William Cepeda Afrorican Jazz - My Roots and Beyond (1998)

William Cepeda Afrorican Jazz - My Roots and Beyond (1998) is an album by Puerto Rican trombonist and composer William Cepeda, one of the leading figures in Afro-Latin jazz. The album, released in 1998, blends elements of traditional African rhythms, Afro-Caribbean jazz, and contemporary jazz, showcasing Cepeda’s mastery of his instrument and his deep connection to Afro-Latin culture. The project explores the roots of African diasporic music while pushing the boundaries of jazz with innovative arrangements and compositions.

Tracklist

01. Bomba Swing [07:12]
02. Ponte Pa'l Monte [05:43]
03. Pa' Mi Cuembe [06:39]
04. Waiting for Carmen [04:42]
05. Toca Mi Caracol [07:46]
06. Quasi Plena [07:40]
07. For Now and Forever [09:16]
08. Sara [06:46]
09. Pa' Mi Gente [04:50]
10. Colors [06:41]
11. Afrorican Jam [06:55]
William Cepeda Afrorican Jazz - My Roots and Beyond (1998)

personnel :

William Cepeda - vocals, trombone, cuá, conch shell, percussion;
Donny McCaslin - saxophone;
Omar Kabir - trumpet, conch shell;
Raúl Romero - guitar;
Uli Güssendoerfer - piano, keyboards;
Rubén Rodríguez - bass;
Mark Walker - drums;
Juan Gutiérrez - vocals, bomba drums.
Special guests:
Slide Hampton - trombone (#1,8);
Paquito D'Rivera - alto saxophone, clarinet (#4,6);
Yomo Toro - cuatro (#2).
Additional musicians:
Luis Bonilla - trombone (#3,11);
Tony Lujan - trumpet (#2,5-7,11);
Luis Aquino - trumpet (#4,6,11);
Luis Disla - saxophone (#2,9);
Eric Figueroa - piano, keyboards (#1);
John Benitez - bass (#6,10,11);
Bobby Sanabria - vocals, bongos (#1,2,5-7,11);
Edgardo Miranda - cuatro (#2);
Tito Matos - pandereta, bomba drums, vocals (#1,4,6,7);
Cita Rodríguez, Richie Viruet, Juan Usera - vocals (#1,2,5-7,11);
Julio Merced - verso negro (#1,2,5-7,11).