Grupo Los Santos Press

CD Reviews for Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea:

"Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea is an intoxicating
blend of Brazilian rhythms and styles and jazz sensibilities... The music is inspired and fiery... For fans of Brazilian music, Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea is a no-brainer. Go out and get it and you won’t be disappointed. The material is interesting and engaging. The band plays with authenticity and taste."

-Dave Miele, JazzImprov NY, April 2008

"What is remarkable about this record is that at no point does the listener feel as if a band member is soloing. The group plays so fluidly together that each instrument is merely a layer adding to the overall sound... Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea is a solid, interesting album from a very capable band that is deserving of more recognition."

David Miller, All About Jazz, January 10, 2008

"Rather than take the path of least resistance and target audience hips and feet, the band opts to work out of a less predictable bag. The flavor of the dance floor is still palpable, but shaded with a challenging succession of metric and harmonic complexities that keep the players and potential listeners from slipping into autopilot."

Derek Taylor, Bagatellen.com, January 11, 2008

"[B]ased on "Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea" (Deep Tone), Grupo Los Santos appears more jazz-worthy than many well-known Latin jazz bands."

Owen Cordle, News & Observer , January 20, 2008

"Cuban music is about style and rhythm, and Grupo Los Santos displays both of these qualities in abundance... The musicians focus less on traditional instrumentnation and arrangements... and instead push their musical skills on percussion [sic], saxophone, bass, and guitars to build a contemporary sound while respecting the music's roots. Call it jazz or call it world fusion, Grupo Los Santos is adept at whatever it could be."

Paula E. Kirman, Global Rhythm March 2008

"Shot through with languid Caribbean nonchalance (and the sensual humidity of Brazil on "A Dança Dos Santos"), GLS retain a cosmopolitanism that's undeniably born of the Big Apple. A sunshine state of mind. "

Siobhán Long, The Irish Times, March 21, 2008

*****

"The 'blessed' fusion of Grupo Los Santos consists of acoustic bass, electric guitar, a hint of rock energy, with drumset guided by the sound of batá drums and a sax played in the best style of bossa nova and samba."

-Emma Hunt, el diario/LA PRENSA (Nueva York), August 2, 2002

". . . [T]he only faith to which these four American musicians appear to devote themselves is the impassioned and serious investigation of traditional Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, in order to incorporate them into their own jazz-based compositions. These interpretive experiments have succeeded in creating a mix at times explosive and sizzling, like the Brazilian coastline or Afrocaribbean flavor. . . others exude melodies that produce that certain languid sensation which beckons us to more intimate places."

-Diana Vargas, VIDAHOY (NY), March 15, 2002

CD Reviews for Noches en el Taller:

"A tasty fusion of genres. . . that shows their deep admiration of Cuban music (particularly the percussive richness of the batás) and Brazilian music, with sporadic and fortunate jazz embellishments. . . Tunes with the feeling of Son, Rumba, and Bossa Nova, interpreted correctly but with an unobtrusive and minimalist approach."
-Henri Salgâo, Músico Pro magazine, July 2001, Vol. 8, No. 3

"[A] labor of love by a group of New York City musicians with the desire to produce some creative music. . . [T]heir group efforts really show in the different styles represented ranging from jazz, Cuban, Brazilian, and other styles of music. A commendable performance."
-Victor Rendón, Latin Percussionist magazine, Spring 2001 Issue #12

"[T]he band is not into using many exotic native instruments in creating their Latin scene. They develop their sound primarily from conventional tools and are able to take an authentic musical stance with them. . . Los Santos is a cooperative effort, and each of these young musicians plays a strong hand in making the group work. It is a very listenable recording."
-Frank Rubolino, Cadence magazine, February 2001 Vol. 27, No.2

“Relaxed, authentic Latin grooves underpin an open-ended, intimate jazz quartet setting to create a truly unique and satisfying kind of jazz. . . I find this mix of inspired, personal improvs, laid back latin grooves and a warm, empathic group sound irresistable. You can tell this is a band that loves making music together.”
-Keith Ganz, CD Baby website

"Subtlety is a cornerstone of the Grupo Los Santos: you won't find far-out solos or jarring riffs here: they use the standard American instruments of jazz and rock players to incorporate sounds played by indigenous ethnic musicians from Brazil and Latin America. . .

NOCHES EN EL TALLER presents less Americanized tones than some of the groups coming out of Brazil itself. . . CRUZANDO EL MAR introduces a fine sax solo and a more lively tone from the outset, yet retains its listenability for fans of jazz of the late 1950s and early 60s. . . From Brazilian jazz a la Jobim to Afro beats, CRUZANDO EL MAR offers many changes throughout: all of which are most pleasurable and accessible to the general jazz listener."
-World Discoveries Net October 2004

The Los Santos Story

Grupo los Santos is a quartet of American musicians who, through a mixture of jazz with Afro-Cuban and Brazilian styles, are creating a new soul in the music of New York. Formed in 1998 to explore the blending of these traditions, Los Santos have performed in Cuba and throughout the U.S., worked and recorded with some of the greats of Cuban music, and have developed a strong following in the New York/Tri-state area.

Their first CD, Noches en El Taller, released in 2000, features a range of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian styles, including Cuban son, rumba-son, bolero, samba and bossa nova as well as batá pieces for drumset. Their second CD, Cruzando el Mar (2003), continues the tradition with high energy originals in guaguancó, funk, cha cha chá and descarga, as well as further explorations in samba, rumba and partido alto. Henri Salgâo of Músico Pro magazine described the work as "a tasty fusion of genres...that shows their deep admiration of Cuban music (particularly the percussive richness of the batás) and Brazilian music." Keith Ganz wrote: "Relaxed, authentic Latin grooves underpin an open-ended, intimate jazz quartet setting to create a truly unique and satisfying kind of jazz."

Grupo los Santos have worked extensively with Cuban composer/trombonist Juan Pablo Torres: They were featured in his concert of Cuban All-Stars at New York City's Town Hall in 1999, and appeared individually on his 2001 recording Together Again, featuring Chucho Valdez, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Turre, Giovanni Hidalgo and a host of other Latin Jazz luminaries.

With Rumba tap dance pioneer Max Pollak (see our links page), Los Santos have collaborated with members of the famed los Muñequitos de Matanzas, combining jazz tap and Cuban rumba. In November, 2001, Pollak and Los Santos were able to bring their mezcla ("mixture") back to its roots: playing a series of concerts in Havana, Cuba. The highlights included a show at the jazz club La Zorra y el Cuervo, and a collaboration with the 11 piece rumba group Clave y Guaguancó, as part of Havana's Cuba Tambor festival.

On film, Grupo los Santos have been featured in Cómo Se Forma una Rumba/How to Create a Rumba by Iván Acosta (which was shown in Lincoln Center as part of Latin Beat 2001!), and in Latido Latino, a Spanish documentary about Latin music in New York City.

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