The Triálogo Group takes off in the Mexican jazz scene

It is very satisfying to watch a band take off that you were present at the creation of,  especially a jazz group. According to keyboardkraze.com, jazz is the least streamed music in the United States, accounting for just 0.08% of all music streams…that goes for Spotify, Apple Music, and all the other streaming platforms. And the US jazz audience is not getting any younger. 

But Mexico is different. Jazz music has a significant presence in Mexico and enjoys a high level of popularity with a dedicated fan base and a vibrant jazz scene, particularly in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. You can find jazz clubs, festivals, and live performances featuring both local and international jazz artists throughout the country. The Guadalajara Jazz Festival is a very big deal, attracting music enthusiasts from all over Mexico and beyond.

Which brings me to the satisfaction of watching a jazz group thrive. I saw Triálogo Saturday night at the 485-seat Center for Culture and Arts of the Ribera in Ajijic  (CCAR), which presented its newest act, “Escenas Sonoras, Universos Vibrantes”. The concert was a  wide-ranging exploration of music and energy conducted by the core group – Sofia Ramírez on piano, Miguel Soto on drums, Gilberto Ríos on electric bass/double bass, and Eleazar  “Chuco” Soto on saxophone. They added Arne Wernink on trumpet and Alex Fernández on violin for the evening, bringing in a new set of colors.

The concert itself was a home run, with each song a gem on its own, and the entire concert an adventure in melody, percussion, distortion, surprises, and just the sheer joy of sound. Miguel Soto and Sofia Ramírez were especially on, Soto on the drums was a dervish with an artist’s vision that went far beyond just percussion. Sofia’s emotional light touch on the grand piano was almost enough to make you cry as she wove her notes around and inside the horns, drums, and bass.  The result was a tapestry that not only sparkled and shone with energy but which flowed with a beauty not usually associated with jazz.

I think this is why Triálogo’s star is rising so fast. Each member of the band – and their guest artists last night – is technically excellent, and together they create a jazz that is world-class musically, but just different enough that it stands out. “Chuco” Soto leads the adventure with his marvelous saxophone playing, pointing the way and fueling the engine. 

Their 2018 album Ultravioleta hinted at this, displaying their technical and musical abilities along with their willingness to travel off the beaten path and take the listeners to someplace new. The single that they recently posted on Spotify, “Blanco y negro” from their newest album Travesia, does this spades – Sofia’s piano breaks your heart in the intro and then the band turns on a dime, pours out energy and takes you to new worlds.

Triálogo almost filed the CCAR auditorium Saturday night –difficult even for major talent. People were lined up half an hour before concert time to get the best seats – a sure sign of a bad’s popularity.  They have another concert coming up in Guadalajara where they will broaden their reach even more (they have played there before, so it should be a very good audience). I will be there, feeling satisfied as I watch a local jazz group take flight.