BUJO KEVIN JONES & TENTH WORLD

Tenth World Live!- MOTÉMA

Percussionist Bujo Kevin Jones and his five band matesperform an energized live-recorded 2004 date captured at the Village Theatre inSouth Los Angeles’ Leimert Park.

The Spirited concert performance features six tunes rangingfrom 7:08-mintures to nearly 13 minutes. Jones has chosen a solid team and performs with complete assurance.  Composer Kevin Sholar contributes fouroriginals and his playing throughout proves his keyboard mastery.  Tenor saxophonist Brian Horton,trumpeter Kevin Louis, electric bassist Joshua David,  and drummer Jaimeo Brown skillfullynavigate the selections.

Tunes range from traditional Afro-Cuban numbers to throbbingfunk-laces gems such as “New Nation.” Horton’s original “Beautyful” is a waltzing jazz-funk number thatfeatures him trading and blending on the front line with Louis.  Probably the best demonstration ofindividual and collective talent becomes apparent on the 7:28-minute finale, aremake of Mongo Santamaria’s trademark tune “Afro Blue.”

An Englewood, New Jersey native, Jones was exposed to jazzin his home growing up mostly self-taught since age 10.  He later learned traditional Africandrumming and dance beats from various cohorts.  His exposure to the New York- New Jersey Latin Soul soundsof the late 1960’s and early 1970’s influences him as he became more immersedin Afro-Cuban drum studies.

He recorded eight records during his 13 years with theIsleys and his expertise can be heard on recordings by others.  He’s also performed live with an arrayof jazz and pop bands and has held teaching residencies with the Bronx ArtEnsemble and at college workshops. Jones founded Tenth World in 1999 with Brian Terry.  Their self-titled recoding debut in2005 gained them wider exposure.

Bold and brassy, this album calls for a party. 

Nancy Ann Lee