Papo Vázquez Concert & Parranda at Real Art Ways

Papo Vázquez & Mighty Pirates Troubadours

Real Art Ways welcomes trombonist, composer and arranger Papo Vázquez for a concert and holiday parranda.

All are invited to celebrate a special night of music, food and dance.

– Afro-Caribbean Jazz Performance        
– Community Holiday Parranda
– Traditonal Puerto Rican Holiday Food & Drink

Band of Pirates
Papo Vazquez – Trombone, Leader
Willie Williams – Ten. Sax
Manuel Valera – Piano
Ariel Robles – Bass
Alvester Garnett – Drums
Carlos Maldonado – Perc.
Reinaldo De Jesus – Perc.
Jose Mangual Jr. – Vocals, Perc. – Special Invited Guest

Local Musicians
Bring your instruments and join in! Musicians should RSVP to namulenb@realartways.org by Dec. 1 to participate.

Parranda
Parranda, of Parranda de aguinaldo (Christmas folk music), is an Afro-Indigenous musical form played during the holidays in various Caribbean countries including Puerto Rico, Cuba, Trinidad, and the coastal area of the states Aragua and Carabobo in Venezuela.

Leader, Composer, Innovator
“During the 1970s, Vázquez was a key player in the New York’s burgeoning jazz and Latin jazz scene. He performed with jazz luminaries Slide Hampton, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Mel Lewis, Hilton Ruiz and toured Europe with the Ray Charles Orchestra. He is also a founding member of Jerry Gonzalez’s Fort Apache Band, Conjunto Libre, and Puerto Rico’s Batacumbele.

Vázquez is known for fusing Afro-Caribbean rhythms, specifically those from Puerto Rico, with freer melodic, harmonic elements and progressive jazz.

Recently, Vázquez was honored by Arturo O’ Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra as one of the great sidemen of Latin jazz. His most recent recording, Spirit Warrior has received accolades from fans, critics and Jazzdelapena.com, Latin Jazz Network, The Latin Jazz Corner and the New York City Jazz Record, who cited it as “one of the Best Latin Jazz Albums of 2015.” – Latin Jazz Network

Learn more at his website.