Conga player, bandleader, and composer Alberto Nacif and the superlative musicians who make up the sizzling Latin Jazz septet Aguanko have a new, all original Latin Jazz recording titled Unidad.

Their 5th release as a band, self-produced, and released April 2023, it is comprised of 11 creatively fresh Cuban Jazz inspired pieces. The recording features the core group of Aguanko musicians from the incredibly rich Detroit area Jazz scene performing this music.

Their previous release, “Pattern Recognition” (released in July 2018) was well received by audiences and critics, and remained in the Jazzweek charts from September 10, 2018 to March 4, 2019 (24 weeks!), was in the top 20 for four weeks, and peaked at #16. It was voted into the second round of Grammy voting, and in the top 58 for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, but sadly did not receive a nomination.

1. Kintsugi (Mambo) (3:59)
2. Discurso (Cha Cha Cha) (4:14)
3. Dualidad (6/8) (5:06)
4. Dedication (Bolero) (5:19)
5. Un Poco Cubop (Mambo) (3:53)
6. Todo Es Todo (Rumba/Mambo) (3:45)
7. Viaje Con El Viento (Afro/ChaCha6/8) (4:24)
8. Un Ensueño (Bolero) (4:01)
9. Interception (Mambo) (3:37)
10. Adios Amigo (Danzón/Cha Cha Cha) (3:30)
11. Espacio Verde(Comparsa/Mambo) (3:51)

The album opens on the jaunty rhythms fond within Kintsugi (Mambo) and the smoothly textured Discurso (Cha Cha Cha) and they are followed by the playfully sultry Dualidad (6/8), the low slung balladry of Dedication (Bolero) and then comes the upbeat and joyous Un Poco Cubop (Mambo).

Along next is the fervently sculpted Todo Es Todo (Rumba/Mambo) and the free flowing Viaje Con El Viento (Afro/ChaCha6/8) and they are in turn followed by the airy ambiance found within Un Ensueño (Bolero), the dashing Interception (Mambo), the album rounding out on the mid-tempo, dancefloor swirl of Adios Amigo (Danzón/Cha Cha Cha), coming to a close on the all-embracing, impassioned Espacio Verde(Comparsa/Mambo).

These tasteful musicians’ interpretation of original music is evocative and sensuous and true to its Cuban roots. Aguanko has received local, national, and international attention, and their live concerts have dazzled capacity crowds at the multiple venues where they have performed. They are also able to offer educational lecture-demonstrations and instructional seminars.

Players & Instruments:
Alberto Nacif: congas; Rick Roe: piano; Jose Espinosa: timbales, percussion; Russ Miller: saxophone, flute; Charlie Miller: trumpet, flugelhorn; Christopher Smith: trombone; Patrick Prouty: bass (1, 2, 5, 7-11) and Kurt Krahnke: bass (3, 4, 6).

www.aguanko.com