Yosvany Terry Afro-Cuban Jazz Quintet

Cuban-born saxophonist and composer Yosvany Terry (a Grammy nominee and 2015 Doris Duke Artist) is riding the crest of a wave of Latin American musicians, transforming the US jazz scene. His powerhouse Afro-Cuban Quintet blends influences from West Africa, Cuba, and American jazz, creating a singular sound, now recognized as one of the most ambitious cross-cultural visions on the contemporary scene.

Terry’s world-class quintet is built upon the commanding bass work of Yunior Terry, Yosvany’s younger brother; Haitian-American drummer Obed Calvaire, who provides dazzling rhythmic currents; Cuban pianist Manuel Valera, a formidable bandleader and composer in his own right; and trumpeter Michael Rodriguez, a leading voice on the New York scene, known for his work with Charlie Haden and Cuban percussion virtuoso Mauricio Herrera. All are cultural bearers of various Afro-Cuban traditions.

“Yosvany and his quintet are delivering a supremely rewarding message that embodies jazz’s ongoing evolution, and that may well set new standards for the music of tomorrow. Terry’s music has helped redefine Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz as a complex new idiom.” New York Times

“Yosvany Terry’s dazzling release Ancestral Memories is grounded in both distinct formal traditions and abstract ideas.” The Wall Street Journal

“Terry’s Afro-Cuban Quintet is a band that embodies magnificent musicianship and passion aplenty with its heart on its sleeve, playing striking scores that sound even more interesting every time you listen. His current release is so much more than a Latin jazz record. It’s a great jazz CD.” Jazzwise, UK