Album Notes

Seven Musicians, Five Countries, Four Languages, Three Continents… One Band

Seven Steps To Havana is a Latin jazz ensemble of international talent featuring musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Ethiopia, and America. Their collective accomplishments includes international tours, dozens of recordings, and multiple Latin Grammy nominations. Their music combines the rhythmic sizzle of salsa with the harmonic richness of jazz. The resulting sounds swim the seas between musical genres- intriguing, entrancing, Latin jazz at its best!

Seven Steps To Havana was formed in 2005 by saxophonist/flautist/composer Douglas Little. Little lived in Havana for five months, studying music with some of Cuba's greatest musicians. He felt that since Latin jazz has its roots in the music of many countries, the best ensemble would be one whose members possessed the range of influences that shape this dynamic idiom. With ensemble members from across the Americas and Africa, Seven Steps achieves a fluency and joy in its music that is at home in the jazz clubs of New York or the outdoor cafes in Havana. Lovely boleros, burning salsa beats, or haunting horn trios, these musicians dance across a Caribbean spectrum of sound.

Ensemble members include Douglas Little (saxophone, flute, bass clarinet), Viviana Pintado (piano/vocals), Greg Paulus (trumpet), Jeff Rinear (trombone), Rey Rivera (drums), Eliezer Freitas-Santos (congas), and Yohannes Tona (bass).

Seven Steps To Havana has performed at major festival and concert venues in the United States. Musical director Douglas Little can be also be heard on several other jazz and Latin flavored releases currently available on CD baby.