Recorded live at the famous “La Zorra y el Cuervo” Jazz Club in Havana, “AKIMBA!” is Mezcla's first "jazz" album, even though it has been playing Afro-Cuban jazz, the first truly international style of fusion music of the 20th century, since its birth in 1985. One of Mezcla's early supporters was the legendary guitarist Carlos Santana, the spearhead of Latin Rock, who stated in an interview with the San Francisco Examiner that Mezcla was his favorite band from Cuba. On AKIMBA!, Mezcla displays a spectacular breadth of musical styles and influences, from the classic Danzón Buena Vista Social Club and Charlie Parker's bebop evergreen Donna Lee to the funky Yoruba-Cuban chants of Hijos de la Mezcla and the fiercely percussive African fusion sounds of the title track Akimba!
Led by its California-born band leader and guitarist Pablo Menéndez, Mezcla has toured the U.S. and Europe several times in the last few years, and a U.S. tour in support of the release of “AKIMBA!” is in preparation. Special guest is one of Cuba's most respected musicians, Enrique Plá, the drummer and founding member of Irakere.
⢓ â¦a savory broth, concentrated to an almost overwhelmingly intense flavor ⦠a must for those who are looking for more heat from their Latin jazz.”
-C.Michael Bailey, allaboutjazz.com
⢓Mezcla is the cleanest, freshest water I ever tasted. My favorite group from Cuba”.
-Carlos Santana
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