Clave Con Alma is a seven member latin jazz combo which focuses primarily upon traditional American jazz harmony and improvisation expressed through latin rhythmic textures such as Afro Cuban, Cha Cha, and Bossa. Clave Con Alma performs a variety of existing literature emanating from both U.S. coasts and from Central and South America and representing exciting music from such favorites as Ray Baretto, Bill Cunliffe, Michael Philip Mossman, Pancho Sanchez, Cal Tjader, The Bronx Horns and many others, as well as Clave Con Alma’s original material. The band’s name is a blending of terms. “Clave” is one of the fundamental rhythmic constructs of latin music typically expressed as the 3,2 or the 2,3 beat combinations often recognized within Latin styles. It is played by striking to wooden sticks (the claves) together to produce a piercing rhythm that is easily heard. “Con Alma” translates to “with soul”. So the combination produces something like “Latin Rhythm with Soul”, which is how we think of our music.

Clave’s members include: 

Jeremy Hull; bass

Keith Umbach: drum set

Jorge Ginorio: LP

Paul Birk: T-Bone

Karl Lampman: Reeds

Kelly Durbin: Piano

Kerry Adams: Trumpet/Flugel