Celebrating their 25th anniversary, The Latin Grammy® Award-winning New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band is an Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble that brings together some of the finest musicians from across the globe. The Alliance has garnered significant recognition, including a 2023 Latin Grammy® nomination in the Best Arrangement category for "Waltz of the Flowers" from the recording, "The Pan American Nutcracker Suite", released on Angelface Records. Additionally, the Alliance won a Latin Grammy® for Latin Jazz Album of the Year in 2008 for their album “Afro Bop Alliance featuring Dave Samuels,” which was released on the Heads-Up label. This album was also nominated for a Grammy® in the same category that year at the 51st Grammy Awards®. To date, the Alliance has released eight recordings, which are featured on the Origin and Zoho labels.
The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band was founded and is led by drummer Joe McCarthy. The Alliance draws from its extensive catalog of music, which features the composing and arranging talents of Joe McCarthy, Vince Norman, and other members, including collaborations with Alex Brown, Hector Martignon, Dave Samuels, Victor Provost, and Roland Vazquez.
The Alliance has performed at several prestigious venues and events, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Yale University (Ellington Jazz Series), The Segerstrom Center for Arts, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, The Silver Spring Jazz Festival, The Provincetown Jazz Festival, The WC Handy Jazz Festival, The San Antonio Jazz Festival, The Levitt Pavilion, Yoshi's, The Side Door Jazz Club, Arlington Music Hall, The Jazz Lab, Blues Alley, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Rams Head On Stage with Paquito D’ Rivera, The Jazz Educators Network International Convention (JEN), The Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), The University of Florida, Georgetown University, George Mason University, University of Maryland, West Chester University, The SFCPA, Rowan University and The Smithsonian’s Jazz Appreciation Series, among many others.
In addition to their Latin Grammy®, the Alliance has received a total of four Wammie Awards (Washington DC Area Music Association) two for Best Latin Ensemble, one for Best Latin Recording and one for Best Big Band Recording.
Active in education, the Alliance has led numerous clinics and master classes around the country at both the collegiate and secondary school levels, including The University of Texas Arlington, The University of Central Oklahoma, Rowan University, Shenandoah Conservatory, Florida Atlantic University, Georgetown University, George Mason University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Washington College, The 'Iolani School, The SFCPA and West Chester University. The music of The NY Afro Bop Alliance Big Band is featured in Joe’s educational Afro-Cuban Big Band Play-Along Series, published by Alfred Music, named by both Modern Drummer Magazine and the Zildjian Readers Poll as one of the Best Educational Drum Set Videos.
