Cocomama's feminine power: Ladies of Latin Jazz

 

Woman's World

Musicians: Mayra Casales (congas, percussion, vocals); Nicki Denner (musical director, piano); Jennifer Vincent (bass, cello); Christelle Durandy (vocals, percussion); Ariacne Trujillo (vocals, piano), Karina Colis (drums, vocals); Reut Regev (trombone)

Tracks List: Estoy ahora en la Punta; Lagrimas de Soledad; Culebra; By My Side; Use Me; It's a Man World/Phenomenal Woman; Sans Secrets

“Woman’s World”, their self-produced album released in 2021, delves deeper into this collaboration and diversity of musical influences. The music on both albums strives to uplift and empower as evidenced by the lyrics of the title track of Quiero which states, “Follow your heart; find your passion, open your mind for destiny is in your hands.

The Bronx Music Heritage Center’s monthly series Nuevas Voces presented emerging Latin jazz artists. Once mainly seen as Afro-Cuban or Brazilian, Latin jazz in New York City has expanded to a pan-Latin concept with rhythms from Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and more, while keeping the emphasis on the birthplace of those rhythms: Africa. Called a “musical laboratory,” Cocomama draws upon each ensemble member’s creative voice through collaborative composing and arranging, inspired by a range of influences from salsa to soul and Latin jazz.

On April 17, 2025, Cocomama was at the Bronx Music Hall delighting an excited audience, mixing rhythms and their own music, including new compositions.

https://youtu.be/5s6zPhC1VnA?si=Wm6eRL1uFg7UC_-p

Cocomama has an upcoming performance scheduled at the Jazz Power Festival at Pat's Laws Inwood Hill Park, New York City, on june 14, 2025.

Cocomama:

A virtual United Nations of women, members of Cocomama hail from around the globe gathering their influences from far and wide. Salsa, soul, R&B, Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz are among the items on the menu whenever they hit the stage creating a sound that is all at once fierce and beautiful! 

Cocomama has enchanted audiences at the United Nations, Central Park, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York City Marathon, Joe's Pub, Studio 54, Martha’s Vineyard Summerfest, the Cape May Jazz Festival, the Montclair Jazz Festival, the Northhampton Jazz Festival,  the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Musikfest, the Spoleto Music Festival, the Michigan's Women’s Festival and have served as musical ambassadors for the US State Department in Latin America.

Cocomama’s origins date back to 2005 when an all-female salsa band was requested to play a fundraiser at the Copacabana for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The success of this chance performance led to other engagements and from these early gigs, Cocomama was born. The group focused primarily on Afro-Cuban dance music for several years, recording their first EP with Marc Anthony’s keyboardist Ricky Gonzalez in 2012. 

Since then, the ensemble has evolved, incorporating influences from classical music, jazz, Latin American traditions and beyond. “Quiero” , released on Truth Revolution Records and included in the 2016 Grammy pre-nominations for Best Tropical Latin Album, celebrated the coming together of a wide range of musical experiences in three different languages. 

Viva The Latin Jazz!!

www.jazzcaribe.blogspot.com

jazzcaribe2001@yahoo.com

Note: Musicologist and educator Luis Raul Montell's bestselling book, "The Bible of Latin Jazz," is now available on Amazon.