Joe McCarthy’s New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
The Pocket Jazz Club, 130 W 46th St, New York, NY
Hosted by The Pocket Jazz Club
Celebrating 25 years, the Latin GRAMMY Award-winning New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band is an Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble uniting world-class musicians in a sound without borders — rooted in the Bebop tradition and enriched by African, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and global musical cultures. Founded and led by drummer Joe McCarthy, NYABABB draws from an extensive original catalog composed and arranged by McCarthy, Vince Norman, and fellow band members, with collaborations from Alex Brown, Hector Martignon, Dave Samuels, Victor Provost, and Roland Vazquez. NYABABB won Latin Jazz Album of the Year at the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards (2008) for Afro Bop Alliance featuring Dave Samuels, which was also nominated at the 51st GRAMMY Awards. In 2023, McCarthy and Norman received a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Arrangement for “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Pan American Nutcracker Suite. Before hitting the studio to record its next album, the band shares five original works from its new project, ONE: For Harmony, For Humanity, composed by Alex Brown, Luis Hernandez, Vince Norman, Victor Provost, and Joe McCarthy. Andrew Gould — Alto Saxophone / LeadAlejandro Aviles — Alto SaxophoneBen Kono — Tenor SaxophoneLuis Hernandez — Tenor Saxophone / ComposerFrank Basile — Baritone Saxophone Nick Marchione — Trumpet / LeadJohn Walsh — TrumpetTatum Greenblatt — TrumpetDiego Urcola — Trumpet Rob Edwards — Trombone / LeadAlan Ferber — TromboneJohn Yao — TromboneJeff Nelson — Bass Trombone Alex Brown — Piano / ComposerEdward Perez — BassJoe McCarthy — Drums / Bandleader / ComposerVictor Provost — Steel Pan / ComposerLuisito Quintero — Congas / PercussionFareed Haque — Guitar