On an unassuming side street in the thick of midtown Manhattan, dog walkers, lucky passersby and workers on their lunch hour gathered at Worldwide Plaza on July 10 to take in the sounds of Grammy nominated percussionist and educator, Bobby Sanabria who brought his latest Latin-jazz outfit, Ascensión, to the square for two energetic midday sets. Sanabria was joined by Jack Glottman on piano, bassist Donald Nicks, Chris Washburne on Trombone, percussionist Oreste Abrantes, Kali Rodriguez on trumpet, and saxophonists Peter Brainin and Jeff Lederer.
The free bi-weekly summer concert series is produced by Berman Arts International and personally curated by CEO Gail Berman, a former arts educator and NYU alum who has produced public programming in the city for nearly four decades. “Bobby and I go back to my first summer series in 1985 at Rockefeller Center. He taught me about Afro-Cuban music,” Berman told the AmNews. “He’s the only one that I bring back every year.” Sanabria, who has collaborated with legendary figures across jazz and Latin music; that includes Celia Cruz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Tito Puente, has released cutting-edge music under his own banner since the early 90’s, and was most recently nominated for a Grammy in 2023. He has also written for magazines Modern Drummer and Downbeat, and hosts the “Latin Jazz Cruise” radio show on WBGO 88.3 FM.
Ascensión’s performance was like a tasting menu of Latin styles. From Colombia to Venezuela to Cuba — Sanabria and his band showcased the depth of their ability, and understanding of the deep rhythmic sensibilities that allow this music to be. The crowd, seated and scattered across the plaza at tables and benches, couldn’t help but tap their feet to the smorgasbord of sound delivered by Sanabria and his band that included moments of intense improvisation, hit songs, and bits of history.
Sanabria, an avid educator who is on staff at The New School and has released critically acclaimed instructional videos like Conga Basics, took time in between songs to explain the origin of the rhythms and songs his band performed, which ranged from an 1870’s Cuban tune to a rendition of “Bésame Mucho,” which Sanabria called “probably the most recorded song in the history of Latin music,” to an enthusiastic crowd. “Even the Beatles did a version of it.”
He taught the audience about the montuno, a vamp or repeated rhythmic pattern present in Cuban music, the clave, a rhythmic pattern in Cuban and Brazilian music, and the origin of Latin jazz in Harlem, which was born by incorporating these elements into Jazz compositions performed by Black Americans in the early 20th century. “Every time he gives a performance, he also gives a history lesson,” said attendee and local artist Bill Buchman, who sat front row for the show. “Not just in his lecture, but in how he plays his drums.”
Bobby Sanabria & Ascensión perform at a recent lunchtime concert at Worldwide Plaza in Manhattan. (Johnny Knollwood video)
Throughout the set, the rhythm section held down an intense, locked-in groove, giving the horn players the opportunity to explore and express themselves through their instruments.
At one point, Sanabria opened the floor to requests and performed popular tunes like Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man,” and “Oye Como Va,” which was originally performed by Tito Puente in 1962, but was a hit for Carlos Santana in 1970. Angelica, a woman from Buenos Aires seated in the crowd, requested music from her homeland, and in a moment of sporadic beauty, Sanabria called a rendition of Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” using a rhythm and feel that originated in Argentina. Angelica watched with joy as the group presented a unique take on a classic tune. Bobby Sanabria’s sound is as New York City as it gets — it is the melting pot, a fusion of Black American Music, and the rhythms of Cuba, Brazil, and Argentina crafted amidst the sidewalks and subways of the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. It is reflective of the diverse cultural landscape that allows the arts to flourish and progress in the city. “It really is reflective of New York,” added Berman. Free concerts at Worldwide Plaza are offered every other Thursday at 12 p.m. through September 18. Stay up to date at @baimusic23 on Instagram.