In the barrio Cabanyal, ‘Mar D’Amura’ stands among houses and small shops on a quiet, long road. From down the street, the unknowing passerby would have no idea what they were walking past; but once outside the restaurant, there’s a lively patio with women chatting and men smoking just beyond the open gate. Lights are strung up and plants hang around, creating a space made for staying awhile.

As I entered the patio and moved into the bar area, I met the organiser of the Mar D’Amura jazz concerts, Shyamala. As someone who loves jazz, Shyamala regularly brings in bands to play live music at this tasty restaurant. Tonight, she brought in the Joan Benavent Latin Swing Sextet.

People began to arrive and mingle, grab drinks and sit down. Shyamala gave a short introduction to the event, naming each of the band members and explaining her vision for bringing live music to Mar D’Amura. Then, the show began.

A trumpet, saxophone, drum kit, piano, conga drums, and a bass took off in an explosion of sound. As the bass covered the lower registers and the drums set the rhythm, the saxophone and trumpet took the lead on the wild melody while the piano played along as the perfect, more subtle complement to the brass instruments.

The first songs were lively and had those of us in the audience tapping our feet and dancing in our chairs immediately. The trumpet would blare for several measures, playing the notes swiftly and with great precision. Then, the trumpet player would dip off of centre stage, giving the space to the saxophone. As the sax took over with another fantastic melody, the trumpeter would put down his trumpet and pick up a cowbell or wood scraper block. For several songs the band played continuously, lost in the music but still present to the audience. I could tell that this was a band that deeply loved their music as well as sharing it with others.

A significant moment in the show happened when the band switched from lively Latin swing and jazz to a slower, more romantic song called ‘For Maria’. This song changed the mood from upbeat and dancing to connecting with the emotions and pulling on the heartstrings of the audience. After this, the audience felt a deeper connection to the band, and I’m sure the band reciprocated the feeling.

Their last song was an all-hands-on-deck endeavour, with the band turning the instruments up louder, and the audience leaving their chairs to go to any space that would serve as a dance floor. The music reached its climax and then descended, leading the audience into hearty applause. The band sincerely thanked the audience, put their instruments away, and headed to the patio to socialize with everyone.

On my way out, a man asked me what I thought of the show. After giving high praise, I admitted I had never seen a ‘Latin-Jazz concert before this one. The man looked at me and said that I was very lucky, and that I had just seen the best jazz band in all Valencia. “Maybe in all of Spain, or even the whole world”, he corrected himself. Though it was my first Latin jazz concert, I could tell that the man meant it, and I started to believe it too.  Watch this space for more exciting jazz concerts at ‘Mar D’Amura’ organised by Shyamala.

Follow Joan Benavent on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/joanbenaventmusic/?hl=en

Report by Fiona Pacious

Article copyright 24/7 Valencia

Photo copyright Fiona Pacious/ ’24/7 Valencia’