Urbanessence

Carrillo captures the essence of Freddie Hubbard in his prime - the brash, pithy bite on trumpet and, on flugelhorn, the burnished majesty and hoppy sparkle that allows even a heartfelt ballad to preen and pirouette.
Chicago Examiner

Urbanessence, the second solo album by veteran trumpeter and composer Tito Carrillo, is an homage to the funky beauty and unique energy of city life—where profound human connections are established daily with those who look and speak differently from one another, and where the art, language and delicacies from every tribe are celebrated. Cities are home to the creators, the visionaries, and the innovators, who marshal armies of people motivated by the hope they provide and the vision they impart. For the artists themselves, the city is their playground. With saxophonist Troy Roberts, pianist Ben Lewis, bassist Clark Sommers, drummer Jay Sawyer, and percussionist Victor Gonzalez, Carrillo channels and celebrates the black music traditions from the three Americas through this set of 10 original compositions.

"...a skilled improviser, building complex and multi-faceted musical lines with seeming effortlessness."
Chicago Jazz Magazine

Production Info:

Produced by Tito Carrillo
Recorded by Vijay Tellis-Nayak
at Transient Sound, Chicago, IL
September 19 & 20, 2021
Mixed & mastered by Rich Breen
at Dogmatic Sound, Burbank, CA
All photos by Kari Peacock
Cover design & layout by John Bishop

Reviews of Urbanessence

Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
The other jazz tradition has been around as long as the music itself, as Jelly Roll Morton introduced "The Latin Tinge" to his earliest recordings. Here, street level Latin pulses are delivered by trumpeter and leader Tito Carrillo and his percolating band of Troy Roberts/sax, Ben Lewis/p, Clark Sommers/b, Jay Sawyer/dr and Victor Gonzalez/cong. Th ...

All About Jazz (Paul Rauch)
Trumpeter Tito Carillo's second bite of the apple on Origin was more than a decade in the making, following up his outstanding first release, Opening Statement (Origin, 2011). With Urbanessence (Origin, 2022), the Chicago-based artist is truly up to the task, producing a work which is an homage to everyday life in the city. The narrative makes the ...

WDCB (Paul Abella)
Fun fact: the weekend that trumpeter Tito Carrillo recorded Urbanessence, I played the late-night shows opposite his group at Andy's. I got to see this group up close and personal, crushing every twist and turn on these compositions, swinging and grooving effortlessly, and bringing intensity and excitement to every song in their sets. So, as you ca ...

Latin Jazz Net (Raul Da Gama)
The album Urbanessence – the sophomore recording by trumpeter Tito Carrillo – is his musical palimpsest. Rich in colour, texture and with the radiant timbre of his brass instrument [sometimes softened by a mute, yet still aglow], inflaming the angular riches of the woodwinds of Troy Roberts, Mr Carrillo's horn burns with the zeal for the Black ...

The Jazz Word (Nolan DeBuke)
Tito Carrillo is back with his second Origin Records release called Urbanessence. The trumpeter and composer says of the album, "I love the energy of the city, always have. Having been born in Austin, TX, and raised musically in Chicago, I've always been drawn to the melting pot, the high-energy pace, the festivals, the food, the diversity of cultu ...

Take Effect (Tom Haugen)
The seasoned trumpeter and composer Tito Carrillo returns with a sophomore album, where he explores the distinct energy of city life along with Troy Roberts (sax), Ben Lewis (piano), Clark Sommers (bass), Jay Sawyer (drums) and Victor Gonzalez (congas). "Momentum" starts the listen with a lively energy, where bright brass and frisky drumming he ...

Jazz Sensibilities (Jeff Becker)
Tito Carrillo has released his second Origin Records album titled Urbanessence. Carrillo has composed nine originals and included an original from Phil Koceril. The trumpeter and composer mixes jazz, salsa, Latin jazz, gospel, blues, funk, and soul to form a magical blend of music he calls Urbanessence. The ensemble is Carrillo on trumpet; Troy Rob ...

Jazz Music Archives (Carmel de Soto)
Tito Carrillo's latest album, "Urbanessence" on Origin Records, is a must-hear. This trumpet player and composer is mixing it up, blending jazz, salsa, Latin jazz, gospel, blues, funk, and soul to create a unique and magical musical experience. Carrillo even included an original track from Phil Koceril to mix things up even more. Carrillo's ense ...