Marcus Tardelli – Unha & Carne (Biscoito Fino – 2009)

Even if Guinga never pronounced that Marcus Tardelli is “the greatest acoustic guitar player that Brazil has produced in history,” the musical evidence on this record, Unha e Carne (Fingernail and Flesh for those interested), would certainly put him on a pedestal right next to Egberto Gismonti and the Assad Brothers. In fact, based on technique, expression, intonation and [...]

Bobby Carcassés: Luna de Miel en Nueva York

El pasado jueves 11 de marzo, se presentó por segunda vez en el Jazz Gallery de la calle Hudson en el bajo Manhattan el improvisador de jazz, cantante, trompetista, pianista, percusionista y dibujante cubano Bobby Carcassés. Su música ha sido categorizada como “jazz cubano” y el propio Bobby ocupa hoy un lugar importantísimo en la historia de este género [...]

Roberto Fonseca: A Life in the Spirit

The considerable talent of Cuban pianist, Roberto Fonseca has now spread far and wide and if there was another dimension to enter, it would be the one that qualifies an artist to greatness. However, Fonseca fights shy of any attention that distracts from his music. A deeply spiritual person, who just happens to express himself through his art he prefers to defer to the mysterious, invisible force that compels him to make music [...]

Carlos Barbosa-Lima – Merengue (Zoho Music – 2009)

There is distinct nobility surrounding the virtuosity of the guitarist, Carlos Barbosa-Lima. His South American sojourn, Merengue presents sweeping vistas and myriad emotions described by such technical superiority as only a few musicians have achieved. Unfortunately Barbosa-Lima’s reputation has not kept pace with his magnificent musicianship [...]

André Mehmari & Gabriele Mirabassi – Miramari (Tratore – 2009)

Miramari is a musical whirlpool that bubbles with rhythmic ripples and swirls in a manner, at that describes some gentle disturbance that gathers in intensity at times. It is in this mysterious, liquified realm that pianist, André Mehmari and clarinetist, Gabriel Mirabassi concoct their sublime music mixing disparate metaphors, idiomatic phrases and images [...]

Nilson Matta’s Brazilian Voyage – Copacabana (Zoho Music – 2010)

How it is possible that Nilson Matta is allowed to fly so under the proverbial radar, with recognition mainly from his peers is one of those mysteries that music suffers its artists to bear even with the growth of the industry and media. Matta’s bass has been complementing the music of luminaries from Joao Gilberto, Johnny Alf, Hermeto Pascoal and Chico Buarque de Hollanda [...]

Arturo Stable Quintet – Call (Origen Records – 2009)

There are a few times—only just a few times—when musicians are able to find the intensity in a performance where the primordial cry is so distinct that communication with the Divine is so total, it may be experienced almost like an out-of-body one. Such is the intensity with which the artists have made the compositions of Arturo Stable come alive on Call [...]

Latin Jazz Network Radio – Jukebox – March 2010 Playlist

Jukebox – March 2010 Playlist: Claudio Roditi, Michael Simon, Arturo Stable Quintet, Luis Muñoz, Manante, Roberto Rodriguez, Oscar Feldman, Curtis Brothers, Nilson Matta, Cachete Maldonado, Robby Ameen, Viento de Agua, Colina Serrano Project, Miguel Zenón, Dafnis Prieto, Alain Perez, Pablo Aslan.

An Evening with Eddie Palmieri and La Perfecta 2

La Perfecta 2 is the reincarnation of Conjunto La Perfecta, which came to be known as La Perfecta and whose over arching mission was “to destroy the dancer’s.” The band reigned supreme from 1961 to 1968 and was notorious for its trademark duo trombone sound and killer rhythm section. La Perfecta is one of the most influential and imitated bands in the history of Latin music [...]

Robby Ameen – Days in the Life (Two and Four Records – 2009)

Robby Ameen is one of those first call percussionists who has been chaffing at the bit to produce something all his own. Now he has his chance, with Days in the Life and he acquits himself with excellence. Things might have very well gone awry, as so often happens when self producing the first record. This, however, does not happen with Ameen, as he is careful to avoid the [...]