Xperimento are seven supremely sexy badass musicians. Their music is a funky hot medley of powerfully energetically masculine jazz with riffs from Reggae to SKA and Rock, and on it goes; Xperimento defies definition, except to say they are superb.

The band are established professional working musicians, some of them have even played together before. Until a moment of providence when a restaurant in Miami asked trumpet player Emiliano Torres to assemble a band, for the house. A gifted musician since childhood Emiliano handpicked his wish list. He has extremely good taste.

Allow me to introduce the band:

Sam Savage on trombone: Luckily Sam was tricked into learning the trombone. In high school he had his heart set on the drums but was steered away by a teacher, probably for no better reason than a slot needed filling. However, it transpires trombone players are the Achilles Heal, the weak link, because there just aren’t that many of them. The scarcity means there will always be a job. Not a bad deal to make with the devil that can be a career in music. To humor his parents Sam is studying to become a teacher. But his true love is jazz, preferably including a stint in a New York City club.

Emiliano Torres on trumpet: Along with being the band leader and conductor Emiliano arranges much of the music. He says that everyone in the band collaborates on composing and that, “We call ourselves Xperimento because we are always trying new things. We don’t stay within categories.” For years he played the trumpet incorrectly, blowing out of one side of his mouth, but he was warned this would limit his talent. Patiently he explained to me ‘embouchure’, meaning the very manner in which one applies the mouth to the instrument. He said it was painstaking to relearn and it took two years, but it was well worth it and now he trumpets like a god! At some cost he had his trumpet refinished with a red coat and it is as magnificent as the music he produces.

Xperimento

Marcos Delgado on bass: Marcos who originally hails from Venezuela is tall, slim, dark and serious. He says he has always played the bass and says playing with Xperimento is exactly where he wants to be.

Derek Cintron on drums: Derek is wiry and topped off with a luxurious shiny dark pelt. He says he has never before played in his underwear but on the Friday night he melted through three changes of clothing drumming in the airless corner of the tiny stage at the Green Parrot. Saturday night he played in his underwear (modish briefs), with a change of undies at the ‘short break.’ Derek says he plans on always assuming such attire for his stints at the hot Green Parrot. Yet one more reason to catch sight of these lads!

Alan Reyna, from Venezuela, on percussion: Passionately slapping a very attractive pair of red conga drums Alan travels lightheartedly through life with a pocketful of good vibrations. Alan says that while playing, “There are moments of ecstasy.” He adds that he loves playing at the Green Parrot because the setting is intimate and, “I get inspired from the crowd and the dancers, we are all breathing in each others energy.”

Camilo Rafael Sierra Tumbao, the lead singer, goes by the name Tumbao -an Afro-Puerto Rican word which means “an indescribably African sexiness.” He is sexy, and he is shy. On stage he unfurls as the night goes on and he relaxes and while still not looking at the room, he let’s go. He sings in a soft yet powerful and confident rolling cadence of lulling sensually driven words, running them on and on into an entrancing hypnotic totally brilliant place, taking everyone with him. His sound is a train of good vibes no one wants to get off. Tumbao writes most of the lyrics and he says the inspiration comes from all angles. Also a pianist, a natural who at the age of six was unintimidated, he always made music with ease.

And last but certainly not least is Leo Boland on electric guitar: Leo repeatedly bursts with spontaneous contagious wide grins. Leo is cool and large and dreadlocked and evidently enjoying himself. I asked him what exactly he is smiling about, and he said, “I’m loving the music, loving the crowd, loving it all. I smile because I can’t help it!”

And neither can the fans. The adoring crowd is mostly women and revved up men who love to dance.

The music is magical genius and much of the time they are making it up on the spot, riffing on this, and layering over that. Their sound is fantastically gorgeous, and it sweeps one away.

Their name is Xperimento, and I’d like to say, definitively, the experiment is a massive success. If you are lucky enough to be in the NYC area on Saturday, July 27th at 8pm do yourself a favor and go get jazzed up like never before.

~ Xperimento playing at The Nuyorican Poets Cafe ~ 236 East 3rd Street, NYC ~Between Ave B & C ~212-780-9386
Saturday, July 27th at 8pm ~ $10 for a very good time, guaranteed!

~ For tickets please go to: https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?w=ef1618bbaad008f9ba24c2f1d8d6b363&t=tix

ps: If you cannot attend the show at least buy their music on iTunes- their first and as of yet only CD is called The Second Floor- a sly reference to the fun that will be had later!