Intento de Mambo is a piece inspired by my grandfather, whom I never had the chance to meet. I knew that my grandfather was an accomplished trombone player, performing with the renowned Pérez Prado band and playing iconic mambo music. However, in researching my family history, I made a surprising discovery—my grandfather was featured playing trombone in one of my all-time favorite music videos, El Triste by José José, from the II Festival de la Canción Latina. This was an unexpected revelation, as I was unaware of his appearance in this iconic Mexican cultural moment. According to my family, my grandfather’s musical legacy is the reason I was encouraged to pursue music.
My piece, Intento de Mambo, is an attempt to compose a mambo that actually resulted in anything else but a mambo. This piece is my attempt to connect with and understand a person I never knew personally, but whose artistic life has unintentionally and profoundly shaped my own professional life.
- - Commissioned by Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth as part of the ‘The Mexican Repertoire Initiative’ at Dartmouth
- Published by Valley Winds Publishing, Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts, as part of the ‘Mexican Repertoire Series’ -
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- Performed by The Valley Winds , Sweeney/Sage Hall at Smith College (November 2024) program pr
- - Performed by Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble, “Creating Space” concert, Dartmouth College (May 2024)
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