Reinterpreting a legend

Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side of Miles

By Tyra Hughley
Adelante staff writer

Photo by René Laanen/ www.trombone-usa.com Conrad Herwig blends a passion for Hispanic culture with his reverence for jazz legends Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Conrad Herwig was intrigued by the sounds, the rhythm and the tempo of both Latin and jazz music. He decided to satisfy his curiosity. In the mid-1990s, with more than 10 years of experience as a trombonist and majoring in Afro-Caribbean Studies in Goddard College, Herwig started to explore the fusion of Latin American and jazz music. The 1996 Grammy-nominated album The Latin Side of John Coltrane was the result.
Herwig, an acclaimed trombonist with 15 albums under his belt, has released his 16th album, titled The Latin Side of Miles Davis, with longtime partner, trumpeter Brian Lynch, as an Afro-Caribbean interpretation of the classic works of Miles Davis. They will soon bring this interpretation to Columbia. On Feb. 6, Columbia will get a taste of Afro-Caribbean flavor mixed with the soulful jazz of Miles Davis when “Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side of Miles” performs at the Blue Note, downtown on Ninth Street.
"Both John and Miles are two of my biggest idols," Herwig said. "We are all just very pleased with the music. Miles is such an influence, and the project was embarked upon with respect and humility to the great genius of Miles. It is not an easy task to interpret something so classic."
The sped-up tempo of the songs gives the music a unique sound that makes listeners rock in their seats. A colorful blend of traditional jazz instruments, it offers a different twist to the classical music of Miles Davis, while remaining true to his framework. Davis' skills as a saxophonist portray the emotions of sadness and sorrow, while bringing listeners into his own world.
Herwig describes the music on Another Kind of Blue as "the marriage of the Caribbean and jazz." The band, he said, looked at the "Caribbean, jazz and African influences and combined them with high-energy improvisation and tried to cover the different textures of music."
The seven-piece band, comprised of known jazz musicians, will inspire and entertain listeners with the music of the jazz legend as they have nationwide. Herwig and Lynch, the leaders of the band, will be accompanied by baritone saxophonist Mario Rivera, pianist Edsel Gómez, bassist John Benítez, drummer Robbie Ameen and percussionist Richie Flores.
The group is brought to Columbia by the We Always Swing Jazz Series, which offers 10 concerts, two special events concerts, photography exhibits and educational programs, according to Jon Poses, executive director. This year, Poses booked Herwig, Lynch and the other five members of his band as part of the ninth season of the Jazz Series.
Both Herwig and Lynch's paths crossed with that of Poses' back in 1987 at a concert in Columbia. Poses has run into the artists in many contexts since then. One year, he even brought Herwig to Columbia as an artist in residence to educate and work with high school students and other students at area schools regarding jazz.
The band's interpretation of a jazz classic has surprised and delighted audiences and the critics around the nation.
"Any way you look at it, The Latin Side of Miles, a scintillating Afro-Caribbean exploration of the music of Miles Davis, was a rousing success," said Zan Stewart of the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger about the group's performance at the Blue Note in New York City.
The album Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side of Miles was recorded at the Blue Note in New York.
The group will continue its exploration and interpretation of classic jazz figures. They will be releasing volume two, titled Sketches of Spain Plus Seven. The album will be released in 2005 as an interpretation of Miles Davis' album Sketches of Spain.