Sensemayá
The Sensemayá Latin Jazz Ensemble was formed in 2003 with the goal of developing a new fusion of American music. This included styles from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Brazil as well as jazz improvisation and a funky backbeat. Their style was sometimes referred to as "Latin jazz and funky salsa." They performed funkified interpretations of classic salsa, timba originals, and unique Latin jazz compositions. Sensemayá 's unique style allowed them to entertain at both concert and dance venues. The lineup of musicians included some of the New York Capital Region's finest including, at various times, Walter Ramos (vocals and percussion), Tim Williams (vocals and woodwinds), Pete Sweeney (drums), Tony Garcia (congas), Tony Garcia Sr. (bongos), Ben Acrish (trumpet), Steve Lambert (trumpet), Pete Giroux (trumpet), Ben O'shea (trombone), Jeff Nania (sax), Ryan Lukas (bass), Erik Johnson (bass), Mike Lawrence (bass), Alex Gonzalez (percussion) and David Gleason (piano and leader).
Their performances began with a residency at Justin's in Albany and at Chameleon on the Lake in Saratoga. They quickly became a mainstay at area festivals and on the region's large stages including the Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival, The Albany Latin Festival, Alive at Five, Summer Night, Hat's Off, Final Stretch, Freedom Park, Collar City Live, Jazz on Jay, A Place for Jazz, Concerts in the Barn, The Amsterdam Latin Festival, The Saratoga Racetrack, Union College, HVCC, SUNY Albany, Bard College, The College of St. Rose, Gaffney's, and 9 Maple. They were featured on WAMC's Laurel Masse Jazz Show and were voted "Best Latin Jazz" by the Metroland Reader's Poll. In 2010 they released their first album "Shake It!" which was hailed by the Times Union as one of the top three albums of that year. In 2011 Sensemaya released their second album "Havana Before Dawn/Madrugada Habanera" to critical acclaim. They retired from active performances in 2016, but the members of Sensemayá form the core of various musical groups in the Capital Region. "A rhythmically infectious blend of Latin rhythms and jazz. When they take the stage, the groove takes over." - The Metroland
"The Capital Region's hardest-working practitioner of Latin jazz in all its forms" - The Times Union
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Mojive
Mojive was formed in 1998 in Potsdam, NY. Fusing funk, jam band rock, jazz and world music they quickly became an in-demand ensemble on the upstate college scene. With inspirations as varied as Phish, traditional Ewe music, and Miles Davis they gave exciting improvisatory laden performances at colleges, bars, parties, and festivals across New York State. Audiences delighted in the collective compositions by Dickie Ogden (drums), Ryan Lukas (bass and vocals), Tim Williams (sax and vocals), Matthew Smitty Smith (percussion), Ben Acrish (trumpet), Dave Gleason (keyboards) and later Chris Reed (drums). They recorded two albums; Live at SLU, and Tales From the Tundra. The later was recorded at Acme studios in Mamaroneck, New York in early 2000. Both remain unreleased. The band went their separate ways in the fall of 2001 but its members continued to play together in other ensembles and as smaller collectives, on both the east and west coast, as late as 2016.
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