JOHN SANTOS AND THE MACHETE ENSEMBLE: 20th Anniversary (double CD!)

John Santos and The Machete Ensemble

20th Anniversary (double CD!)

© 2005 John Santos

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Four-time Grammy nominated John Santos and his Machete Ensemble are among the elite in the fields of Latin Jazz and Salsa, producing top-notch recordings for dancing and/or listening since 1985.

notes

For Amaly Celeste Santos Salazar (May 17, 2004 - June 17, 2004)
and Aleeya Haylene Rodriguez (Feb 27, 2005 - March 7, 2005)

The artist must choose between freedom and slavery. Paul Robeson

It is no sign of good health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
J. Krishnamurti

It was 1985. The Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble, as we were known for the first two years, was quite excited and honored to be playing our first major concert with special guest, tenor titan Joe Henderson at the Victoria Theater for the San Francisco Jazz Festival. Then as now, the music gave us identity, place and purpose and we realized that it served the same functions for many, whether or not they were musicians. Although at the time I couldn't imagine us doing anything else 20 years later, I'm a little surprised, somehow amazed, and certainly grateful that we weathered these first twenty years. But one thing is still clear - the music is who we are. It's not a hobby or a task. It's how we express our deepest concerns.

Machete was conceived on the premise that we would consistently compose and arrange original music and we've adhered to that premise from the beginning. We documented most of that original repertoire by recording in spite of nearly non-existent record label support. This 20th Anniversary CD set represents a cross section of that work throughout our evolution. The earlier recordings on the first disc (1989-90) are from our large ensemble days when we regularly used at least five wind instruments, and vocalists on most of the material, along with the full rhythm section. Current Macheteros, John Calloway, Wayne Wallace, Melecio Magdaluyo, David Belove, Paul Van Wageningen, John Santos, and sometimes Orestes Vilató, were all part of that era. Rebeca Mauleón, Bill Ortiz, Jeff Cressman, Mario Abruzzo, Jesus Díaz, Ramon Estevez, Roberto Quintana and Sal Núñez also put in a lot of time with us during that stage.

The band downsized in 1996, due mostly to economic reasons, but also because we made a conscious move away from dance music to explore and widen our compositional element and to attempt to create a unique niche in the field among the many dance bands. Ron Stallings joined us at that time and John Calloway filled the piano chair as Rebeca left to raise her family and begin a solo career. The conspicuous absence of the trumpet in the smaller ensemble also challenged us in terms of voicing, composition, arrangement and performance. But alas, with the lines between jazz, dance music, and concert music being far from clear, our dance band roots called us once again. We crystallized our current lineup with the addition of Murray Low and Orlando Torriente in 2000, as we returned to a more balanced repertoire and garnered our first Grammy nomination for SF Bay in 2003 - no small feat for an independent, artist-run label.

I've always aspired to emulate the chameleon artists who flew in the face of industry formula by not adhering to a particular style or catering to a specific demographic as a target audience. Duke, Diz, Cachao, Max, Tito, McCoy, and Peraza never did that and if I learned anything from my experience playing with six of the seven pioneers mentioned, it's that inspiration and beauty have no boundaries and that allowing one's dignity to be compromised by the dollar not only weakens our character, but is also highly insulting to our ancestors and those still among us who defend our cultural traditions with honor.

The arts have always been the voice of resistance in an environment of colonial mentality. As a moral obligation to our forbears as well as our offspring, we align ourselves with the honorable tradition of speaking out against injustice whenever and wherever it occurs. We encourage people of all ages and walks of life to do the same, utilizing the powerful tools embodied in art and cultural expression of all types to end war, create unity, and build a sustainable reality on our planet.

I feel that with Machete over the past twenty years as with Batachanga in the early eighties and with Tipica Cienfuegos in the mid-seventies, we've made an attempt to be as creative as possible within our individual and collective experience, and have been rewarded with the appreciation and love of our families, supporters, and international audiences. We hope to earn your respect and patronage for many more decades by furthering our original intent to expand the scope of American music through the organic creativity of Caribbean traditions such as jazz, dance, and ritual. Our work is of value if we've provided a model over the years for some young (or old) artist or artists by producing and releasing original music on our own label, including in our repertoire social themes of conscience and importance to our communities, and continuing the cycle of creating and self-publishing.

We truly hope you enjoy our 20th anniversary retrospective, but more importantly, we hope you are inspired and moved. Despite the hype of corporate brainwash and billions in advertising hypnosis, it is a grave error to relegate music to the sole purpose of entertainment. As we laugh, cry, pray, praise, and sing songs of love, we must also recognize the love song that angrily demands our unalienable rights as human beings to health, happiness, freedom, and justice. We wish much light and love to four giants in the arts who have inspired us immensely, and who recently passed to the next life - Ed Kelly, Pancho Quinto, Lázaro Ros, and Ozzie Davis.

Your continued support of live creative music and independent labels is crucial to their survival and much appreciated. You can visit us, communicate with us, find out where we'll be, and purchase most of our work on the web at www.johnsantos,com

John Santos
Oakland, CA

reviews

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  • Important work from a fine artist
    author: Simon Leng

    This is another fine collection from John Santos’ ensemble. Listening to the Machete Ensemble, especially over two discs, is like being taken by the hand and guided through a passionate journey through many different forms of what is called ‘Latin Music’ or 'Latin Jazz'. The bottom line here is top quality musicianship, strong compositions, engaging and unique arrangements, and real life commitment. And any set that includes a recent performance by the maestro Armando Peraza is essential. John Santos is to be congratulated and thanked for continuing to stand against the prevailing and insidious tide of moronic commercialism, and for remaining true to his art. Simon Leng, Author of ‘Soul Sacrifice – The Santana Story’ and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Music of George Harrison’

  • respect
    author: Martin Verdonk

    All my respect and love to John Santos for 20 years of non stop great music! Martin Verdonk

  • Maybe the best Afro-Cuban band in existence
    author: Michael Seldin

    The Machete Ensemble just might be the best Afro-Cuban band in the country. Every time I see them I am amazed by them. Every one of them is a great soloist and the ensemble playing is tight, exciting and creative. The band is just a powerhouse. Most of these guys also are educators and that comes through in the love of the music and in the extensive liner notes. This 2-CD set is a great contrast -- Disc 1 is a very nice overview of the band's first 20 years, while Disc 2 presents them as they are today, along with a stellar cast of special guests. The two discs are different but bound together by the fabulous music and the extraordinary musicianship. Here's to John Santos and the Machete Ensemble -- Happy 20th Anniversary. And, for all of us, here's to another 20 great years!

  • good flashbacks
    author: juan mayburrito

    all the best of the afro-caribbean diaspora

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