Memorias by Juan Pastor's Chinchano

"We spend our lives chasing new experiences, but often, the most meaningful ones are the memories we carry with us. These memories become part of who we are, and sometimes we long to return to them—if only for a moment, if only through sound." - Juan Pastor
Drummer and composer Juan Pastor explores the profound connection between memory and identity on Memorias, the fifth album from his ensemble Chinchano. "This album feels like a huge milestone for Chinchano—it's our fifth release, and it definitely represents a more mature, introspective approach to blending Peruvian music with jazz," reflects Pastor. "Personally, it's really special to me. I'm almost 40 now and have been living in the U.S. for 20 years, and Chinchano has really become my story."
The album opens with a portrait both musical and literal—the cover features Pastor's 95-year-old grandmother Celinda, whose presence has been a constant throughout his life, and the opening track bears her name. "She has been steady, wise, and quietly powerful," reflects Pastor. "Elders like her are keepers of stories—filled with laughter, heartbreak, resilience, and transformation."
Memorias represents "a deeper, more mature take on the tradition of Peruvian music, blending Afro-Peruvian rhythms with contemporary jazz," explains Pastor. "The band explores textures, mixes meters while keeping the essential groove of Peruvian music intact, drawing from both the Andes and the coast." While maintaining Chinchano's signature sound, this release takes a more song-driven approach. "Each track has a strong melody that's memorable and meaningful, with plenty of space for improvisation," notes Pastor. "It feels like a more song-driven album, which really allows the music to breathe and connect with the listener in a fresh way." Chinchano began in 2014 when Pastor decided to bring together a group to fuse Afro-Peruvian rhythms with jazz. From the beginning, pianist Stu Mindeman has been with him, helping shape the sound and vision of the band. Over the years, they've had different bass players and horn players, but adding Matt Ulery and Dustin Laurenzi created what Pastor calls "the perfect balance for our sound." Completing the ensemble is percussionist Gian Luiggi Cortez Mejía, with each member bringing their distinctive voice to this exploration of what Pastor describes as "learning from both cultures—the rhythms of Peru and the improvisational side of jazz—and blending them into something that feels truly mine."
The album opens with "Celinda," a dedication that captures "the emotional weight of someone who carries nearly a century of lived experience." The piece begins with Cortez Mejía's cajón and Laurenzi's percussive tenor before shifting to a piano melody statement that bounces around the ensemble in various orchestrations. Set in 3/4 meter in a traditional song form that evokes vals criollo, the track features lyrical yet thoroughly modern solos from Mindeman and Laurenzi that establish the album's distinctive blend of tradition and innovation.
"Entre el Humo," composed by longtime Pastor collaborator Stu Mindeman, demonstrates the range and scope of Chinchano's pan-Latin American aesthetic. Mindeman, whose own Woven Threads (Sunnyside, 2018) attests to his expertise in Latin American music, crafts a piece that begins with melodic and rhythmic interplay—a conversation among the four musicians that transitions to a faster festejo groove. The piece features propulsive montunos and constantly shifting cajón rhythms, contrasted with a second, more contemporary theme that enters at the minute-and-a-half mark. Laurenzi's freewheeling tenor solo explores the emotive upper register of his highly personal voice before a sudden gear shift leads to Pastor's nimble-fingered cajón solo.
The title track, "Memorias," opens with Laurenzi's soulful, cri de cœur tenor introduction. Set in 6/8 meter with evident Afro-Peruvian influences, the piece builds patiently from a stark opening with tenor and bass melody over drum and percussion accompaniment, gradually developing into counterpoint between the voices as piano enters. Laurenzi's approach here recalls Donny McCaslin's work, particularly the tenor/cajón duo that opened his 2006 release Soar.
The ensemble's range extends to Venezuelan music with "Tonada de Luna Llena" by the iconic singer and composer Simón Díaz, arranged by Mindeman. The piece opens with a haunting chordal vamp in the upper register of Ulery's electric bass, establishing a mood that continues with the minor key melody doubled in piano and tenor. Atmospheric and beautifully expressive, the track reveals the gentler side of Chinchano's musical personality.
Matt Ulery contributes "Human Touch," inspired by music from the Andes of Peru (huayno), which bears the composer's unmistakable melodic and rhythmic fingerprints while providing an excellent vehicle for Chinchano. Laurenzi, who is also a regular in Ulery's groups, delivers an inspired solo full of harmonic twists and turns before seamlessly rejoining the ensemble's intricate rhythmic dance.
"Qué Frío" is an Afro-Peruvian festejo with mixed meters that showcases the individual virtuosity within the collective, opening with an impressive electric bass solo from Ulery followed by an equally compelling statement from Mindeman, each blending effortlessly back into their ensemble roles. The piece concludes as a joyous, uplifting dance with Laurenzi soaring above the grooving percussion and rhythm section.
The album closes with "Descarga Galáctica," which captures the loose jam session feel implied by its title. Opening with handclaps and percussion in an Afro-Latin groove, the piece puts the percussion section in focus, with Pastor, Cortez Mejía, and the ensemble closing the album with a slick final cadence repeated three times to, as Pastor notes, "stick the landing."
Throughout Memorias, Pastor demonstrates his mastery not only of the drum kit but also of the cajón, the Peruvian box drum that defines the sound of "Entre el Humo," "Tonada de Luna Llena," and "Descarga Galáctica." His rhythmic conception draws from deep wells of Latin American musical tradition while maintaining a thoroughly contemporary jazz sensibility, supported by an ensemble that shares his commitment to both authenticity and innovation.
In Pastor's words, "Memory isn't just something we revisit—it's something we live with. It shapes us." This album serves as compelling evidence of that truth, transforming personal reflection into universal musical expression.

CHINCHANO is Juan Pastor's modern instrumental jazz group that fuses the traditional North American jazz harmonic palette with exciting rhythmic concepts drawn from Central and South America. This distinct sonic brand is revealed through not only the original compositions, but also in the unique drums/percussion setup that Juan brings to both the recording and to the live concerts.

juan-pastor.com