Album Notes

Latin Beat Magazine Review

Following the steps of the traditional jazz quartet format, pianist/composer/arranger Angel David Mattos (native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico) delivers a dazzling performance in the company of friends John Benitez (bass), Hector Mattos and Antonio Sanchez (drums), and Bob Mintzer (saxophone). The entire repertoire is based on the fusion of jazz harmonies and melodies with those of the syncopated rhythm patternsof the Puerto Rican danza ( created during the first half of the 19th century as flokloric music based on Spanish "contra danza" and syncopated rhythmic patterns with strong African influences). The beauty of the danza is rejuvenated in the hands of Mattos through six original scores, three classical danza compositions from Juan Morel Campos ( No me toques, Felices dias,and Maldito Amor) and the selction Margarita by Manuel G. Tavarez. Danza jazz or as Mattos calls it, Danzzaj, is the profound reflection on the interaction between a classic Caribbean musical form with that of the North American jazz music; definitely something very special and truly deserving of the name jazz Latino.

Rudy Mangual, Editor-in-chief Latin Beat Magazine





Angel David was born on 1966 in Puerto Rico where he started his
musical training from an early age. Graduated with honors from the
School of Music of San Juan in 1984. He went to the United States for his
advanced studies in music. At the University of Illinois he majored in Music
Educationnd Jazz Piano Performance with professor Tony Caramia. Angel
David graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1988. Since 1988 Angel David has performed in studio sessions and live performances with major figures such as Dave Valentin, Alex Acuña, Bob Mintzer, John Benitez, Antonio Sánchez ,Giovanie Hidalgo, David Sanchez, Eddie Gomez, Humberto Ramirez, Jon Lucien, among others. Angel David was awarded by Berkley School of Music with the "Outstanding Musician" award in 1995, 1996 and 2000.
In 1999 Angel David presented his first CD as leader ; PRELUDIO.
This Jazz Fusion project was greatly acclaimed in major music and jazz
publications such as Modern Drummer and Jazzreview.com . Angel David has also performed in the classical area. He has given solo recitals in major theaters of Puerto Rico. At the present he is the pianist of the Bayamon Symphony with who he performs a very unique version of George Gershwin´s "Rhapsody in Blue", where he incorporates a jazz trio within the piano cadenzas. Angel David´s most recent CD, DANZZAJ , is a Latin Jazz Fusion concept which combines Puerto Rican Danza with jazz harmony and language in a very interesting way. DANZZAJ is by far the best and most creative jazz album ever recorded by a Latin Jazz pianist. He is member of the music faculty of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, where he teaches advanced jazz groups, and stands as Vice President of the International Assosiation for Jazz Education, Puerto Rico Unit.