Jazzismo is a Latin jazz group led by trombonist/composer Rick Davies and has existed in its current incarnation since March of 2002. Started by Davies in New York City in the late 1990s, the original group included such Latin music stalwarts as pianist Arturo O’Farrill and bassist Harvie Swartz. When Davies relocated to the Burlington/Plattsburgh area to assume a faculty position at Plattsburgh State University of New York, he reorganized the group using some of the finest musicians in Vermont, Montreal, and Northern New York State.
Currently the group consists of Rick Davies on trombone, Alex Stewart on saxophone, Tom Cleary on piano, John Rivers on bass, Jeff Salisbury on drums, and Steve Ferraris on Latin percussion duties.
Jazzismo performs both original compositions and Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz standards. Much of the material comes from Jazzismo’s first album "Salsa Strut" that was released in 2001 and their latest CD "Siempre Salsa", which was released in 2006. A number of selections from these two CDs have been international hits in countries such as Italy, Japan, and Colombia.
Since starting up in the Burlington/Plattsburgh area, Jazzismo has played a number of venues including two appearances at the Plattsburgh State University Jazz Festival and numerous appearances at clubs such as Red Square in Burlington and McDonough’s in Plattsburgh. It has also accompanied various well-know musicians including Harvie S and Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros.
The group opened for violinist and Fania All-Star violinist Alfredo De La Fe and his orchestra at The Flynn Center for the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. They have played at Red Square during the Festival with various guest artists including an appearance by trombonist Ray Anderson.
In July for the fifth year in a row, they will be artists-in-residence at the FlynnArts Summer Latin jazz camp sponsored by the Flynn Center and perform a concert in the Flynn Space featuring the internationally known Latin jazz trumpeter Ray Vega as guest artist.
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