The Bronx Conexión Latin-Jazz Big Band is a dynamic twenty piece ensemble led by percussionist, composer, and arranger, educator Victor Rendón.

Established by Rendón in 2012, the Bronx Conexión began as a “jazz” rehearsal band, performing stock charts by Count Basie, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis. The breakthrough came when Rendón, trombonist Rick

The Bronx Conexión Latin-Jazz Big Band is a dynamic twenty piece ensemble led by percussionist, composer, and arranger, educator Victor Rendón.

Established by Rendón in 2012, the Bronx Conexión began as a “jazz” rehearsal band, performing stock charts by Count Basie, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis. The breakthrough came when Rendón, trombonist Rick Faulkner and pianist Joe Mannozzi decided to include new, original material. Today, the repertoire includes a wide variety of music that appeals to listeners and dancers alike, including original compositions and selections influenced by the songbooks of Tito Puente, Machito, Tito Rodriguez, Mario Bauza and Chico O’ Farrill among others.

Rendón’s “secret weapons” are the core players; seasoned, musicians and composers with a broad range of experience and guests: trumpeter Claudio Roditi, John “Dandy” Rodriguez on bongos, tenor saxophonists Lew Tabackin, Lou Marini Jr. and Jorge Maldonado on guiro and maracas.

True Flight highlights the band’s virtuosity and offers a spectacular array of music. Tunes such as Café Sin Leche and True Flight merge mambo with traces of Cuban Timba; master percussionist Wilson “Chembo” Corniel's stretches wonderfully on La Buena Gente; Rick Faulkner contributes Lagos, a bembé featuring the percussion section on güiro, batá; Generoso, a Mambo in the style of Beny Moré and the swinging, Oriente. Vocalist, Cascadú is featured on the Brazilian Groove, Island Woman and Bob Marley’s, No Woman, No Cry. Also, the group performs a moving interpretation of Carlos Santana’s Europa (Earth’s Cry, Heaven’s Smile) featuring Joe Stelluti on tenor sax.

The ensemble has performed at the Johnny Pacheco Latin Music & Jazz Festival and various functions at Lehman College. Also, the band holds a residency at the renowned Nuyorican Poets Café, where it performs regularly on the second Tuesday of every month.

Much like the stunning cover art, by graphic artist, Victor Manuel Rendón, whose artwork depicts the performers ascending on a journey of creation as they strive for True Flight, the album marks a new chapter in the Bronx Conexión's trajectory. Listen and dance to the exciting, joyous sounds of an ensemble that is destined for greatness.