Echoes of AfroMantra around the world
“From the word go, this tight band shows its mettle with upbeat lyricism”
- Roger Farbey - AllAboutJazz.com CD This Side of Mestizaje.
“Here is a sizzling disc lead by drummer Alex Garcia. The cohesion of this team is almost telepathic. You’re gonna love this guys!”
- George W. Harris - jazzweekly.com CD This Side of Mestizaje.
“It isn't Alex Garcia's brilliant drumming/percussionistics nor his band's pristine work nor even the gent's ultra-inventive composing and arranging but far more that overachieving brain relentlessly refusing to settle for anything less than perfection and pure aesthetics that make this CD a wonder.”
- Mark S. Tucker -acousticmusic.com CD This Side of Mestizaje.
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“This Side of Mestizaje is a monumental work. The CD showcases their hard earned reputation as seasoned creative musicians.”
- Dawoud Kringle -DooBeeDooBeeDoo NY.
“This is one of New York’s most highly regarded ensembles. Music beyond the blinding lines of genre.”
- Raul Da Gama - latinjazznet.com CD This Side of Mestizaje.
“You can say that García does is jazz, claiming roots everywhere.This is also what “This Side of Mestizaje” is all about. The album is AfroMantra latest recording. And it is the band’s most brilliant.”
- Eliseo Cardona -Bluemonk Moods. CD This Side of Mestizaje.
“The cohesiveness and vibrancy of his quartet rank it high on the list of
comparable ensembles in jazz.”
- Scott Albin - Jazz Times. CD This Side of Mestizaje.
"Rhythm will save the world! If you don’t believe it, listen to AfroMantra, one of the best Latin jazz bands in the New York scene. " CD Alignment.
- Luc Delannoy. "Critic & Author" USA-Belgium.
“Uplifting Spirit is one of those rare Albums that provides us with the key to understanding the essence (and perhaps one of the purposes) of the Latin American Jazz genre. Garcia, an ingenious composer, has tried not to forget the esthetics of Afro-Cuban Jazz tradition, but his ear is listening to the rich poetics of the Latin-American folklore.” CD Uplifting Spirit.
- Eliseo Cardona. “The Sentinel, Blue Monk” USA.
"One of the foremost Latin Jazz bands in the New York City area, a musical force with a great future."
- Peter Watrous. "Jazz critic and writer for the New York Times and Jazz Times" USA. CD Latin Jazz Ensemble.
"Uplifting Spirit - Espiritu Optimista" is an entrancing album full of sonic magical realism. The pieces traverse ideas and moods that stretch from one end of the hemisphere to the other taking the listener with facility and imagination through unlikely plots and connections.
- Jesse "Chuy" Varela. "San Francisco Chronicle, Jazz Times and Latin Beat magazines." USA.
"AfroMantra is a refreshing addition to the music scene in New York City. These guys have been doing their homework, their playing is really tight and very much in clave."
- Danilo Navas. "Latin Jazz Network" USA. CD Latin Jazz Ensemble.
“This is a tribute to the outstanding writing and to the all-star musicians who bring the vision to life. If this is a new experience for you, I advise you to open up your mind as well as your ears and enjoy a joyous, life-affirming musical ride.”
- Curtis Davenport. “Jazz Improv Magazine” USA. CD Uplifting Spirit.
“Drummer Alex Garcia and his group AfroMantra look into new frontiers on Uplifting Spirit/Espiritu Optimista with strong compositions, inspired performances, and an undeniable enthusiasm. ”
- Chip Boaz. “AllAboutJazz.com” USA.
“The eclectic palate, the cultural diversity, the musical synchronism; these are some of the outstanding characteristics of this new work of AfroMantra, which is able to associate different regions, places, and perhaps moments within a sonic voyage of great intensity. "Uplifting Spirit"in addition to being an illustrative feature of the outstanding quality and musicianship of AfroMantra, is also an invitation, a suggestion, a voyage, that we should not ignore.”
- Jorge Rocha. “En Clave de Jazz” Uruguay.
“Another great, serious Latin jazz project from Alex García, a tremendously intelligent composer, one who brings modern classical ideas of composition into a bed of Afro Cuban rhythmic impulses, all blended with Jazz practice. The group just sounds new. This is modern Latin Jazz at it's intelligent, driving best.”
- Peter Watrous. “Descarga.com” USA. CD Uplifting Spirit.
“This album serves as indisputable proof of the multicultural elements that are emerging in today's creative music. The excellence of the compositions (all signed by Alex), are the most distinctive characteristic of this CD. Each composition has that rare virtue of incorporating a modern sound while simultaneously preserving a traditional foundation. ”
- Juaquin Borges-Triana "Juventud Rebelde" Cuba. CD Uplifting Spirit.
“Beyond the improvisational skills and great quality of each individual artist in AfroMantra. Beyond the compositional ability and musical leadership of Garcia, the over all sensation of this CD is that the collective work is a priority and as a consequence of this approach, the final product is a deeply cohesive ensemble with a powerful collective voice. Uplifting Spirit is definitely a CD to be remembered.”
- Iñigo Diaz. “Mus.cl, El Mercurio” Chile. CD Uplifting Spirit.
“Alex is one of the super stars of the drums. This new CD is outstanding.”
- Saul Zavarce. “Fiesta Jazz” Australia. CD Uplifting Spirit.
“The musicianship is at a high level, the playing on every track is extremely tight, and the improvisation is inspiring. Overall, a great album.”
- Lorelei Clarke. “JazzReview.com” USA. CD Uplifting Spirit.
“The special, dynamic moments of this outstanding recording are many.”
- Rudy Mangual. “Latin Beat Magazine” USA. CD Alignment.
"Alex Garcia’s Afromantra’s Uplifting Spirit is a complex offering that is immediately enjoyable but rewards repeated listening as most really good music does."
- Joyce Corbett. "The Live Music Report" Canada.