Azucar! For Tuba and Timbales by Alice Gomez

¡Azucar! is scored for bass tuba and timbales, and is in three brief movements. The composition pays tribute to the late Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. Once the music really started grooving hard and those Latin rhythms would intoxicate the dancers and listeners, Ms. Cruz would shout out, “Azucar!” The literal translation of “azucar” is “sugar” or “sweet.” This composition features a combination of Latin-tinged melodic lines and traditional  Salsa bass patterns performed by the tuba soloist. The timbale player compliments the tuba part using a variety of Latin rhythms in the accompaniment.