He's got the beat

Cape St. Claire resident Joe McCarthy plays seven different percussion instruments for the Latin jazz group he founded and leads, Afro Bop Alliance.

"It's pretty amazing," said Connecticut vibraphone and marimba player Dave Samuels, who has worked with Mr. McCarthy and Afro Bop. "It's very octopus-like. You'd never know it just by looking at him (performing) - it's not like he's all over the stage."

Afro Bop's recent collaboration with Mr. Samuels' Caribbean Jazz Project is up for a Latin Grammy next month. The CD is contending with four others in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album and features nine instrumental cuts.

"We're very excited about it," said Mr. McCarthy, whose full-time gig is as principal percussionist for the Naval Academy Band. "Even just to be nominated is more than I ever expected."

Afro Bop has been together for six years and put out three albums. The current configuration of the band includes seven musicians, five of whom play or have played for the military.

Mr. McCarthy said all that experience makes Afro Bop a highly skilled and polished unit. Saxophonist Luis Hernandez of Springfield, Va., who also plays in the U.S. Navy Band, agreed.

"The stuff we do, the music is pretty advanced and complex," he said.

The other members of Afro Bop are

Tim Stanley of Annapolis, Dan Drew, Harry Appelman, Max Murray and Felix Contreras.

"I think the most prominent strength of Afro Bop, musical camaraderie, may not be obvious to the audience," Mr. Contreras, who plays the congas and works as a reporter for National Public Radio, wrote in an e-mail. "It's a thrill to experience a group of seven extremely talented individuals playing as seven parts of a whole."

All that jazz

Mr. McCarthy, 43, was first smitten with Latin jazz as a college student when he heard some bands play in New York City. He left intrigued with the genre and determined to play that kind of music himself.

This was harder than it sounds, however, since the traditional bands he heard didn't use drums at all. But, as he said, "I like challenges."

"When you're playing that music, you're using everything you've learned," he added.

Mr. McCarthy, who is also an adjunct professor of music at Georgetown University, said he's constantly trying to hone his skills. "I'll be working on it the rest of my life," he said. "(I want) to keep the element of surprise and be consistent."

Mr. McCarthy said he's both relaxed and energized by Lain jazz. "You have to be relaxed to sell the music, but there are times we play that we get very excited," he explained.

The only restrictions for Afro Bop are the busy schedules of its members, which translates into a limited number of concert dates.

But Mr. Stanley, who plays trumpet and is also in the Navy Band, said the vibes are so positive when Afro Bop gets together that he wants to play with them as much as possible.

"It's always so good to play with everyone in the band." Mr. Stanley said. "It's just a great ensemble."

For more information about Afro Bop Alliance, visit the Web site at www.afrobop.com. The ninth annual Latin Grammy Awards take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 13 in Houston and will broadcast live on the Univision Network.