Estilo Y Gracia pull “El Jamaiquino”, an old Cuban standard, back into focus with a new recording led by percussionist José Perez in Los Angeles. “El Jamaiquino” was originally written by Cuban musician Julio César Fonseca Benemelis and recorded by Niño Rivera (Andrés Echevarría Callava), probably in 1981, with Miguelito Cuní on vocals. Estilo Y Gracia’s version features a full bongo solo from percussionist Giancarlo Anderson, who plays with the Poncho Sanchez band, and flugelhorn from Jay Jennings of Snarky Puppy. Released on 23 January through Mellow Dia, the single is built around live improvisation on Fonseca Benemelis’s composition, with an extended bongo feature that the band identify as something largely missing from many current Latin jazz recordings.
“El Jamaiquino” originated with Fonseca Benemelis, from Manzanillo, Cuba, and entered the Afro-Cuban repertoire through recordings by tres player Niño Rivera and singer Miguelito Cuní. Later salsa and Latin jazz bands, including Típica 73 and Machito, played the song across Caribbean and Latin American dance floors, while it became less common in US sets. Estilo Y Gracia present their version with a compact ensemble rather than the larger band arrangements heard on some earlier recordings.
Perez, known for his years as timbalero with Latin jazz bandleader Poncho Sanchez, formed Estilo Y Gracia in Los Angeles with vocalist Juan Cosme, pianist Alberto Salas, bassist Ross Schodek, percussionist Giancarlo Anderson and trumpeter Jay Jennings. As a group they work from Cuban son, guaracha, rumba and Latin jazz repertoire, and individual members have also worked with Gloria Trevi, Santana and Gilberto Santa Rosa.
Perez describes Estilo Y Gracia as a group focused on live Afro-Cuban playing in an era of AI-driven tools, and “El Jamaiquino” follows that line, built around improvisation and acoustic percussion as its main elements.
Stream “El Jamaiquino” HERE