Darwin Noguera

Darwin Noguera - Nicaraguan born Jazz pianist & composer currently residing in Chicago. Darwin has partnered up with Chilean drummer Yuri Hevia to form the Evolution Trio. This group has performed at venues such as, Hothouse, Rumba, Green Dolphin Street Jazz Club, and other local venues & restaurants. Styles range from Straightahead Jazz, Flamenco Jazz, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Brazilian Jazz and all the subcategories under Latin Jazz. Darwin has performed throughout the United States as both a classical and jazz pianist, with such diverse artists as Ismael Miranda, Lefty Perez, Cano Estremera, Adalberto Santiago, Julito Alvarado, Andy Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo, Bobby Sanabria, Gospel artists Kim McFarland, Walt Whittman & The Soul Children of Chicago, Angie Spivey, Ira Sullivan, The North Miami Beach Symphony Orchestra. Darwin is also the co-founder of the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble.

Bassist and band leader Richie Pillot has been refered to as the "Art Blakey of Afro-Cuban music." Richie assembles bands of younger players and teaches them the ropes of playing Latin music by constantly playing gigs, sometimes two or three a day. These are often freewheeling affairs reminiscent of the Fania All Stars - or the recordings of the legendary Cuban bassist Cachao. Since Richie's bands rarely rehearse, everything is created on the gig - one of his greatest strengths is his ability to create arrangements of tunes on the fly. Like Duke Ellington, the band is his instrument. These layered, contrapuntal sections are called moñas and are similar to shout sections in a big-band arrangement. (See IAJE article, "La Clave Es La Llave" by Mark Nagy)

Conjunto is known as a Latin Jazz Ensemble. However, this is not completely accurate. It is more accurately defined - if this music can be defined at all - as jazz, blues and Cuban Charanga inspired. Clearly the rhythms performed by Roel Trevino on Congas, Jean-Christophe Leroy on Drums and Joe Frau on Bongos are Afro-Cuban. As well, Jose Pocayo on Bass brings a quietly commanding authority to the rhythmic side of this music. On all tracks of this latest CD they provide an enthralling foundation for melodies and improvisations played by Sanders on Violin and the inestimable Steve Eisen on Flute and Tenor Sax.




JazzCity Latin Jazz Festival!

• Date: 07/13/07
• Start Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
• Cost: free
• Location : Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1359 N. Sacramento