Willie Hernandez

"click to make images larger"

Filled to capacity at the Lancer's Club East on Sunday, August 10th, JazzElPaso Connection brought Jazz Puerto Rico (PR) with headliner Willie Hernandez for their first performance in El Paso. The band, founded by trombonist and arranger Randy Zimmerman, is one of Austin’s top Latin Jazz and Salsa bands as evidenced by its clean, smooth and powerful sounds. Willie Hernandez’s superb vocal work and renditions of the great salsero, Hector Lavoe, filled the room. He opened up with “El Cantante” and gave us a treat with the boleros “Escandalo” and “Beautiful Maria of My Soul” from the “Mambo Kings” soundtrack. Thereafter, the floor filled up with cha-cha and salsa dancers keeping the beat to Raciel Tortolo on the congas, Tito Alves on bongos and Willie’s finesse on the timbales. The brass section, masterfully performed by Randy Zimmerman and Frank Otero on trombones, accentuated the Latin verve. Rounding out this great sound was Angel Lopez on piano and Luis Ojeda on bass. Their final number “Jazz PR Descarga”, an original composition by Randy Zimmerman, was so hot – I thought the floor would catch on fire! This was one of those rare occasions when top musicians came together and “clicked” weaving a memorable and dynamic concert experience. These guys are “salsa”! See for yourself by viewing the slideshow in our Photo Gallery.

- Kenneth Vaughan