The Pace Report: "A Residency of Wisdom" The Eddie Palmieri Interview with special guest Joe Locke

Welcome to this very special edition of the Pace Report. Pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator Eddie Palmieri has been a very important as well as towering figure in the world of jazz which spans some seven decades.

The 10-Time Grammy Award Winner and 2012 NEA Jazz Master is the founding member of La Perfecta which began during the late 1950's in which Palmieri shifted and created a rhythm section that featured two trombones and flute. His brother, the late Charlie Palmieri is credited as one of Eddie's early influences as both a pianist as well as bandleader. Before Eddie became a pianist he began playing timbales in his uncle's band while studying piano as a kid. Throughout his career, Eddie has recorded music on Alegre Records, Tico Records, and Fania Records, labels that were steeped in the Latin music industry during the 1950's through the 1970's.

Eddie is back with a new record titled "Sabiduría"(Wisdom) on Ropeadope Records, his first studio in eight years. Also, he's hosting and performing his weekly residency at Subrosa in New York City titled "Eddie Palmieri Presents: Afro-Caribbean Jazz Mondays," every Monday beginning with the first set at 8:00pm and the second set at 10:00pm. Mr. Palmieri's residency will feature his quintet as well as showcase his special guests now until August 14, 2017.

In this edition of The Pace Report you'll see highlights of Eddie's opening night of his Afro-Caribbean Jazz Mondays from Subrosa featuring special guest Joe Locke performing on the vibes. We also sit down and talk about his latest CD, the art of conducting and leading a band, as well as reflect on his piano influences.

The Pace Report: "Nueva Era" The Daymé Arocena Interview

Welcome to this special edition of the Pace Report featuring the American debut of vocalist, Dayme Arocena, performing live at Subrosa in New York City. Brownswood Records founder, producer, and international DJ Giles Peterson went to Cuba and developed a musical project titled the "Havana Cultural Series" in which he recorded and documented some of the country's best up and coming musicians. His goal was to release these artists via his record label but to work on their recordings and bring them to a international following.

One of the artists Giles is excited about is Cuban-born vocalist Daymé Arocena who just released her debut recording "Nueva Era" on the Brownswood Records imprint. Dayme grew up in the Diez de Octubre neighborhood in Havana, Cuba. In her debut project she wrote most of the songs and stayed very true to her Afro-Cuban roots. As a child she was exposed to jazz music by her Dad. While growing up Daymé in Havana she graduated from the music education system where she was a choir director. She also sang vocals in the legendary Los Primos Big Band led by her mentor, Joaquín Betancourt. Daymé recently made her debut here in the States and played New York City to a series of three nights of sold-out shows at Subrosa. I had the chance to speak with Daymé during her time here and we talked about her experiences at performing at South By Southwest, collaborating with producer Giles Peterson, and her deep Afro-Cuban roots via the history of the music and her religion, Santería.

The Pace Report: "Mari-Blue" The Mari Koga Interview

Jazz vocalist Mari Koga latest release, "Perfect Blue," is a change of pace for both jazz and Latin jazz purists. Mari hails from Osaka, Japan and brings listeners new originals as well as some jazz standards sung in her native Japanese as well as backed by some of New York City's finest Latin jazz musicians.

Mari developed a passion for jazz while growing up in Japan listening to the great Sarah Vaughn as one of her main inspirations.

"Perfect Blue" is a dynamic recording showcasing what's next to come for the next generation of jazz vocalists. Mari and her longtime arranger and pianist Chiemi Nakai have found a unique and rich sound with musicians Ruben Rodriguez on bass, Vince Cherico on drums, and Roberto Quintero on percussion. "Perfect Blue" was co-produced by her mentor and trumpeter, Willie Ruiz.