New Music Monday — Diego Rivera; Pete Rodriguez; The US Air Force Band Airmen of Note

New music from Diego Rivera, Pete Rodriguez, and The US Air Force Band Airmen of Note debuts on Monday, October 28 at noon on New Music Monday on Lunchtime! with Arturo Gómez.

Diego Rivera: “Ofrenda”
in the eleven years since Diego hit the scene as a soloist and band leader, he has become one of the most well-known and popular saxophonists & composers. Originally from East Lansing, MI, his Mexican heritage became a part of his existence from birth as his parents named him after the famous Mexican muralist of the same name. His career began in 1999 as a member of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. After a few years of touring the world, he returned home to become an instructor at his hometown’s Michigan State University. While there he launched his recording as a leader career which with this new release now numbers nine albums. He has also contributed compositions and arrangements for several other recordings for his bandmates and faculty members. Recently, he accepted the offer to become the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

His latest reflects his Mexican roots, all ten tracks are about Día de los Muertos, the traditional Mexican holiday of “Day of the Dead,” ofrenda is offered in English. Diego chose to play soprano on one song while playing tenor on the remainder. Diego invited the phenomenal trumpeter Terell Stafford to add his skills to the album with Diego’s customary trio of Art Hirahara, Boris Kozlov, and Aurora’s own, Rudy Royston.

Pete Rodríguez: “I’m Pete Rodríguez” Volume I
It is a difficult task to grow up with a famous parent, adding to the difficulty of being named the parent’s name. In the case of Pete Rodríguez, there is an added obstacle to overcome, sharing the name with others who are not related to you, like Pete Rodriguez a leader of the boogaloo movement of the 1960s. Pete’s father used his nickname “El Conde” to distinguish him from the other Pete Rodriguez. Until he was eighteen years old and enlisted in the Army, Pete played percussion in his father’s band. Upon completion of his stint in the Army, Pete was diagnosed with PTSD, playing his chosen new instrument, Pete helped to overcome that issue. Despite being a trumpeter, Rodríguez could not escape from the shadow of his legendary father. When he married and had their first child, he decided to relocate to Austin, TX to have a better environment to raise a family and be under less scrutiny by the fans of his father. Rutgers University graduate Pete quickly blended into the jazz scene of Austin and accepted a position at Texas State University. Although not his first album as a leader, this recording is a statement by Rodríguez, it features a new quartet: piano, sax/flute, bass, and drums, and nine compositions by Pete with powerful playing to clear the final move away from his father’s shadow and come out to the sunshine full speed ahead!

The United States Air Force Band Airmen of Note: “2024 Heritage Series”
Due to our association with the United Staes Air Band the Falconaires of Colorado Springs who have performed for KUVO Jazz several times over the years as well as playing the Five Points Jazz Festival, we get the Washington, D.C. based Airmen of Note annual Heritage Series recording. This year’s edition features their guests, arranger of his own Big Phat Band- Gordon Goodwin, the outstanding bassist and educator at Michigan State University Rodney Whitaker, and the soaring trumpeter, veteran Jon Faddis, a Dizzy Gillespie disciple. The Airmen of Note are all seasoned professional musicians who happen to be members of the Air Force. All nine tracks are guaranteed to please the most discerning ears as they are one of the best big bands in all the land! Now in their 74th year, they are under the direction of Colonel Don Schofield, Commander and Conductor.

Now in its 21st year of debuting the latest arrivals to the KUVO Jazz library, many of them are played ahead of their official release date. In addition to the music comments, I’ll provide a few tidbits about the artist, if it’s a new or an up-and-coming artist. It all begins at Noon every Monday.

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