Percussionist and composer Fran Vielma recently brought his Venezuelan Jazz Collective to Afternoon Jazz and the WBGO Performance Studio.
Tendencias, their recent album on Papelón Records, was among the top-rated releases of 2018 by DownBeat and the Latin Jazz Network.
At WBGO, Vielma and his bandmates — including alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez and pianist Luis Perdomo — delivered a performance true to the rhythmic elements of his native Venezuela, while displaying the freedom of jazz.
Watch the band play “Cereal de Bobures” in our studio:
And here is “Hubbardengue,” with a title that nods to trumpeter Freddie Hubbard:
Fran Vielma and the Venezuelan Jazz Collective:
Fran Vielma, percussion and vocals; Mike Rodríguez, trumpet; Miguel Zenón, alto saxophone; Ángel Subero, trombone and vocals; Luis Perdomo, acoustic and Fender Rhodes piano; Peter Slavov, bass; Pablo Bencid, drums and vocals.
Audio mix: Corey Goldberg