Josean Jacobo is a Dominican Jazz pianist, composer, and leader who plays sweet Jazz inspired by Afro-Dominican Folk rhythms. He is one of the hottest young Jazz cats to recently come out of La Republica and the island of Hispaniola where Jazz comes from.
- Josean Jacobo presents his new Jazz album “Herencia Criolla” at Hostos Center in Mott Haven, The Bronx with a Master Class on his process Wed, Apr 27 at 7pm (free with registration hostos.cuny.edu) and a live Concert on Fri, Apr 29 at 8pm. From $20 (Students $5). hostos.cuny.edu
Josean Jacobo
A pianist, composer and arranger, Jacobo is one of the young generation of outstanding jazz musicians coming out of the Dominican Republic. The Berklee College of Music graduate has been called the “Ambassador of Afro-Dominican Jazz.” Berklee produces a steady stream of very successful Jazz musicians.
His sound is straight-ahead, but it’s a sweet Jazz. He sprinkles it with Dominican flavor. It reminds us of some of the most beautiful Caribbean dancing we’ve ever seen ~ very soft, very connected, and deeply rooted in the ground.
Jazz is Caribbean music and Jacobo’s is as smooth as your favorite drink. Listening to him is a journey. He’ll take you to New York, New Orleans and Santo Domingo. From there, he’ll suddenly drop into La Romana, Santiago, Monte Cristi, or Dajabon.
If you grew up on the island, Jacobo will shake your very bones. For the rest of us to understand the traditions he plays with, you’ll have to hear him describe them. That’s why these series of Hostos Center streamed performances with live Q&A after are so cool. It’s like seeing the performance and then going back stage with the artists!
Thank you Hostos. ¡Quisqueya!
Albums
- Cimarrón (2019)
- Balsié (2017)
- Setting Things in Order (2013)
- Herencia Criolla (2022)
“Herencia Criolla” is a great album title because the music speaks to our Creole Heritage, the mixing of Indigenous, African and European that is the modern definition of Latin. Jazz is originally Creole music, a mix of Caribbean character with European Classical Music into something completely new: Latin Music.
Previously
Josean Jacobo gives a premiere performance with live Q&A direct from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on the Hostos Center Zoom, Facebook and YouTube channels on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 7:30pm ET. FREE
After the concert Jacobo talks with Michael Ambrosino, producer and host of Currents, Dialectics & Dialogs at 33third.org
Follow Josean Jacobo
joseanjacobo.com
Instagram @joseanjacobo