanding discipline, not for the faint hearted, one must be tough with a thick skin, yet flexible and passionate, willing to be vulnerable. This is impossible without that greatest of all humilities, love. Put your heart out there, lay your ego aside, and let the greater good shape your art. This is the story of the Bronx, the story of Pregones and the story of the Albert Marques Trio.

This is not cartoon jazz, or stereotypical Latin Jazz trio. It is modern, fusing elements of Rock, Jazz , Flamenco, R&B with a healthy dose of introspection. Just because I know these guys, I can assure you there isn't a fake moment in the recording. Every note is played with grit, reality, and love. It seems easy to make records that fit a neat category, affirm one's identity and serve as musical wallpaper. It is a lot more difficult to go on journeys that demand honesty, a willingness to open up, the ability to withstand grit and funk, and to be real. But boy oh boy, do these young masters reflect the Bronx, Pregones and the pueblos they come from, boy do they reward!

Arturo O'Farrill, producer

Track Listing

• Doble Sur
• IDN
• Iris
• Jazz Is Working Class
• Canco Pel Pare
• Ain't No Sunshine
• Alan Watts
• Foggy Conscience

Additional Details

Label: Zoho

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 62 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/04/16

UPC: 880956161624