| Jazz |
Summary: A richly textured album blending Thelonious Monk’s legacy with Afro-Latin rhythms, Monk con Clave showcases Carlos Henriquez’s masterful arrangements, standout musicianship, and seamless fusion of jazz and Cuban influences.
Monk con Clave: A Striking Fusion of Latin Rhythm and Jazz Tradition
Jazz albums sometimes catch you off guard, and not always in a good way. Just when I thought I’d heard it all, like opera with a Latin jazz twist that totally misses the mark, a new record turns up and shakes things up. The band leader isn’t some mystery either; he’s logged plenty of years with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. So, honestly, you can relax. The caliber here is legit, from the core members to the stellar guest list: Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Pedro Martinez, Osmany Paredes, Robert Rodriguez, Anthony Almonte, Jeremy Bosch, and Mike Rodriguez, just to name a few.
You press play, fiddle with the mixing desk, and before you know it, you’re locked in as “Round Midnight” starts. This isn’t your usual version, it’s clever, fresh, spinning Monk’s classic into something new. The mid-tempo groove opens up space for little details, keeping everything moving without any rush. Latin rhythms are front and center, but the jazz roots never fade. The piano cuts through, clear and bright; flute parts float along, nearly weightless; then comes the brass, bringing muscle without overshooting. There’s a lot going on, but it all clicks.
The album finds a real sweet spot between Monk’s iconic tunes and original tracks from the leader. It shifts easily from focused listening to moments that beg you to get up and dance. That doesn’t happen often, but here, it feels right. There’s a piano solo that’s thoughtful and measured, horns pop in with sharp responses, and everything slides into a tight rhythm section where clave leads the way, precise, but never stiff. The arrangements are nuanced, leave plenty to discover, and feel bigger each time you revisit them.
Henriquez, bassist, composer, and bandleader, has been quietly racking up praise. JazzTimes calls him “clean, precise and direct… a true engine for the band.” If anyone’s surprised by his chops, they simply haven’t been paying attention. DownBeat dubs him “an emerging master of Latin jazz,” and WRTI shouted out his Grammy-nominated album “The South Bronx Story,” especially his knack for blending Afro-Latin clave with jazz swing. Not many pull that off—and he does it all with flair.
What keeps things interesting is the constant push and pull. The music hovers between Latin tradition and jazz, never settling, always keeping you guessing. Those styles are so tightly woven that sometimes it feels like you’re back in the 1950s, but there’s no cheesy throwback. A lot of Latin albums drift through, but few nail authenticity in both genres quite like this.
Throughout, Monk’s spirit stays at the heart. “Something about it spoke to me,” Henriquez says. “It put me at ease. It made me feel that I, too, had a voice within this music.” He dives into Monk’s rhythms from the perspective of a Nuyorican, born in New York, raised with Puerto Rican roots. That’s how “Monk con Clave” came together, grounded in his connection to Monk’s singular personality and strong sense of self.
Mixing cultures is tricky, but when it’s real, it adds depth. Here, the blend isn’t for show, it’s honest and thoughtful. That’s what makes this album shine. It’s intricate, but approachable. If you’re used to jazz’s melting pot, you’ll find plenty here to chew on.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, May 1st, 2026
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Musicians :
Carlos Henriquez – bass, bandleader
Obed Calvaire – drums
Bobby Allende – bongoes
Pedrito Martínez – percussion
Jesus Ricardo, Mike Rodriguez, Kali Rodriguez, Nathaniel Williford – trumpet
Marshall Gilkes, Elliot Mason, Dion Tucker – trombone
Sherman Irby, Ted Nash – alto sax
Chris Lewis, Abdias Armentero – tenor sax
Paul Nedzela – baritone sax
Guests:
Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Osmany Paredes, Robert Rodriguez – piano
Pedrito Martinez – congas, vocals
Anthony Almonte – vocals
Jeremy Bosch – flute, vocals
Track Listing :
Round Midnight
I Mean You
El Son De Teo
San Juan Hill
Ugly Beauty
Evidence of Four and One
Raise Four
Green Chimney
Who Knows 10.
Plena Azul Blue Monk