Articles/Reviews/Commentary

La Cocodrila (photocredit ArmandoGeneyro.com)

“La Cocodrila” Answers Seven Questions

from CirdecSongs.com, May 13, 2019

To call Deborah De La Torre (aka “La Cocodrila”) a Latin Jazz musician is to sell her short. While she most certainly plays jazz piano, and she most certainly makes the most of her Cuban heritage, that is but a mere hint of what lies beneath her musical surface. This Crocodile possesses a much deeper bite (more).  

photo credit: ArmandoGeneyro.com 

  La Cocodrila Coño, (But with a Swing), 2018 (Santi Molina, Manager, La Montaña Rusa Radio Jazz, England, April 9, 2019).

Vamos ahora con algo de Latin Jazz, de la mano de la pianista y compositora Deborah de la Torre, más conocida como La Cocodrila. Su álbum debut se llama Coño (but with a Swing), un título que nos encanta, publicado en el 2018. La Cocodrila es toda una veterana de la escena jazz latinera y su manera de componer y fundamentalmente de tocar el piano le han otorgado ese sobrenombre de La Cocodrila. Para quien no conozca el trabajo de la pianista, no se debe dejar engañar por el nombre, ni tampoco por el título de su primer trabajo. Detrás de Coño (But with a Swing) está la esencia del mejor Latin Jazz, clásico y moderno, hilado magistralmente por el brillante pianismo de La Cocodrila. Este Coño (But with a Swing) es un soplo fresquísimo que se escucha con mucho mucho gusto. Nosotros, ya sabéis, no somos muy de Latin Jazz pero siempre escuchamos de todo, siempre le damos una oportunidad a toda la música que nos mandáis o que cae en nuestras manos. Con el trabajo de La Cocodrila, desde la primera nota, nuestro cerebrito musical empezó a fijarse aquí y allá y oye, mira tú y venga, a bailar!! Muy disfrutable trabajo con mucho mucho Swing pero mucho mucho Latin Jazz del bueno. Enhorabuena Cocodrila, estupendo debut que aplaudimos con las orejas desde La Montaña Rusa Radio Jazz.  (Translation:  "Let's go now to something about Latin Jazz, from the hands of pianist and composer Deborah De La Torre, known as La Cocodrila.  Her debut album is called Coño (But With A Swing), a title we love, and published in 2018.  La Cocodrila is all but a veteran of the Latin jazz scene and her compositional and fundamental playing style has earned her this nickname. For those who don't know this pianist's work, don't be fooled by the artist's nickname nor by the title of her first album.  Behind Coño (But With A Swing) is the essence of the best of Latin Jazz, classical and modern, spun brilliantly by the bright pianistry of La Cocodrila.  This Coño (But With A Swing) is a breath of fresh air that you hear with lots and lots of gusto.  We, as you are aware, are not very into Latin Jazz but we always listen to everything, and always give an opportunity to all music that is sent to us or that falls into our hans.  With La Cocodrila's work, and from the very first note, our musical brain started flitting here and there and hears, "hey you" and "come over here to dance!!"  Very enjoyable work with a lot, a lot of Swing but lots more good Latin Jazz. Congratulations Cocodrila, great debut that we applaud with the ears from La Montaña Rusa Radio Jazz.    

 

"Make of this what you will, it’s caliente! (The Music Enthusiast, New Music Review, USA, Mar. 26, 2019)

 

"¡Coño! que ritmo el de La Coco…!!!" (Translation: "Damn! La Coco has some rhythm!" Read full interview / Entrevista en español here/aquí and listen/download for Complete Disc Tuesdays. (Alrededor de Medianoche Jazz & Blues, FM 91.7 in Viedma, Argentina, Feb. 12, 2019) 

"Un disco bien cubano con coletazos de influencias varias que le imprimen un carácter especial, una banda de lujo gestiona la mejor compañia posible para el lucimiento de las composiciones de la pianista. Prometido para los Martes de Disco Completo." Alrededor de Medianoche FM Raices 91.7 in Viedma, Argentina, Feb 7, 2019 (Translation: "A real Cuban record with a string of influences that give it a special character, a luxurious band manages the best possible company for the performance of the pianist's compositions.  Promised for Complete Disc Tuesdays." (Alrededor de Medianoche Jazz & Blues, FM 91.7 in Viedma, Argentina, Feb. 7, 2019)
 

 

"A Few Words About ¡Coño! (But with a Swing)” (Cedric Hendrix, Cirdecsongs.com, St. Louis, USA Feb. 5, 2019)

Check your expectations at the door. Deborah “La Cocodrila” De La Torre may be a Latin jazz pianist, but her latest album, ¡Coño! (But with a Swing) goes much deeper than the title implies. And it does so without the vocals a certain reviewer was anticipating. So much the better. 

De La Torre’s nickname translates to “Lady Crocodile,” but all that bite is reserved for taking chunks out of her piano, for which she shows raw aggression (where needed), deft touch, and a great sense of musical joy that translates easily to the listener. 

The album’s title (which means “Damn!” in Cuban Spanish) is also quite appropriate, as this reaction is elicited on more than one occasion from La Cocodrila and her top-flight rhythm section. The band could have taken a headlong dive in an obvious direction. Instead, they chose to embody jazz from many different scales, chord changes, and rhythms seemingly designed to keep the audience off-balance, particularly if they were looking for the basic good beat they could dance to. 

That being said, the Latin influence is all over this album, making traditional jazz sound a bit more exciting. Whether it’s on the opening “Bop Bop Bop Bop,” or the highly syncopated (but musically thrilling) “Dulce y Caliente,” ¡Coño! has no problem reminding you of where it comes from even as it fails to define where the music is headed. 

Bassist Ron Bland and percussionist Thomas A. Blomster make the most of the groove while De La Torre plays over, around and through it. The band is nicely augmented by Patricia Surman (flute), Randy Runyan (trumpet), Dave DeMichelis (guitar), and Rodney Farrar (cello) in key places, giving the listener a bit more to study. The melodies are enjoyable without being overwhelming, making it worthy of repeated listening. This album is, to be certain, a great musical adventure. ¡Coño! is the perfect reaction."

 

¡LATINA! (lee más aquí: Félix Amador, Jazz, ese ruido, España, Jan. 14, 2018)

"Nos llega el álbum debut de Deborah "La Cocodrila" De La Torre, pianista nacida en Miami y afincada en Denver, un disco de ritmos latinos donde pone a prueba las fronteras del jazz con su exploración constante de armonías y estilos dentro de cada tema, con su manera de llevar al límite el ritmo, su uso de las escalas, y, sobre todo, ocn una personalidad poderosa que se deja sentir en su manera de acometer los acordes. Una pianista que es un placer descubrir...  Un disco más profundo cuantas más escuchas se le dediquen, con un gran trabajo compositivo, lleno de erudición y versatilidad, una tarjeta de visita perfecta para una pianista personal que merece la pena descubrir.

Translation: (read more here: Félix Amador, Jazz, ese ruido, España, Jan. 14, 2018

We have Deborah's debut album "La Cocodrila" De La Torre, a pianist born in Miami and based in Denver, an album of Latin rhythms where she tests the frontiers of jazz with her constant exploration of harmonies and styles within each theme, with her way of taking the rhythm to the limit, her use of scales, and, above all, a powerful personality that is felt in her way to tackle the chords. A pianist that is a pleasure to discover... A deeper disc, the more you listen to it, with a great compositional work, full of erudition and versatility, a perfect business card for a personable pianist that is worth discovering. 

 

"La pianiste Deborah De La Torre, aux influences latin-jazz, vient de sortir son premier album et le moins que l'on puisse dire c'est que son style est tout à fait unique et reconnaissable. Son jeu très personnel nous emmène à l'écart des quartiers touristiques des grandes villes sud-américaines pour nous faire explorer la beauté insoupçonnée des ruelles adjacentes avec ces accords originaux aux saveurs d'agrumes saupoudrées par instant d'épices aigre-douces mais aussi par ses accents rythmiques parfois à contre-courant et enivrants. En un mot, c'est une véritable belle aventure musicale à découvrir.." (Translation: The pianist Deborah "La Cocodrila" De La Torre, with Latin-jazz influences, has just released her first album and the least we can say is that her style is quite unique and recognizable. Her very personal game takes us away from the tourist areas of major South American cities to make us explore the unsuspected beauty of the adjacent streets with these original accords with citrus flavors sprinkled by instant sour-sweet spices but also by its rhythmic accents sometimes against the current and inebriating. In one word, it's a true musical adventure to discover." (One Jazz Not, France, Dec. 20, 2018

 

"Great Work!" (Saúl Zavarse, producer, Fiesta Jazz, Dec. 8, 2018 106.7 FM Melbourne, Australia)

 

"Un magnifico disco de Latin Jazz... es un trabajo fantastico... con mucho interes a esta fantastica pianista." (Translation: "A magnificent Latin Jazz album ... it's a fantastic job ... listen with great interest to this fantastic pianist." En Clave de Jazz podcast, Madrid, España, Dec. 2, 2018.

 

"If you’re a Jazz/latin Jazz lover I strongly recommend that you pick up this CD and add it to your Latin Jazz collection. I provided a sample track “Dulce Y Caliente” which happens to be one of many favorites of mine for your listening pleasure." (Walter Baez, aka DJWalter B Nice, NewGenSalsa.com, Dec. 2, 2018)

 

"Fenomenal trabajo"  (Translation: "Phenomenal work") Jose Antonio Sánchez, @ECJAZZondalatin, Nov 30, 2108

 

 "Entonces .... me envían un enlace para escuchar un tema por ¨La Cocodrila¨, titulado ¨Coño! (But With A Swing). Pues si!!! Coño with a Swing - les invito a disfrutar del tema de la amiga Deborah De La Torre ... ella es La Cocodrila!! Felicitaciones!!!" (Fernando Rodriguez de Mondesert, Jazz en Dominicana) Review in English: "When you get something titled COÑO your eyes light up. As I was drawn in by the title I clicked this link and had a FEAST! Excellent work, the composition is outstanding, the musicianship on spot.  Love the piece and bass solos... she is La Cocodrila!! Congratulations!!!" (Fernando Rodriguez de Mondesert, Jazz en Dominicana).  

 

"De La Torre swings, often to the metronome inside her head whose sound and shape shifting keeps the music interesting throughout.  Clearly Latin ... this is a solid round up of spirited jazzy stuff that'll get your toe tapping without you even knowing it. Well rounded and well played, this is a winner of a date."   (Chris Spector, Midwest Record, October 19, 2018)

 

"La pianista Deborah “La Cocodrila” De la Torre lanza ¡Coño! (But With A Swing), su debut musical.  La pianista se mueve con suficiencia por diferentes corrientes rítmicas, bien sea el jazz, la música cubana o la clásica, su dominio agresivo del piano mientras produce ritmos extenuantes, escalas abruptas y acorde cromáticos la hacen merecedora del seudónimo “La cocodrila... una magnifica y ecléctica producción."  (more) (Translation): "Pianist Deborah "La Cocodrila" De La Torre launches ¡Coño! (But With A Swing), her debut musical work.  The pianist moves sufficiently through different rhythmic currents, whether it is jazz, Cuban music or classical, her aggresive domination of the piano while producing rhythmic strenuousness, abrupt scales and chromatic chords are all worthy of the pseudonym "La Cocodrila" ... a magnificent and eclectic production." (DJ El Chino's Solar Latin Club)