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Jose Rizo

Jose Rizo's "Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars" is a 15-piece all-star ensemble made up of legendary figures, world-class studio musicians, great jazz artists, and popular bandleaders. This tight ensemble was formed a few months after a big jam session at B. B. Kings on the Universal City Walk in the Los Angeles area.

Bandleader/jazz radio announcer Jose Rizo named the band after his latin jazz radio program "Jazz on the Latin Side" on KKJZ 88.1 FM (KJazz) in Long Beach, California. The "Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars" proudly represent KJazz where ever they perform. This versatile ensemble feels as comfortable playing progressive latin jazz as it does playing tremendous salsa dura.

Ensemble members and rotating members include Justo Almario (tenor sax), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums), Danilo Lozano (flute / musical director), Francisco Aguabella (congas), Poncho Sanchez (congas), Alex Acuna (drums), Freddie Crespo (lead vocals / timbales), Francisco Torres (trombone / prime arranger), Rene Camacho (bass), Bijon Watson (trumpet), Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet), Robert Incelli (alto sax), Scott Martin (baritone sax), Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet), Eric Jorgensen (trombone), Joey De Leon (congas), Alfredo Ortiz (bongo / vocals), Andy Martin (trombone), Jimmy Branly (timbales), Joe Rotondi (piano),and Luis Eric Gonzalez (trumpet).

"The Last Bullfighter", their first recording as an ensemble, reached #10 on the national jazz charts (Jazz Week). This CD included popular originals like "The Last Bullfighter", "Sun God", "Cozumel", "Justo's Trane Ride", "Mr. Drop", "Ironman James", and "Chupacabras", as well as recording exciting versions of Dizzy's "Bebop", Lee Morgan's "Caramba", Machito's "Yo Soy la Rumba" and "Saoco".

The "Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars" have recently performed at "The Playboy Jazz Festival" at the Hollywood Bowl, Central Avenue Jazz Festival, Jazz at Drew, Yoshi's in Oakland, John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, The Jazz Bakery, Catalina Jazz Club, Steamer's Jazz Club, The Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival, Latin Grammy After Party, and Santa Monica Pier Concerts.

Their new CD "Tambolero" is steadily climbing the national top-50 jazz charts (Jazz Week), debuting at #29. "Tambolero" includes a new set of originals like "Granizo", "Amanecer", "Danilo en la Flauta", "Senor Olmos" (dedicated to actor Edward James Olmos), and the rumba "Buscando al Curandero" (featuring Francisco Aguabella). "Tambolero" also includes exciting versions of Wayne Shorter's "Yes or No", Charlie Parker's "Ah Leu Cha", Poncho Sanchez's "Baila Mi Gente" (with Poncho Sanchez), and little-recorded salsa classics like "El Eco del Tambo" and "Mama Vieja". Many consider the "Tambolero" CD as the best-to-date from this historically significant jazz ensemble.

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187
Album Review

Jose Rizo's Mongorama: Jose' Rizzo's Mongorama

Read "Jose' Rizzo's Mongorama" reviewed by Greg Simmons


Mongorama. The name just sounds like fun--and this is a fun record, despite being crafted by musicians who take the Afro-Cuban music and legacy of Mongo Santamaria very seriously. Organized by jazz DJ Jose Rizzo, the band highlights a mix of Santamaria classics, blended with newer compositions in the same tradition. Any album that associates itself so closely with a great conguero like Santamaria is bound to feature lots of hand drumming, and Mongorama does not disappoint. Joey ...

290
Album Review

Jos: Tambolero

Read "Tambolero" reviewed by Chip Boaz


All-star bands create music that brims with possibilities; yet the outcome runs the risk of positive or negative results. Combining high caliber musicians brings expectations of powerful music. Experience gives these artists knowledge and skill, increasing the chance of memorable music. When distinctive artists join forces, a possible mismatch can also occur. Groups sometimes lack a central focus, and the resultant recordings capture grand jam sessions. Each musician's individual approach shines through, but the voices never gel. José Rizo's Jazz ...

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Interview

A Fireside Chat with Jose Rizo

Read "A Fireside Chat with Jose Rizo" reviewed by AAJ Staff


The accessibility of Latin jazz, athough threatening to purists, supports improvised music in neighborhoods that otherwise would be ignored. This unassuming community celebration affords Latin jazz with its sustained success. Jose Rizo has played a pivotal role in the music's maturation and prosperity. Chronicling its progression on the radio, Rizo (unedited and in his own words) has transcended his narrative to continuing Latin jazz's advancement.

All About Jazz: Let's start from the beginning.

Jose Rizo: When I was younger, I ...

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23

Event

Playboy Jazz Festival Presents Latin-jazz Artist Jose Rizo And 9-piece Band Mongorama In Free Beverly Hills Concert May 6th

Source:

Hot rhythms… Beverly Hills will sizzle when acclaimed Latin jazz artist Jose Rizo brings his new 9-piece Latin-jazz ensemble Mongorama to the city for a free concert. The event will celebrate the musical legacy of famous conga legend Mongo Santamaria, featuring much of his early charanga-jazz material from the 1950’s and 60’s including many of his original compositions. The Beverly Hills High School Jazz Band will open the show performing a variety of jazz, blues, swing, rock and Latin music. ...

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Event

Playboy Jazz Festival Presents Latin Jazz Artist Jose Rizo And His New 9-piece Band "Mongorama" In Free Beverly Hills Concert May 6th

Source:

Beverly Hills will sizzle when acclaimed Latin Jazz artist Jose Rizo brings his new nine–piece Latin jazz ensemble, Mongorama to the city for a free community concert, Sunday, May 6th. Presented by the Playboy Jazz Festival as part of their free community event series, the concert will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Civic Center Plaza, located at 450 North Rexford Drive, between Santa Monica Boulevard and Burton Way. The concert is the first ...

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Interview

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 4)

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 4)

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz

Radio personality and bandleader José Rizo built upon his years of experience with Latin Jazz to reveal a new perspective on a legendary figure. Growing up in Oxnard, California, Rizo flirted with music but didn't dive deeply into the art form until he started college at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Discouraged by the representation of Latinos on the radio, Rizo found a spot on local station KIST in a public affairs show and began training his peers ...

60

Interview

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 3)

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 3)

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz

Bringing together a collection of master musicians often requires more than great music, it demands some sort of magnetic force. By the time that most musicians reach a high level of artistry, they've come to their own ideas and conclusions about their approach to performance. The individualized nature of music almost guarantees that a room full of experienced musicians have different beliefs and comfort zones around their music life. Add the fact that they are busily focused upon their own ...

128

Interview

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 2)

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 2)

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz

Some people are simply meant to be involved in their passion—they are pulled with a magnetic force towards their final goal. These type of people don't see challenges as roadblocks to their dreams; they simply look past them and find an alternate route towards their destination. Life may consistently attempt to turn them in a different direction, but their inner navigation works magic, redirecting them towards their interests. These are the types of people that constantly inspire us, reminding the ...

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Interview

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 1)

Latin Jazz Conversations: Jose Rizo (Part 1)

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz

There's nothing stronger in the human soul than a message that you need to share with the world. Most people aren't born with this type of drive, and some people never capture it during their lifetime. Still, there are insightful individuals discover issues in their life that drive them to educate, inform, and speak on topics ranging from politics to race, art, and more. The simple discovery plants a seed in their head and continued exposure causes their desire to ...

130

Recording

New CD from José Rizo's Mongorama

New CD from José Rizo's Mongorama

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

The followup up to four critically acclaimed albums by his Jazz On Latin Side All Stars, José Rizo's MONGORAMA again shines a bright light on the AfroCuban music tradition with a stellar group of West Coast artists brought together by the veteran KJazz radio host. MONGORAMA pays tribute to the great Cuban born conguero Mongo Santamaría, one of the progenitors of the Latin Jazz genre and leader of some of the most popular bands to ever play the swinging hybrid ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Jose' Rizzo's...

Saungu Records
2011

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Tambolero

Unknown label
2007

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