Venezuelan-born, UK-based guitarist Aleph Aguiar returns with Sugar on my Blackbeans, his third release and a nostalgic yet modern take on the lively, swinging Latin jazz of the 1960s. Across nine original compositions, Aguiar pays tribute to one of his favourite musical eras, when artists were boldly experimenting with Latin American rhythms and percussion.
Recorded live to tape over just two days, the album captures the spontaneity and energy of Aguiar’s quintet which features leading British musicians Quentin Collins (trumpet), Liam Dunachie (Hammond organ), Will Fry (percussion) and Shane Forbes (drums). Aguiar’s choice of instrumentation - trumpet and Hammond organ rather than the typical saxophone-and-piano combination - draws inspiration from guitar greats such as Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino. For Aguiar, the trumpet’s timbre is central to Latin American musical traditions and pairs naturally with the guitar’s phrasing, while the Hammond organ offers harmonic space and flexibility that enhance the guitar’s range and bring added depth to the ensemble’s sound.
The album’s title is a playful nod to his Venezuelan heritage - black beans are a South American staple, but only in Venezuela are they often topped with sugar. The title track, an upbeat boogaloo, captures the album’s central spirit: “simple, fun and funky”. Other highlights include ‘Panspermia’, inspired by Aguiar’s fascination with astronomy and the idea that life’s building blocks arrived on Earth via meteorites; ‘Blue Tourpials’, named after Venezuela’s national bird and built on a joropo-inflected 3/4 groove; and ‘Mondongo’, a slow, expressive melody set against syncopated percussion. By contrast, ‘Little Daisy’ and ‘One for Sorrow, Two for Joy’ offer gentler moments, the latter influenced by the English magpie superstition. A longtime collaborator in the contemporary dance world - his mother and wife are both dancers - Aguiar writes instinctively with physicality and rhythm in mind. Sugar on my Blackbeans is no exception: a vibrant album guaranteed to make listeners move, smile and have fun.
Aleph Aguiar
Aleph Aguiar is an international musician and composer, originally from Venezuela. To date, Aleph has released two albums of Afro-Venezuelan Jazz, ‘Pataruco’ (2015) and ‘Maku’ (2017). Aleph’s upcoming album, entitled ‘Sugar on my Blackbeans’ , continues to explore these musical roots whilst encompassing a broader range of jazz influences, reflecting his diverse career.
Beginning his career in Venezuela, Aleph recorded as a session guitarist with Simon Diaz, Cecelia Toth and Maria Rivas. In the UK, he has worked with award winning saxophonist Tony Kofi, trumpet player Quentin Collins and singer Heidi Vogel. He has recorded with Andy Watts Quartet, and was the guitar and singing coach for Simon Bird in ‘The Inbetweeners 2’ movie.
Currently Aleph is working with award winning jazz singer Georgia Cecil, recording guitars on her latest album and performing in her live band at renowned venues, notably Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, Soho.
In 2019, Aleph was the guitarist for the West End run of the musical ‘On Your Feet’, which went on to tour internationally. Following this, Aleph toured the UK with ‘Hairspray’ the musical. Aleph has extensive experience in the field of Contemporary Dance, working as an accompanist at acclaimed institutions such as Trinity Laban, The Place, Roehampton University and English National Ballet School. Aleph has collaborated with a number of dance artists, composing music for companies/ choreographers, including: Loop Dance Company, Clarisse Roud Works, H2Dance and Daisy Farris Dance Collective. In his own creative practice, Aleph is interested in exploring new technologies to expand the potential of the guitar as an electronic instreument. In 2022, Aleph initiated his own collaborative project, SoundStage, which brought dancers and music together through a unique interactive floor..