One of the pleasures of working with the talented team of WEMU music hosts is discovering what the weekly consensus of the “most-played” recording will be. Each Sweet 16 list topper reveals another aspect of the WEMU variety. During the week of March 4th through the 10th, the most played recording was Ciudad De Los Reyes by Gabriel Alegría and his Afro-Peruvian Sextet.
Trumpeter Gabriel Alegría deserves this recognition and attention. In 2008, he released Nuevo Mundo, his first CD which began his crusade to establish Afro-Peruvian jazz as its own genre not unlike Brazilian jazz or Afro-Cuban jazz. With Ciudad De Los Reyes, the direction and stylistic differences are heard with crystal clarity. Ciudad De Los Reyes is Alegría’s fourth recording: illustrating what transpires as ensemble players learn from each other, develop a cohesive style and unity of purpose.
Alegría and drummer Hugo Alcázar are Peruvian. Although bassist John Benitez was born in Puerto Rico, he is fully versed in the intricate Peruvian melodies and musical tradition Alegría wishes to explore. The quintet is complete with saxophonist Laura Andrea Leguía, Freddy "Huevito" Lobatón (the Sextet's main hand percussionist and dancer) and guitarist Yuri Juárez. Ciudad De Los Reyes means “City of Kings”. We welcome the king of Afro-Peruvian jazz, Gabriel Alegria to the list of best-loved artists at 89.1, WEMU.
WEMU “SWEET SIXTEEN” AIRPLAY March 4 to March 10, 2013
LINDA YOHN, MUSIC DIRECTOR
1. GABRIEL ALEGRIA AFRO-PERUVIAN SEXTET “Ciudad De Los Reyes” (Saponegro Records)
2. AARON NEVILLE “My True Story” (Blue Note Records)
3. CHRISTIAN HOWES WITH SPECIAL GUEST RICHARD GALLIANO “Southern Exposure” (Resonance Records)
4. AARON DIEHL “The Bespoke Man’s Narrative” (Mack Avenue Records)
5. THE SLIDE BROTHERS “Robert Randolph Presents The Slide Brothers” (Concord Records)
6. KEVIN EUBANKS “The Messenger” (Mack Avenue Records)
7. BILLY MARTIN / WIL BLADES “Shimmy” (The Royal Potato Family)
8. MENAHAN STREET BAND "The Crossing" (Dunham Records)
9. TERI ROIGER "Dear Abbey: The Music of Abbey Lincoln" (Inner Circle)
10. OTIS REDDING “Lonely & Blue” (Stax / Volt / Concord Records)
11. HARRY CONNICK, JR. “Smokey Mary” (Columbia)
12. JOSÉ JAMES “No Beginning No End” (Blue Note Records)
13. JESSE DEE “On My Mind / In My Heart” (Alligator Records)
14. ROBBEN FORD “Bringing It Back Home” (Provogue)
15. OTIS TAYLOR “My World Is Gone” (Telarc)
16. TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON “Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue” (Concord Jazz)
~ COMPILED BY LINDA YOHN & LAWRENCE GLENN