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Ghost Canyon

Title - Menjunje
Artist - Roy McGrath

For those of you not in the know, Roy McGrath is a Chicago based tenor saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and educated in Boston, New Orleans and Chicago, Roy brings to bear these diverse influences in his playing and composing.

Indeed, Roy has led international tours to Mexico, Singapore, Korea and China and, blending together the traditions and rhythms of Puerto Rican music with passionate jazz solos and stirring percussion, now brings forth his brand new solo album, the highly-anticipated Menjunje out March 17th, 2023).

1. Guamani
2. Loquito Por Ti
3. Cuembe Na Ma
4. Groove #4
5. For Zee
6. Antonia
7. Linda Morena
8. Bolerito

This remarkably effervescent, and diligently heartfelt new album Menjunje (which is named after a homemade tonic, a healing drink given to you when you are�esmongao,�meaning sickly), opens on the euphorically-driven Guamani and the upbeat and gently frenetic Loquito Por Ti, and then brings forth both the drum-led hipsway of Cuembe Na Ma and the impeccably crafted, aptly-named Groove #4.

Up next is the stoically ambient, albeit still melodically-infused balladry of For Zee which is itself followed seamlessly by the lush orchestrations within Antonia, the comes my own personal favorite from the album, the encouragingly happy Linda Morena, the album coming to a close on the pleasing late night soiree within Bolerito.

A�menjunje�is improvised on�the spur of the moment, often with whatever your grandmother has in her cupboard, Roy McGrath explains. It�s a potent elixir containing a variety of ingredients:�typically�guarapo�(sugar cane juice), ginger, lemon and honey, as well as less appealing additives such as garlic and cayenne pepper. Essentially, it�s a brew, a hodgepodge of things to heal you and make you feel better but that don�t necessarily�entice your�palate.

� This project,�Menjunje,�is made in that spirit of improvisation and healing.�It�s a�mixture of compositions and arrangements,�written throughout the past five years, that feature�the folkloric rhythms autochthonous to my home, Puerto Rico:�Bomba and Plena.

List of sidemen/instruments:
Roy McGrath- Saxophone
Constantine Alexander- Trumpet
Eduardo Zayas- Piano
Efra�n Mart�nez- Drums
Kitt Lyles- Acoustic Bass
Victor Junito Gonz�lez- Conga, Punteador, Barril
Javier Quintana-Ocasio - Barril, Requinto, Bongo, Quinto, Campana
Jos� A. Carrasquillo- Cuatro

Official Purchase Link

www.RoryMcgrath.com





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