The MG Album Club #9 - Axel Tosca

[axolotl]

So, my year is 2015? I suppose you won't believe any half-baked stories of anything I select being a longtime favorite.

Ready or not, like it or not, here it comes: My pick for 2015.

Axel Tosca Laugart ~ Axel Tosca



Amazon says it was released in 2016; RYM hasn't even heard of it, or him, yet. The back cover states: 2015 ALFi Publishing Pty Ltd.; 2015 ALFi Records.

Is it the best thing I have heard from 2015? Maybe; maybe not. It is, however, one of the more joyful, evocative, and accessible things I have heard from 2015, and it is available to be heard via Spotify. [I certainly was not going to try to have you listen to all eight discs associates with Max Richter's Sleep. I wasn't even going to insist you listen to any of the four discs of Brad Mehldau's 10 Years Solo Live.]

I am not a huge fan of vocal tracks in contemporary Jazz; only "Siberry" has vocals.

What more could I add than what Alex Tosca himself says on the flyleaf of the disc?

...I want to send my wholehearted love to all of those who have supported my vision to bring Cuban music to the world. Our heritage is so rich in history and folk culture. It is important for us to be proud of the sacrifices our ancestors have made to allow us to have the freedom to express our feelings in peaceful ways.

We come from many different tribes with beautiful rituals all rooted in deep philosophies of community. My message to you, the listener is, "enlighten your mind and transmit positive energy to those who follow this path."

Listen. Enjoy, or muddle through. It's all good. Peace out.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Here is a little tip: if you search for "Axel Tosca" on Spotify, this album won't come up. Search for the full name: "Axel Tosca Laugart."

 

[Ojai Sam]

Spotify link:

And the complete Album Club playlist is now, er, complete:

 

[Unsomnambulist]

My initial reaction to this was negative, as it sounded very mellow and "easy listening." After the first track, however, the album became more engaging and held my interest until the end.

I hear the Afro-Cuban influence, but this is a far cry from the Cuban records my parents played. I don't quite know what to make of it, though I can tell it's good. It's just not really my kind of thing.

I will re-listen to perhaps come to a better understanding of it.

I give it .

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

My initial reaction to this was negative, as it sounded very mellow and "easy listening." After the first track, however, the album became more engaging and held my interest until the end.

I hear the Afro-Cuban influence, but this is a far cry from the Cuban records my parents played. I don't quite know what to make of it, though I can tell it's good. It's just not really my kind of thing.

I will re-listen to perhaps come to a better understanding of it.

I give it .

I came to about the same place. I'll be honest, I was hoping for something a little more like Buena Vista Social Club. I liked Siboney for that reason. It seemed the most Cuban to me. I didn't notice so much Afro-Cuban in the rest of the album but I'm not very experienced in that or Jazz, so I probably didn't know what to listen for. I liked Hologram for it's nearly medicinal mellowness.. And I liked 3Rio, it was just a nice adventure of moods.

I find most of the records we've chosen take two listens for me to get to know them. I have some things in my queue but I hope to have time to listen to this again soon.

 

[Ojai Sam]

I really enjoyed this one. Like many of us, my familiarity with Cuban music pretty much begins and ends with Buena Vista Social Club, so here's some background on Axel. Alfi Records says:

Laugart's family influenced his musical interests at an early age. Both his father and stepfather were musicians and his father's guitar playing sparked an early interest in the instrument. He began playing guitar around the age of four and piano at the age of seven, accompanying his parents. Laugart's mother, Xiomara Laugart, is a world-famous singer, whom he still performs with today.

Laugart benefitted from a wide range of musical experiences growing up in Cuba. Dennis & Swing was a group that Laugart credits for "giving me the real timba groove." Laugart also played with the Afro Cuban All Stars, Teresa Garcia Caturla, Sexteto Sendito, Jose Miguel Crego (known as “El Greco”), and a Latin Jazz group called the Bobby Carcases Group, where Laugart says "I learned a lot about the language of music."

Laugart was also part of the Hip-Hop scene in Cuba and had the opportunity to play with The Roots while they were in Cuba. He has also worked in the studio with Cuban conductor Miguel Ceruto.

Amadito Valdez, the great timbalero with the Buena Vista Social Club, was a musical mentor and an important part of Laugart's decision to come to the United States in July of 2005. His arrival came with the opportunity to perform with “Havana Night” in Las Vegas for two years.

Like the vintage automobiles that roam the streets of Havana, BVSC recalls an earlier day in Cuban music. With this fine record, Axel updates the traditional Cuban sound and nudges it closer to contemporary jazz, kind of like what Vince Guaraldi, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd did for Brazilian music back in the 60's.

on the Sam-O-Meter.

 

[Nickyboy]

I listen to quite a bit of 1940s/50s Cuban jazz and Afrocubop music, and for some reason never found the BVSC entertaining. It grates on my ears for some reason. Not a popular viewpoint, I understand, but there it is. That said, I like this album because it brings up early Cuban jazz influences with a contemporary touch without trying to sound purposefully retro. One spin in and I like it. A few more spins and I might love it.
4/5 stars from me.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

So let's say I want to understand what Afro Cuban music sounds like. I'm now listening to the Afro Cuban All Stars (and enjoying it very much). I find it has a Cuban "signature" to my mind. So is it that the All Stars are Afro Cuban pop while Axel Tosca Laugart is Afro Cuban jazz? Is it old school Cuban vs. New? Or is there some other distinction that would help me understand?

Edit: After rereading Sam's post, I get it. ACAS is representative of the old sound, while Laugart "updates the traditional Cuban sound and nudges it closer to contemporary jazz,"

 

[lpfreak1170]

on first listen. I enjoyed it and was hoping for a bit more when it ended (always a good sign).

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

When I first played this after hearing all the Afro-Cuban talk above, I said "Toto, we're not in Machito anymore". In fact, the opening number and several others sound like modern post-bop piano jazz. But on Siboney (track 2) and on other numbers the integration of Cuban music is clear. Overall, a good album - I enjoy Axel Tosca Laugart's acoustic efforts more than his use of electronic keyboards on some numbers (that's not surprising as I prefer acoustic jazz much more than fusion/electric jazz). Nice intro to an album I've never encountered before. I too would rank but close to on 1-1/2 listens

Between this and Axo's recent posts on Yusef Lateef's 90s album and Brad Mehldau, he is our best proponent of more recent jazz since Jazzy has been AWOL. Axo really to be in charge of Jazz Excursion - The Last 30 Years