Tony Tovar noticed a Latin Jazz deficit in DC, so he decided to do something about it.
“The Latin Jazz scene in DC could be much better,” he said. “There is a definite calling for it.”
Luckily for Bossa, Tony heeded the call and in December of 2014 brought together a killer group of musicians to form Tony Tovar y Proyecto Jazz – a class-act conjunto assembled from a virtual who’s who of the best Latin artists in the DC area.
“Some of the musicians in the group have been playing together since the early ’90s and others since the early 2000s,” he said. “The kind of chemistry that a group develops, and that we have, is because of experience, dedication, camaraderie, and love of music.”
No doubt that magnetism is evident in Proyecto Jazz’s shows, which are something to experience. The group grips its audiences with transcribed arrangements of Poncho Sanchez, A.C. Jobim, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, and others, plus a few original numbers.
“Our sound is unique. We play tunes that no other group is playing in the DMV area.”
Tony and his trombone are no strangers to Bossa, but this project is his first as an independent act. With its star-studded lineup and infectious verve, Tony’s Proyecto Jazz ensemble has lured friends, fans, and passersby to their Bossa shows with a spicy brew of boleros, salsa, cha cha cha, danzόn, mambos, and lots more.
“Being able to share the music that my group has been able to put together in such a short period of time is a huge blessing, and I know the people of Bossa will surely appreciate it,” he said. “Our energy is always lively, and we enjoy performing for music aficionados, dancers, and everyone else.”
Get your Latin Jazz vibe on (and your dancing shoes ready)!
Tony Tovar y Proyecto Jazz are: Tony Tovar (Mexico/USA), trombone; Verny Varela (Colombia), vocals and flute; Leo García (Colombia), piano; Héctor “Coco” Barez (Puerto Rico), congas; Dominique “Patrick” Noel (Haiti), timbales; Jesús González (Puerto Rico), bongo; Mike Matarazzo (USA), bass; and Leo Maxey (USA), trumpet.
Check out the Events page to see when Tony Tovar y Proyecto Jazz perform next.