Danzzaj

Angel David Mattos | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 6, 2004)
• Original Release Date: December 6, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jazz Boricua Productions
• ASIN: B0006VY3YW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,168,017 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. No me toques

2. Danza al maestro

3. Tropical Zone

4. Felices Dias

5. Copy Cat

6. Margarita

7. El Bravo E.S.

8. Las Antillas

9. Maldito Amor

10. Point of reference

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Angel David Mattos was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on 1966. Coming from a musical family, Angel David started his studies at the San Juan School of Music and continued at the University of Illinois where he majored in Music Education and studied jazz piano with Prof. Tony Caramia.

During the last 15 years Angel David has performed with major jazz artist such as Dave Valentin, Alex Acuña, David Sánchez, Miguel Zenón, Bob Mintzer, John Benitez, Antonio Sánchez, Giovanie Hidalgo, among others. He has also performed piano concertos with symphony orchestras.

Angel David teaches music in the public schools in Puerto Rico, he is a member of the faculty of the Jazz and Popular Music Department of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and stands as Vice-president of IAJE unit of Puerto Rico.

Product Description

"Jazz is music of inclusion, rather than exclusion. It has been a melting pot of influences and techniques that have come from an immense variety of sources." This small part of the introduction to The Oxford Companion to Jazz really caught my attention. The fact that jazz has become a patrimony of humanity makes that phrase a strong and true statement.

For several years I have been studying the roots of Jazz and the roots of Caribbean music trying to identify differences and similarities between both. The many similarities between Jazz and Caribbean music should not take anyone by surprise since their roots are almost the same. Characteristics of European music and African music can be identified without doubt. European harmonies and melodies mixed with West African melodies and rhythms establish a close relationship between Jazz and Caribbean music.

Puerto Rican Danza is one of the styles of Caribbean music which shows immense similarities with jazz. During the first half of the 19th century Danza started out as folkloric music based on Spanish "contra danza" and syncopated rhythmic patterns with strong African influences. By the 1860´s Danza had become popular among Puerto Ricans for ballroom dancing. Composers such as Manuel Tavarez and Juan Morel Campos made Danza music not just for dancing, but for artistic expression as well.

Time has passed and Danza has been put in the museum as a symbol of a melancholic and elegant colonial past. It is time for this sophisticated and elegant music to merge in the inclusive grounds of jazz. Both styles compliment each other just as in a perfect marriage; each bring the best of themselves. The profound and complex jazz harmonies and improvisations combined with elegant danza melodies and rhythmic patterns.

"No me toques" and "Maldito amor" are "danzas festivas" (festive danzas), similar to a "guaracha". "Felices dias" and "Margarita" are romantic danzas. "Danza al maestro" ( dedicated to all danza composers) and "Las Antillas" are danzas I composed in the romantic style. "Point of reference", although it is in jazz fusion style,it follows the traditional danza form ( Intro - A - B - C - A & Coda ) which is more defined in the other danza compositions. Most danzas allow improvisation in section C. "Danzzaj" presents improvisation sometimes in section C ( Danza al maestro, Las Antillas, Maldito Amor), or in A, B and C sections ( No me toques, Margarita, Felices Dias, El Bravo E.S. and Point of Reference).

"Tropical Zone" presents a fusion between danza rhythmic patterns, modern jazz drumming and jazz fusion groove. Bob Mintzer and Antonio Sánchez give their own perspectives of this style, while John Benítez and I transform our danza cultural knowledge into a different way of performance.

"Copy Cat" is that one composition that´s different from the rest and gives variety to this production. This composition is a humble tribute to one of my most admired musicians, Armando "Chick" Corea.

"Danzzaj" is the result of careful and profound reflection on the interaction of music, thoughts and inspirations of musicians from different geographical locations connected by heart and soul and the desire for an unified and understanding world. Angel David Mattos

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece for Jazz Enthusiasts, March 29, 2005

By 

Gilberto Leon "Gilbert Leon" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Danzzaj (Audio CD)

The music on this CD is for serious jazz and Caribbean music lovers. It's a unique combination of modern jazz with Puerto Rico folklore music called "Danza". The mix of these two genres is so seamless that may pass unadvertised for those who do not know the Danza; but it will be a Joy trip to the roots of this traditional music with subtle references to well known pieces such as "No Me Toques", "Margarita", and "Felices Dias".

Mattos is a great interpreter that plays with aplomb on every genre he explores. On this CD he has once again established the maturity gained through his musician and professor carriers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative and magestically orquestrated, April 10, 2005

By 

Nancy Nieves-Muñoz (Aibonito, PR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Danzzaj (Audio CD)

This cd is for jazz lovers all ages and ethical background! It uses the Puertorrican danza in a creative and lovely way. The mixture of jazz, caribbean and european rhythms is just spectacular!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellence!!!!, December 28, 2011

By 

wjramos - See all my reviews

This review is from: Danzzaj (MP3 Download)

Danzzaj is refreshing and an awesome example of great Latin Jazz. All I hope is that Mr. Mattos comes up with another masterpiece soon.