PHOTOS: SCOTT MYERS | There’s a new band in town packed with familiar faces and they intend to get the dance floor moving when they open the 5th annual Latin Jazz Festival at the People’s Health Jazz Market on Friday night. The fest goes all night, but I advise getting there early since Muevelo kicks off at 7 PM.
The band features vocalist Margie Perez singing songs from the great Cuban singer and Queen of salsa Celia Cruz’s songbook, including tunes she performed with Tito Puente. Perez formed the band with saxophonist Brent Rose and the group includes some of the best Latin players in New Orleans.
You can’t have a great Latin band without great percussion, and this group is going back to the source with Alexey Marti on congas. He hails from the island nation and is in New Orleans studying at the University of New Orleans. Venezuelan native Gabriel Velasco is on timbales.
The set is going to be a retrospective of sorts as the band works through material from Cruz’s early days with the band La Sonora Matancera including ” Ahí Na Má” and “Cao Cao Mani Picao.” They will feature numbers from her highly celebrated work with the Fania-All Stars and Tito Puente including “Quimbara” and “Usted Abusó.”
Velasco has the enviable task of channeling the great percussionist. They will also feature cuts from Cruz’s later solo work including “La Vida Es Un Carnaval.” Muevelo will also play some of Brent Rose’s original instrumentals from his debut solo CD, The Unexpected Gift.
Rose has been a mainstay on the New Orleans music scene for decades. He played for many years with Otra, one of the bands that jumpstarted recent interest in Cuban music in New Orleans.
The rest of the band includes musicians who have played with Rose over the years including on his recent solo album. Eric Lucero is on trumpet, Rik Fletcher is on keys, and Tommy Sciple is on bass. Sula Evans sings backing vocals.
Muevelo means “move it” in Spanish and this band is guaranteed to make sure you do. The rest of the lineup at the Latin Jazz Fest features great bands as well. All the details and tickets are here.
