William Cepeda - músico; grabación de sonido - TT: William Cepeda - TA: musician; sound recording

Latin Beat Magazine, March, 1999

William Cepeda Afrorican Jazz: My roots and beyond

(Blue Jackel)

An expositor of the new breed of Latin jazz composers of the nineties, in his solo recording debut, trombonist William Cepeda releases not just one CD but two of them - My Roots and Beyond with his Afrorican Jazz band and a second production titled Grupo Afro Boricua, both recordings on the Blue Jackel label. A native of Loiza, Puerto Rico, Cepeda's passion for music started at age ten as a percussionist in his hometown. During his teenage years, he was introduced to the trombone and soon it became his instrument of choice. He is also a member of the world renowned Cepeda family, which is credited for maintaining Afro Puerto Rican folkloric music alive. The outspoken, flamboyant bonemaster serves on the faculty of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in New York and is the recipient of various degrees in music from jazz composition to music education. For over a decade, Cepeda has been performing all over the world with many giants of jazz and Latin music. Playing with names like the late Dizzy Gillespie, Miriam Makeba, Lester Bowie, David Murray, Slide Hampton, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, and Oscar D'León cover some of the highlights in his resume of accomplishments.

This CD is a reflection of the state of musicianship of William Cepeda and the direction he has chosen to take his music --mainly a jazz recording of original compositions and arrangements. William blends jazz with the folkloric rhythms (bomba, plena, and jibaro music) of his native land (Borinquen), with the addition of other musical influences he is comfortable with (rock, R&B, world music, etc.), to forma musical concept he calls Afrorican jazz. Listen to the composition Bomba Swing to experience transitions from straight ahead jazz to Latin jazz and bomba rhythms. Pa 'Mi Gente combines vocals and the multiple rhythms and forms of Puerto Rican music to deliver a message of unity. On the track Colors, a blend of several bomba forms is executed within a jazz framework, and there are many other unique and tasty compositions included throughout the rest of the recording. The use of sea shells and indigenous chorus and chants can also be enjoyed throughout the production. Special guest musicians include Slide Hampton, Paquito D'Rivera, and Yomo Toro.