BANDS
Jerry González & The Fort Apache Band
Together for 35 years, The New York Times considers them "The best Latin Jazz group working" and DownBeat magazine describes them as "The most influential modern Afro-Caribbean Jazz Group of the past 30 years". They have published 10 albums, 3 of them were Grammy nominated and one was awarded "Album of the Year" by the French Academy of Jazz. In 2013, they will publish their 11th album, recorded live at the Blue Note (Half Note Records, 2013).
The band has been four times awarded "Beyond Group of the Year" by DownBeat magazine (1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999), won the Critic and Industry Awards in the New York Jazz Awards 1998, and was awarded Best Jazz Group by Playboy Magazine in 1997. The Oscar awarded filmmaker Fernando Trueba chose Fort Apache for his movie "Calle 54".
Jerry González (trumpet and congas), Andy González (bass), Larry Willis (piano), Joe Ford (sax) and Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).
Jerry González y El Comando de la Clave
Twelve years ago, when González decided to stayed in Madrid after the promotional tour of "Calle 54", he started looking for musicians that could play both jazz and Afro-Cuban music. He found three of the most remarkable artists of a new generation of Cuban musicians: Javier Massó "Caramelo" (piano), Alain Pérez (electric bass and voice) and Kiki Ferrer (drums), and he funded "Jerry Gonzále y El Comando de la Clave". During the last decade, they have played a great number of top jazz festivals and theaters in America, Europe and Africa and their self-titled album (Sunnyside, 2011) was nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards 2012 and to the Spanish "Premios de la Música". Ted Panken from DownBeat magazine voted it "The 2011 Latin Jazz Album of the Year" and according to critic Doug Ramsey this is "González's most stimulating album since Rumba Para Monk in 1989".
Jerry González & Javier Colina Trio
Two big names of jazz get together to offer you a great bebop. Jerry González met Javier Colina for the first time during the shootings of the film "Calle54", where Colina was part of Chano Domínguez's trio. Colina has played with artists such as Tete Montoliu, George Cables, Hank Jones, Barry Harris, Joaquin Cortés, Tuomani Diabate and Bebo Valdés (with whom he recorded the duet album "Live at the Village Vanguard") and is considered the Paul Chambers of Spain.
Jerry González (trumpet) and Javier Colina (doublebass).
Jerry González & Miguel Blanco Big Band
December 2014, Jerry González and Miguel Blanco big band released its second album: "Tribute to the Fort Apache Band".
Jerry González & Niño Josele
In 2000, Jerry González met the flamenco guitarist Niño Josele and soon they recorded the album "Jerry González y los Piratas del Flamenco" together with singer Diego El Cigala and percussionist "El Piraña".
The album was a new approach to flamenco-jazz. It was nominated to the Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and it received two New York Jazz Awards (Critic and Indusry Awards).
Years later, the filmmaker Fernando Trueba suggested Jerry and Josele recording a Bill Evans tribute. The first time they played that repertoire was at the Kursaal Theater (San Sebastian). The concert was recorded and soon will be released by Sunnyside Records.
Jerry González (trumpet & cajón) and Niño Josele (flamenco guitar).
Jerry González & The Spanish National Jazz Orchestra
The Spanish National Jazz Orchestra Foundation (FONJAZZ) directed by the Catalan conductor and composer Ramón Farrán is proud to present the repertoire of the Spanish National Jazz Orchestra (ONJAZZ) in other countries with the special collaboration of the trumpet and conga player Jerry González as special guest.
For this project, and with the purpose of introducing Spanish symphonic jazz to new audiences, the Spanish National Jazz Orchestra is looking to work with symphonic orchestras with ethnic percussion and, if possible, knowledge of the jazz language. The chosen orchestras will rehearse prior to the performance with the conductor Ramón Farrán, and the guest soloist, Jerry González, in order to integrate all the parts and musicians, and be able to offer an excellent programme.Most of the repertoire is on their album "Jaleos" (Sony, 2009)
