And for 2020…well, this is a whole new level. There have been four cd’s since their 2009 debut, each a distinctive statement of their sound at the time. They teach and mentor young musicians, have done TEDx Talks about their artistic approach, and shared the stage with dancers, photographers, and poets. A La Lucha show reminds us why the verb we choose for music-making is ‘to play.’Īlong with their busy performance schedule, La Lucha is all about reaching out, and sharing their message in creative ways. In performance, they display a knack for turning on a dime, any given set ranging from a standard trio format to plugging in and heading for the funky or spacey side of things. Their energies and cultural backgrounds melded, and La Lucha became known for a sound with lots of Latin rhythms, combining jazz and American Songbook standards with their self-described ‘twisted arrangements’ of 80s and 90s pop tunes, and originals by each of the guys. The three were soon best friends, and the musical experiences from their younger years, collectively from punk to heavy metal, salsa to classical, were all grist for the mill as they delved into learning and creating jazz. John, Alejandro, and Mark – raised in Mexico, Colombia, and Florida, respectively – met up in a practice room at the University of South Florida, in Tampa, in 2006. But the places they reach for inspiration, the intriguing choices in finding and writing material, and the combination of these three spirited personalities have endeared La Lucha to listeners and to an ever-widening circle of collaborators. Followers of La Lucha have known for a long time that this is a ‘trio with a difference.’ The first-call rhythm section in the Tampa Bay scene is at home in any jazz context, with the telepathic interplay you expect from a band together for years.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |