| Jazz |
A Puerto Rican artist who, without a doubt, sets the tone for a new jazz movement in the region, bringing his intellectual touch to the genre. A composer and bassist, he masterfully blends tradition with contemporary jazz, demonstrating a singular intelligence. This is certainly not jazz for the masses, but those with a solid grasp of contemporary jazz will delight in an album of this caliber.
Historically, jazz musicians have often collaborated with Latin artists; think Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo, or Stan Getz and Antonio Carlos Jobim. In a similar vein, Ayala infuses this collaborative spirit into Afro-Puerto Rican music, envisioning a universe where Charlie Parker might cross paths with Rafael Cortijo or where Charles Mingus could find himself playing alongside the Bomberos de Puerto Rico.
“I have one foot in tradition and the other in the modern and avant-garde,” he explains. “I’m not afraid to venture off the beaten path, to take risks, to experiment, and to reinterpret these rhythms from a fresh perspective. Every time I do it, I experience pure joy, and I remind myself: the possibilities are endless.”
And that is precisely what made me fall in love with this album; there are no limits to his imagination. Working exclusively with acoustic instruments, whether his risks are calculated or not, artists of this caliber are rare. His unwavering commitment to his artistic vision is nothing short of admirable. Take, for example, the album’s opening track, Río Piedras; it unfolds like a narrative, a deeply personal story. Each subsequent piece follows suit, brimming with the same inventive spirit, making one almost forget that Ayala is a bassist, so masterfully does he weave the voices of other instruments into his compositions and arrangements.
The diverse ensemble accompanying Ayala on Afro-Puerto Rican Jazz plays a crucial role in this vision. Featuring Andrew Gould on alto and soprano saxophones, Fernando García on drums, Victor Pablo García on percussion, and special guest Nelson Matthew Gonzalez on requinto for three tracks, the group fully commits to Ayala’s artistic journey. They display a deep reverence for musical traditions while delivering electrifying performances that pay homage to the idioms they reinterpret.
That same energy could once be found in Weather Report or in certain albums by Wayne Shorter; instances where poetry was embedded in their musical DNA. The same holds true for Alex “Apolo” Ayala. Jazz is never more beautiful than when it embraces other cultures, other ways of thinking. In this case, we can even speak of a radiant jazz, one that envelops us in the richness of its art.
This release comes from Miel Music, the independent label founded by renowned saxophonist, Grammy Award winner, and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón. Notably, it is the first album on the label by an artist other than Zenón himself. “I’ve long been looking for ways to help young musicians find a platform to share their albums and their artistic vision more easily,” says Zenón. “I’m thrilled to provide this opportunity to artists like Alex Ayala. He is an exceptional musician, with a clear vision and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. I hope this collaboration with Alex will be the first of many, and that Miel Music will continue to support numerous other artists like him.”
A remarkable initiative that honors the great musician Miguel Zenón is; and, for me, yet again, an “essential” album. You know, the kind that lingers near the CD player, always within reach, ready to be revisited at a moment’s notice…
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
Editor for All About Jazz
PARIS-MOVE, March 27th 2025
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