JOAQUÍN POZO

JOE'S PUB, NEW YORK CITY

OCTOBER 28, 2013

PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2013

THE BAND

JOAQUÍN "EL PULPO" POZO - LEADER, CONGAS

JEREMY DE JESÚS - FLUTE AND VOCALS

MARIO CASTRO - SAX

LUIS COLUMNA - TRUMPET

CARLOS MENA - BASS

MARCELLO CASAGRANDE - PIANO

MAURICIO HERRERA - TIMBALES

BABA RAYMOND GRAHAM - CHÉKERE

This is the first of a few reports of my recent trip to the New York City Area.

Master percussionist and band leader Joaquín Pozo and his group tore it up at Joe's Pub in New York City.  I had only heard of Joaquín and Mauricio Herrera before this performance, but the band members were all excellent players. Joaquín is a Havana native and Mauricio, originally from Cuba resides in the NYC area as do all the other members of the band.

The set was comprised of rumba, son/salsa/timba and latin jazz. Great arrangements and exciting solos by all. The set list included the following with the composers in parenthesis:

Rumba Gaunguanco (traditional)
Conga Solo
Rumba Para Dos (Joaquin Pozo)*
Tradicional (Joaquin Pozo)
Auxilio, Socorro (Jorge Pozo)
Rumba (traditional)
Perico, No Llores Mas (Jorge Pozo) 

Joaquín Pozo comes from "a long family legacy of performing artists including his greatest influence, his father Jorge Pozo, celebrated percussionist and composer, who was the composer and musical arranger for many of the Cuban greats including Tata Guiness. Many of Jorge Pozo's songs, including "Auxillo, Socorro" and "Papi, Dame Manteca'o" have become well known standards in the Cuban popular music repertoire." (quote from producer Kaisha Johnson) . Joaquin is not related to Chano Pozo, a myth tha has followed Joaquin throuhgout his career.

He is not your run of the mill Cuban percussionist, has a unique style and is clearly a virtuoso and crowd pleaser.

Joaquín has three great recordings as a leader on the Envidia label:

Descarga Millenium (2004), Ahora Vengo Con Rumba (2006), and A Ti, Papa (2008).

Joaquín Pozo

Mario Castro sax

Baba Raymond Graham

Jeremy de Jesús

El Pulpo

Kaisha Johnson of Africanismo which produced the concert

Joaquin's nick name is El Pulpo (octapus), plays 5 congas melodically often with blazing speed.

Luis Columna

Jeremy de Jesús flute and Carlos Mena bass

Marcello Casagrande piano, Joaquín Pozo congas, Mauricio Herrera timbales and Mario Castro sax

Carlos Mena