Acclaimed pianist, composer, and arranger Irving Flores is set to release his most ambitious project yet, Armando Mi Conga (Amor de Flores Productions), available on CD and all streaming platforms beginning August 26, 2025. A vibrant celebration of Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz, the nine-track album blends virtuosity with soul, featuring an all-star lineup of legendary musicians including Giovanni Hidalgo (congas), Brian Lynch (trumpet), Horacio “El Negro” Hernández (drums), John Benítez (bass), and Norbert Stachel (sax, clarinet, flute).
“This is a love letter to Latin America,” says Flores. “It’s my journey and a tribute to the rhythms that shaped me.” The album includes eight original compositions and a bonus solo piano rendition of “With Amanda en Favignana,” written for his wife while on holiday in Sicily. The title track, “Armando Mi Conga,” arrives as a lead single on August 8, spotlighting the infectious energy and precision of the ensemble. All About Jazz has already named it a Song of the Day.
Written in Mexico City as a tribute to legendary conga player Armando “Pinaca” Espinosa, the track features an introduction by Giovanni Hidalgo, honoring his father José “Mañengue” Hidalgo. Flores reflects, “One of the most exciting moments of my life was recording with these giants in New York City. It was an explosion of talent and happiness.”
Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Flores was immersed in Afro-Cuban rhythms from an early age, guided by his father, the founder of the Tampico Orchestra. He began performing on organ and alto sax, eventually leading his own ensemble, the Irving Flores Super Combo. After formal studies in Mexico City and a move to the U.S., Flores has become a driving force in Latin jazz, collaborating with icons like Poncho Sanchez, Airto Moreira, and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
Recorded live at East Side Sound in New York during two intensive 10-hour sessions in March 2024, Armando Mi Conga captures the spirit of live performance with extraordinary immediacy. Each track showcases a different facet of Flores’s vision—from the fiery rhythms of “Gary en Nanchital” and the lyrical beauty of “With Amanda en Favignana”, to the contemplative solo piano rendition of the same tune as a bonus track. Other standout pieces include “Tramonto A Massa Lubrense”, “Samba Con Sabor”, and “Recuerdos”, all demonstrating the interplay between piano, rhythm section, and horns in moments of breathtaking improvisation.
Flores celebrates the release this fall with live performances at the San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival (Oct. 2) and an album release show at Sam First in Los Angeles (Oct. 4), followed by appearances in Tijuana, San Jose, San Francisco, and Palo Alto. Armando Mi Conga stands as a testament to a lifetime of musical mastery, passion, and devotion to the Afro-Cuban jazz tradition.
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