Electric Piquete Celebrate One-Year Anniversary of Superb Album ‘Azabache’
There is something in the water in South Florida, music-wise. The amazing volume of funk, jazz, rock, jam, Latin, fusion and much more pouring out of dozens of great bands and musicians there is superb. One of the great proponents of the Miami vibe are Electric Piquete, Latin funk fusionistas. They have been laying down these deep grooves since 2007!
Electric Piquete are: Robert Smiley (saxophones, flute, vocals); Charles “Chip” Gardner, keyboards, synths, organ; Ed Rosado, drums, vocals; Michael Mut, bass, vocals; Chris Correoso, guitars; Rich Dixon, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Raymond Ayala, percussion, vocals; Patrick Araujo, trumpet; and Miguel Rega, percussion, vocals.
Their performances are truly electric, with top-drawer playing from everyone in the ensemble. They have played dozens of festivals and hundreds of concerts during their 18 years on the scene. They had an album of singles in 2016 and several more singles in 2019. In 2024, they released their powerhouse album Azabache. They are celebrating the anniversary of its release with shows this weekend and more on the way.
Here is our album review (a year late).
“Latin funk fusionistas” is the perfect description for Electric Piquete. Everything is happening on this album. Every track features propulsive rhythms from Ed Rosado on drums and percussion from Raymond Ayala and Miguel Rega, all driven by leader Michael Mut’s bass. Powerhouse is precisely correct.
Robert Smiley and Chip Gardner are two incredibly talented men who play in a variety of South Florida ensembles, most effectively right here with Electric Piquete. Smiley adds flute and vocals to his resume, but he is best know for his soaring tenor saxophone. Gardner is a master of the keyboards, here switching effortlessly from Hammond B3 and electric piano to clavinet to synths.
Patrick Araujo and Rich Dixon play trumpet, and they stand out separately and especially in ensemble with Smiley. Meanwhile, Chris Correoso is a complete badass on guitar, evoking a variety of tones and crushing vibes from his instrument.
Their ensemble vocals provide the perfect icing on the Electric Piquete cake.
In addition to the band’s great originals, they close Azabache with a fine cover of the Gerald Wilson composition “Viva Tirado,” made famous by El Chicano in 1970!
Do yourself a real favor and check out this fine Miami band. You’ll come back for more, we guarantee!
Electric Piquete
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