Zaccai Curtis Gets Grammy Nod for ‘Cubop’ Album
A Hartford, Connecticut native has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Latin Jazz category.
Zaccai Curtis’ album “Cubop Lives” celebrates a style of Latin Jazz that combines Afro-Cuban music with Bebop.
Curtis said “Cubop” was especially popular in the 1940s, made famous by artists like Tito Puente, before it was absorbed into other styles. So he’s delighted at the critical recognition for this revival album.
“It’s like a period piece record,” he said in an interview. “It’s not even the type of music I play every day. I don’t hear too many people playing it. But it’s the music I love. I absolutely love to play it and I study it.”
Curtis, a pianist and composer, said he was lucky to find other musicians who could play Cubop, including his brother Luques Curtis.
