Kevin Hart Latin Jazz Quintet

The <a href="spotify:artist:6b49VOI6U23AsTDR8Xf8YG" data-name="Kevin Hart Latin Jazz Quintet">Kevin Hart Latin Jazz Quintet</a> was formed in Champaign, Illinois in the mid-1990s with vibraphonist <a href="spotify:artist:2gDGfFw8t0wryveT824tpn" data-name="Kevin Hart">Kevin Hart</a>, pianist Tim Green, bassist Tim Brickner, drummer Jeff Magby, and Dan Llano on congas. The group began by exploring the Latin jazz sounds of <a href="spotify:artist:3XOVABzceOUTbR3iEz0ImO" data-name="Cal Tjader">Cal Tjader</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6SPpCqM8gOzrtICAxN5NuX" data-name="Tito Puente">Tito Puente</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7wIvJyLDNfkgdKFVxJl5tL" data-name="Poncho Sanchez">Poncho Sanchez</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:34zyN9wHRdPFVeYj4MG7oW" data-name="Clare Fisher">Clare Fisher</a>, and eventually developed its own unique sound. The quintet was featured frequently on Mick Wolfe&#39;s The Jazz Corner on WILL 90.9 FM (Urbana). Fourteen years after its release, <a href="spotify:album:0y63wKLW1HcyfP0y8fYsyN" data-name="Corazon">Corazon</a> (1996) was chosen as a 2010 top ten pick by KXLU in Los Angeles.

The group performed at events throughout Illinois including Viva Chicago (under the name of Quinteto Corazon), South Shore Jazz Fest, Taste of Champaign, WEFT Fest, Sounds of Summer, Krannert Summer Swing, Peoria Jazz Heritage Fest, Central Illinois Jazz Society, Illinois State University Student Auditorium, and Bloomington Pub Crawl, as well as numerous music venues.

The quintet dissolved in the early 2000s, and the stylistically eclectic Kevin Hart and the Vibe Tribe was formed. Kevin’s <a href="spotify:album:54qTK6LqBeYXyQmaOrwSXN" data-name="The Road to Everywhere">The Road to Everywhere</a> was chosen as a 2005 recommended release by Laura Kennedy from WGLT who says, “<a href="spotify:artist:2gDGfFw8t0wryveT824tpn" data-name="Kevin Hart">Kevin Hart</a> is a masterful musician—a generous artist with style, class and a forever sense of fun. His originals sparkle with innovation and cosmopolitan charm and as <a href="spotify:track:56gTHoBWJF4x1q02IEIdKB" data-name="Axel F">Axel F</a> demonstrates, his choice of cover material reveals imagination and vision.” Kevin also performs frequently as pianist with the <a href="spotify:artist:2gDGfFw8t0wryveT824tpn" data-name="Kevin Hart">Kevin Hart</a> Trio.