CHEMBO CORNIEL AND GRUPO CHAWORÓ
AT NUYORICAN POETS CAFE, NEW YORK CITY
DECEMBER 6, 2007

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY TOM EHRLICH © 2008

Ivan Renta sax, Elio Villafranca piano, Chembo Corniel congas,
Carlo Derosa bass and Diego Lopez drum set

After checking out the all female salsa group CoCo Mama at Sweet Rhythm on the lower west side, I made my way across town to the lower east side to check out Chembo Corniel's great latin jazz band, Grupo Chaworó at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. The group burned all night on fantastic original compositions and jazz standards with outstanding soloing. Another top notch latin jazz performer, Hector Martignon, sat in on accordian for a couple of songs.

Chembo Corniel is one of the most in demand percussionists in the business. He and Grupo Chaworó recently released their second CD entitled "For the Rest of Your Life", which was one of the best latin jazz releases of 2007. Chembo has recorded and performed with many of the top salsa and jazz groups in the world. He spent some time honing his skills at the Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana, Cuba as well as Harbor Conservatory in New York City.

Chembo Corniel

Ivan Renta

Elio Villafranca

Carlo Derosa

Diego Lopez

Chembo Corniel

Diego Lopez

Grupo Chaworó

Elio Villafranca

Ivan Renta

Hector Martignon on accordian with Chembo

Chembo

Chembo

Diego Lopez

Grupo Chaworó

Elio Villafranca

Ivan Renta

Diego Lopez

Ivan Renta and Elio Villafranca

Chembo and Carlo Derosa

Grupo Chaworó