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Master Drummer Roman Diaz releases ‘L’ó dá fún Bàtá’, a spiritually transcendent gem in the Afro-Cuban tradition

Master Drummer Roman Diaz releases ‘L’ó dá fún Bàtá’, a spiritually transcendent gem in the Afro-Cuban tradition

The long-awaited debut album from master percussionist, scholar, composer and living repository of Afro-Cuban music, Roman Diaz, is out now.

‘L’ó dá fún Bàtá’ – a spiritually transcendent gem in the Afro-Cuban tradition – features profound drumming conversations, a Yoruba/Gospel crossover choir, and evocative spoken word pieces that reveal the soul-feeding vibrancy of Diaz. Joining Roman is his GRAMMY-nominated mentor Pedrito Martinez, who produces the album and features as a performer!

Find out more about the album here!


JazzTimes Features The Royal Bopsters’ Legendary Birdland Shows

JazzTimes Features The Royal Bopsters’ Legendary Birdland Shows

The Royal Bopsters’ five-night run at Birdland featured five vocal jazz legends—Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, Sheila Jordan, Bob Dorough and Andy Bey—alongside the younger jazz quartet consisting of Amy London, Darmon Meader, Holli Ross and Dylan Pramuk. JazzTimes highlighted this historical vocal event with a robust photo gallery capturing the live performance.

“The event reunited the surviving two-thirds of the iconic vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross for the first time in years.” – JazzTimes

Click here for pictures!

 


Legendary jazz vocalist Mark Murphy passes away at 83

Legendary jazz vocalist Mark Murphy passes away at 83

An era ended October 23rd with the passing of Mark H.Murphy, one of the most influential jazz singers of the 20th Century.  Motema is proud to have released a collaboration with Mark –  The Royal Bopster’s Project – this past September. The album features four outstanding tracks sung by the legend.  Producer Amy London comments: “I am so honored to have known Mark, to be able to call him my dear friend, to have had the amazing opportunity to perform and record with him, and most of all, to laugh with him. There was and there will never be anybody else like him.”  Murphy’s arresting version of Red Clay on The Royal Bopsters Project has gained mighty praise at press and radio.

Click here to listen to the recording.