Johnny Blas

Since 1992, stylish conguero Johnny Blas has directed his ensemble, which issued its debut recording A Night in L.A. via Discos Dos Coronas in 1994. That project, like the ones that came afterward, highlighted Blas’ assured performance, matched by equally assured compositions and contributions from a skilled roster of players that included percussionist Angel Rodriguez, trombonists Humberto Ruiz, Kerry Loeschen, Edwin Blas and Dan Weinstein, guitarist Mark Gutierrez and bassist Paul Perez. Maintaining steady momentum, the group delivered two further sets on the famed CuBop label—Skin and Bones in 1997 and Mambo 2000 in 1998—both receiving critical praise throughout the Latin and jazz press. Blas sustained that pattern in 1999 with King Conga, likewise issued on CuBop. The recording draws on the songwriting abilities of band members Gutierrez and Weinstein while retaining the jazzy, funky Afro-Caribbean groove present across his initial three albums.