Saxophonist Carlos Vega's band crackles... crafty arrangements, spirited group interplay, and ear-grabbing freshness and spontaneity in their soloing. - All About Jazz. Chicago-based tenor saxophonist Carlos Vega taps into the energy of the hard bop movement of the late 50s, with this quintet session that channels the vision of Art Blakey's iconic Jazz Messengers. Filtering Blakey's forward thrusting style through his Puerto Rican heritage and extensive time spent with latin and salsa bands in his native Miami, Vega's concept reveals itself on the driving opening cut, "Art of the Messenger." Propelled by the powerful rhythms of drummer Xavier Breaker, bassist Josh Ramos and pianist Stu Mineman anchor the quintet throughout the session, with trumpeter Victor Garcia joining Vega on this formidable front line. Subsequently, Vega turns this hard bop powerhouse on it's collective ear with "Bird's Word," a rousing latin jazz homage to Charlie Parker. Vega's take on the hard bop lineage incorporates stops in Chicago and Miami, allowing his mentors to clearly speak through his work. His take on the lexicon through these eleven originals is in no way nostalgic, but expressively looking forward through the lens of personal history.
On her third PENTATONE album Bach Unbuttoned, Ana de la Vega brings together a group of exciting young soloists and the Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn to present a lively and fresh perspective on Bach as man and composer. The programme contains Brandenburg concertos Nos. 2, 4 & 5, a unique rendition on flute and oboe of the double violin concerto, as well as the breath-takingly virtuosic Badinerie for flute. Flautist Ana de la Vega’s presents her third PENTATONE album, after having released Mozart Myslivecek (2018) and Haydn Stamitz (2020). Oboist Ramón Ortega Quero also starred on the latter album, and is featured prominently on Bach Unbuttoned as well. Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, trumpet player Cyrus Allyar, harpsichordist Johannes Berger and the Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn all make their PENTATONE debut.
The follow-up to saxophonist Carlos Vega's high-spirited 2016 release, "Bird's Ticket," brings him back to Chicago from his Tallahassee home to reconnect with the same group of Chicago's finest - Victor Garcia on trumpet, Stu Mindeman on piano, Josh Ramos on bass, and drummer Xavier Breaker - for a set of ten wide-ranging originals. Entrenched in Miami's Latin music scene in the early 2000s, the eclectic and electric musical experiences from that period helped form his unique approach that carried through later work with Arturo Sandoval, Ira Sullivan, & Tito Puente, and informs his composing and performing aesthetic now. Carlos is currently on the faculty of Florida A&M University and is a member of the Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble and trumpet legend Doc Severinsen's Big Band."Saxophonist Carlos Vega's band crackles... crafty arrangements, spirited group interplay, and ear-grabbing freshness and spontaneity in their soloing." - ALL ABOUT JAZZ
Dynamic saxophonist and composer Carlos Vega pursued his passion for jazz in school during the day while deeply entrenched in Miami's Latin music scene at night. The eclectic and electric musical experiences from that period helped form his unique approach that carried him through later work with Arturo Sandoval, Ira Sullivan, & Tito Puente. Moving to Chicago in 2005, his time spent there inspired his return from his Tallahassee home for the making of "Bird's Ticket," a set of ten Vega originals featuring four of Chicago's finest, with Victor Garcia on trumpet, Stu Mindeman on piano, Josh Ramos on bass and drummer Xavier Breaker.
