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Afro Yaqui Music Collective — Maroon Futures
(Neuma 137, 2021, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2022-02-03

Maroon Futures Cover art

The core members of this multi-cultural collective are Gizelxanath Rodriguez (vocals), Hugo Cruz (percussion), Jin Yang (pipa and zheng), and Ben Barson (baritone sax). Rodriquez is Mexican-American, with ancestry in the ancient Yaqui culture of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, providing one element of the group’s name. The “Afro” part comes from the infusion of jazz, funk, Latin, and hip-hop into the sound, courtesy of Cuban drummer Cruz and American saxophonist Barson. Jin Yang’s pipa adds a sprinkle of Asian sound into the mix that isn’t reflected in the group’s name, and a wide array of other players provide still more elements, making AYMC one of the most globally inclusive bands you’ll ever hear. For the most part, the music has a core of Latin-inflected funk topped by powerful vocals and saxophones. Rodriguez is joined by two other vocalists: Charlotte Hill O’Neal and Nejma Nefertiti, the latter of whom is listed as “EmCee.” Some of the soaring vocal parts might remind listeners of cosmic jazz of the 70s, while other parts touch on classic Latin inflections. Barson’s bari sax is cast at times in a funky bass role, and at other times he’s part of a section augmented by Roger Romero (tenor), Alec Zander Redd (alto), and Daro Behroozi (tenor). In the rhythm section, Cruz is joined by Beni Rossman (electric bass), Julian Powell (drums), and John Bagnato (guitar); keyboards are handled by Randraiz Wharton and Chris Potter, with Potter only on two tracks. Mimi Jong’s erhu is the final element of the mix, though it’s not prominent in the arrangements. Listeners who like music to stick to one sound will be frustrated by Maroon Futures, and some might find the vocals off-putting, but adventurous listeners will likely find fascination in each new twist the musicians toss out. The English lyrics tend towards the political, supporting the rights of indigenous peoples and preservation of the environment, but many of the songs feature other languages as well. This is music for breaking out of boxes and expanding horizons, for celebrating the global human experience while enjoying a funky groove.

Filed under: New releases, 2021 releases

Related artist(s): Afro Yaqui Music Collective

More info
http://afroyaquimusiccollective.bandcamp.com/

 

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