Arvito: The Harvey Averne Story – The Interview – Part 2

Overall, no "one-hit" album could ever come close to the total album concept we achieved with "Sun Of Latin Music". So here was little Coco Records, with Eddie Palmieri and the greatest salsa band of the moment, with producer Harvey Averne at the helm, winning the first Grammy ever given in the "latin music" category [...]

Claudio Roditi – Brazilliance x 4 (Resonance Records 2008)

Charles Mingus would have loved the way Claudio Roditi plays his horn. He is most like Clarence “Gene” Shaw. And like Shaw, Roditi knows the importance of the space between the notes; when to play a note; a quick flurry, or merely a short intricate phrase… and when not to play. His voice is unique; his sound is bright, delivered in short, round bursts of emotion and energy [...]

Rob Thorsen – Lasting Impression (Pacific Coast Jazz 2009)

Rob Thorsen is a well-studied bassist. He has not only depth of knowledge of rhythm and harmonics, but also has flawless technique expression and a wonderful intonation. On Lasting Impression, a rather prophetically entitled record, he displays all of his skills in glorious fashion. There is also a sense that Thorsen wants to let listeners know where the musical influences are coming from [...]

2009 Art of Jazz Festival – Cuban Orchestra Anacaona

Seventy-seven years after the first band was formed, the spirit of the original members of Anacaona is still alive. Today the band’s leaders -sisters Georgina and Dorita Aguirre- maintain the legacy they received from the Castro Zalarriaga sisters [...]