Six accomplished musicians playing original instrumental compositions, which combine the harmonic and improvisational traditions of North American Jazz with the rhythmic and melodic influences of Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Arabic music. The result is a fresh and unique concept, which creates a matrix of cerebral disturbance as it organically mixes genres giving birth to new and twisted musical directions.
“Mostly recorded live, this CD is the tightest, most exciting to have come down the pike in ages. For example, you will rarely hear Songo as exciting as ‘Mambo Squad.’ Rick’s percussion covers the full bandwidth: It’s no big deal to clatter around in the upper registers; he’s got all the lower-mids down, as well. New Yorker got it right.” Drums etc
“…Touch is a marked improvement to Montuno Police’s 1990 self-titled debut cassette, and that was excellent. Playing in styles as wide ranging as Cuban, Arabic, and Brazilian jazz and funk, Touch starts with a mere touch, intensifies to a caress, and quickly climaxes to a full-fledged bite as it takes full control of its listeners…” The Varsity Magazine Rotate This, by Ian Roth
“The highly versatile Canadian percussionist-drummer Rick Shadrach Lazar spices up jazz with a good dose of world music. A regular collaborator of Loreena McKennitt’s, he founded Montuno Police in 1987: with five other musicians he expertly mixes North American jazz with Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Arab melodies.” Festival International de Jazz de Montreal
Latest News & Events
Geary Lane Jazz SeriesNovember 7, 2019 - 10:17 pm
Montuno Police at The RexFebruary 4, 2019 - 8:22 am
RICK LAZAR AND MONTUNO POLICE will play their Global Jazz at the REXFebruary 18, 2018 - 11:06 am
Montuno Police at Kensington Market Jazz Festival, September 16, 2017!September 7, 2017 - 4:31 pm- Montuno Police at the TD Jazz Festival, June 26, 2017May 26, 2017 - 9:40 am