Feb 10, 2017
It’s always a pleasure to speak with saxophonist Miguel Zenón, a musician who has impeccable academic, bandstand and compositional credentials. One of an increasing number of jazz musicians who have been awarded a Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowship, the latter more commonly known as the "Genius Grant”, Miguel’s music continues to grow and expand its horizons.
For example, his last CD, Identities are Changeable was the recorded version of multimedia presentation about the Puerto Rican immigrant community in the United States. All the music on the album was written around a series of interviews with several individuals, all of them New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent. The narrative created by these conversations gave birth to all the compositions on the record, with audio excerpts from the interviews weaving in and out each piece, and then executed by an expanded ensemble. Nominated for a Grammy, it showed Zenón at his most innovative.
Tipico is a return to the quartet sound that first brought Miguel to the world’s attention. His long-time collaborators - Luis Perdomo (piano), Hans Glawischnig (bass) and Henry Cole (drums) - play a key part in the album, with Perdomo in particular supplying some stunning solos.
Zenón is on the road with the Quartet now, and will also be seen with the ever-entertaining SFJAZZ Collective soon. A founding member of the group, their repertory performances are focused on music associated with or inspired by Miles Davis for the Spring tour. A CD will be released shortly.
Podcast 562 is my conversation with Miguel, where we discuss how the new CD came to be, how the SFJAZZ Collective stays fresh, and how his continued philanthropic efforts in his native Puerto Rico, Caravana Cultural , is progressing. Musical selections from Tipico include “Academia”, “Sangre de mi Sangre” and “Entre las Raises”.