Fans of Afro-Cuban jazz are in for a treat this year. Not because a group of well-established giants are finally arriving here to show off their prowess, but because an impressive local act that’s been toiling away in Western Canada is finally getting the attention it deserves and taking a bigger stage.

Montuno West has some serious chops. Centred around Chris Andrew on piano and Rubim de Toledo on bass, along with percussionists and vocalists Raul Tabera and Luis Tovar, the group decided they needed another percussionist/vocalist with Israel “Toto” Berriel joining for their latest album, Raíces, released in late 2024. And what an addition. Berriel, originally from Matanzas, Cuba, spent 12 years with iconic Rumba group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, a legendary act that traces its origins all the way back to the ’50s.

Raíces has been racing up campus and community radio charts across Canada since its release with its infectious, groove-forward sound, blending Latin tradition with modern jazz approaches to keep their music fresh and their listeners on their feet.

–Sean Myers