Art of the Descarga

Built on the Afro-Caribbean past, forged by visionaries such as John Santos and his comrades, and steeled by its rootedness in American life, Latin jazz is a major force shaping contemporary American musical culture. Over decades of performing, arranging, producing, and teaching, Santos has helped make the San Francisco Bay area a Latin jazz stronghold. In Art of the Descarga, The John Santos Sextet and a parade of stellar guests mine the music’s imaginative motherlode, the descarga—the spontaneous, improvisatory interplay that is the beating heart of Latin jam sessions. Orestes Vilató, Jerry González, Orlando “Maraca” Valle, Tito Matos, Juan “Juango” Gutiérrez, and other luminaries join the sextet in this spectacular collision of beauty, design, and time-honored creativity.

Track Listing

101	Juego de ajedrez (Chess Game) - rumba	The John Santos Sextet	04:36
102	Bernal Heights - danzón-mambo	The John Santos Sextet	06:06
103	Los misterios (The Mysteries) - rumba	The John Santos Sextet	05:08
104	14 Mission - guaracha-mambo	The John Santos Sextet	05:18
105	Plena vida (Full Life) - plena	The John Santos Sextet	03:32
106	Tumbao de corazón (Rhythm of the Heart) - guaracha-mambo	The John Santos Sextet	06:08
107	Lo tuyo no va (Yours Doesn't Make It) - bomba	The John Santos Sextet	05:00
108	Descargarará - arará descarga	The John Santos Sextet	06:44
109	Madera Avenue - rumba	The John Santos Sextet	03:30
110	Descarga con changüí - descarga	The John Santos Sextet	06:43
111	Descarga jarocha - descarga-rumba	The John Santos Sextet	05:20
112	Tichín - descarga-son montuno	The John Santos Sextet	08:10