dondechi
This music feels deeply rooted in Afro-Latin tradition, but is presented in a way that puts it on the same level as Western art music. It's not so much a fusion of the two as it is a fully articulated statement of inclusion. A wonderful achievement.
James Sanders brings intentionality to everything he undertakes. With the restlessness of a true creative, his projects are a product of both study and personal reflection. His explorations provide insight as to who he is as an artist, musician, and person. Evidencia is the product of a two-year process of expansion and refinement, each discovery leading to a clarity of purpose.
Sanders was raised in a Latino area of Chicago’s north side. Like several historic Latino neighborhoods (many, including his, would fall to gentrification), el barrio pulsed with the rhythms of the Caribbean and a vibrant street culture. His Dominican mother wasn’t about to let her son grow up on the streets, though. She encouraged him to study violin at an early age, which led to Yale, a masters degree and a career as a classical musician.
Meanwhile, Sanders laid a parallel, more personal track. Drawn by the possibilities of jazz improvisation and an innate feel for Afro-Latin music, Sanders founded Conjunto in 2001 and established the ensemble as a mainstay in Chicago’s Latin jazz scene. Sanders’ artistic restlessness has taken him on many musical excursions in the last two decades, but Conjunto has always remained his safe harbor.
Evidencia marks a major advance for Conjunto. Their work to this point has mostly interpreted the compositions of others. Sanders, who had only sporadically composed original material, wanted to produce an entire album of original compositions. He began sketching out concepts in early 2020. The pandemic initially brought everything to a halt, but then Sanders, freed from gigging, found plenty of time to try out those ideas, working on each one until he had four new songs. That gig-free period also provided Sanders room to ponder his journey as a jazz musician in a city with a deep Afro-Latin history and Conjunto’s place in that ongoing story.
Evidencia is Sanders’ response to those ponderings. With the help of Conjunto pianist and arranger Leandro López Várady, the four solo violin compositions took shape for the seven-member ensemble. A fifth and final composition came from López Várady, who arranged one of his trio works for Afro-Latin ensemble. As restrictions eased in spring 2021, the band began rehearsing together for the first time in over a year. They debuted the music at the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival later that summer.
These are songs that stretch out, with plenty of room for each ensemble member to shine. Each track functions as a mini-suite with distinct movements. With three percussionists, there’s plenty of rhythmic fire, but the music has a formal elegance derived from Sanders’ classically influenced playing and López Várady’s sophisticated arrangements. Ultimately, this record is not a nostalgic tribute to days past, but a modern-day acknowledgement that James Sanders & Conjunto stand on the shoulders of Chicago’s Afro-Latin originators. Evidencia is their contribution to that living heritage.
credits
released February 11, 2022
James Sanders, violin
Leandro López Várady, piano
Luis Rosario, bongos & percussion
José Rendon, conga
Jean-Christophe Leroy, drums
José Porcayo, bass
Steve Eisen, tenor sax & flute
Recorded at Chicago Recording Company August 2, 2021
Produced by James Sanders
Recording and Mix by Dennis Tousana for Absolute Audio
Mastered by Marc Daniel Nelson
Mixed at Soundmine Studios Chicago, Illinois
Don Macica, Cover concept
Arlene Hedgecock, Cover design, layout, and photo illustration
James Sanders confidently crosses stylistic borders yet stays true to both the jazz violin legacy and his rigorous classical training, creating music that transcends category yet remains faithful to its multiple inspirations.
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