JOSE APONTE
BIO
Jose Aponte is a drummer born in Puerto Rico who now lives, teaches, and performs on the mainland. He grew up in an environment where plena, bomba, and salsa are cultural staples; however, he also performs in genres such as bebop, jazz fusion, and R&B. As a result, his music reflects that duality.
His group, The Caribe Club, sounds fresh and modern while paying clear homage to the musical influences of the past 100 years that have shaped the genre we now call Latin jazz. The music is original, yet clearly inspired by the iconic Blue Note sounds of Art Blakey and Horace Silver, the classic Cuban small-group recordings of Frank Emilio Flynn, Cachao’s descargas, and, of course, Puerto Rican música folklórica. Jose and his colleagues weave these distinct styles into a rich, complex musical tapestry—free of bluster or ego, never overbearing or bombastic, and always centered on the swing.