JOSÉ SOTO / THE ANCESTRAL CALL
"The Ancestral Call" is a unique form of contemporary chamber jazz inspired by the ancestral knowledge of Costa Rica's native Bribri society. This album is a pioneering fusion of Bribri spoken word with jazz ensemble, string quartet, and free and collective improvisation.
This recording highlights the Bribri's cultural significance, aiming to preserve their endangered language and ancestral knowledge. In this project, improvisation serves as a means to decolonize the composed pieces and craft unique musical expressions, representing the connection of the Bribri society with nature through their ancestors' respect. Thus, Bribri's philosophy and stories inspire music that brings to light and explores the complex historical intersections of injustice towards this society that need to be resolved. This project was released at the Lincoln Center in New York and was awarded a gold medal from the Global Music Awards. It featured the Bribri cultural ambassadors Alí García Segura and Flor Morales and the great free jazz artists George Garzone and Francisco Mela.
“A few days ago, I began to listen to the music of the Ancestral Call repeatedly. This special type of music helps people understand what a culture and community sounds like. Being from the community (Bribri), we see life, the growth of life, as an art, plant, and animal, but not as a sound. For me, this is innovative."
Bribri ambassador and Scholar Alí García Segura
“This fascinating album from pianist/composer Soto combines a jazz ensemble with a string quartet to explore Costa Rica’s Bribri community, its survival of colonization, and its resilience in still being around.”
Cultural Attaché
"Contemporary jazz in dialogue with an ancestral language, a conversation Soto hopes continues beyond the stage."
NBC New York
BIO
Driven by the purpose of creating socially conscious music, José Soto, an awarded artist, and a prominent Costa Rican pianist, composer, and educator, explores free improvisation, jazz, classical music, and Latin American rhythms. His musical education led him to study at the National University of Costa Rica, the New England Conservatory, and the master's program at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music.
Recently, he released his album titled "The Ancestral Call" at the Lincoln Center in New York, inspired by the ancestral knowledge and culture of the Bribri indigenous community of Costa Rica. The Global Music Awards awarded this album the Gold Medal, and it was mentioned in NPR's list of Best Alternative Latin Music in 2023. It has also been highlighted by Jazziz Editor's Choice and featured in NBC New York and People Magazine. Prominent jazz musicians such as George Garzone and Francisco Mela recorded in this project.
In his career as a performer, José has toured nationally and internationally with the most influential groups in his country and has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Francisco Mela, George Garzone, Luciana Souza, Chico Pinheiro, Danilo Perez, and Eddie Daniels, performing at numerous festivals in Latin America, the United States, and Europe.
José currently resides in Boston, where he works as a professor in the Ear Training Department at Berklee College of Music and Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts.
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