Review written by: Raul da Gama -

Elio Villafranca is one of the most exciting young trio of pianists to come out of Cuba in recent years; the other two being David Virelles and Aruán Ortiz. That number may well have been a quartet, had Arturo Stable chosen to remain a pianist—an instrument he started out with—before he chose percussion as his means of musical communication. But then again, Villafranca did begin his musical life as a percussionist before he chose the piano as his instrument. That both musicians appear to have chosen wisely is beyond doubt with the release of Dos y Más. Unusual maturity and erudition appear to flow through the music of this album and whether this is a result of the fact that each is sensitive to the demands and characteristics of the other’s instrument is a moot point here. However, the rarity and exquisite nature of their collaboration shines through and makes this more than merely an outstanding feature of this album. It also shows how four hands can multiply exponentially as Villafranca’s and Stable’s dazzle as they fly and move quietly and surreptitiously across keys and skins in a flurry of activity.

This is, quite simply, craftsmanship at its finest and it goes beyond mere technique, as the word “craftsmanship” may suggest. It is a matter of voices entwined like pirouetting DNA—gourds with hundreds of seeds; a chekere with a myriad seeds and shells; the glimmering swish of cymbals that accompany a dazzling arpeggio on the piano on “Yusa’s” and “Agua Marina”… These are just two examples of how magnetically attracted Villafranca and Stable are. The other outstanding aspect of the music is how inspired the compositions are. Although composed by two completely different minds the mindset appears to be almost inspirationally alike so that different and varied compositional pieces seem to have come from a person with two brains yet one personality. “1529” and “Alla”; “Saghezi” and “Vertiente” are compositions that are dramatically different on the face of it. The first and third are rhythmically complex and revel in that character; the second and fourth rely on melodic extravagance and dramatic harmonic polyphony than anything else. And yet they seem to be of one body; one soul.

Most beautiful and spectacular of all is the geometry of the compositions and the manner in which they unfold—a succession of lines, dance steps, airy curves, parabolas, sharp angles and wide elevations. Nowhere is this more superbly evident than on “1529”, a song of extreme subtle expression and dynamics and nuanced beauty for both pianist and percussionist. However, it is the gentle rousing emotion of “Cuba Linda” that stirs heart and soul. Both Villafranca, who composed the guaguancó and Stable, who anchors its stirring tide must have known this so that it must have been easy to end (sadly) this brilliant album on that note. The suspended animation might suggest something more is on the horizon in terms of a future collaboration and it is impossible to suggest how eagerly this is awaited.

Track Listing: 1. 1529; 2. Saghezi; 3. Alla; 4. Arara; 5. En la Colonia; 6. Vertiente; 7. A las Millas; 8. Yusa’s; 9. Agua Marina; 10. Cuba Linda.

Personnel: Elio Villafranca: piano, guataca, vocals; Arturo Stable: djembe, udu, dumbek, congas, bata, cajon, hand percussion, vocals; Igor Arias: lead vocals (10).

Related links: Elio Villafranca on the web: www.eliovillafranca.net
Arturo Stable on the web: www.arturostable.com

Review written by: Raul da Gama -

On Further Arrivals two forces of nature come together. One is the molten voice of Brian Lynch’s trumpet and the other is the very exciting European quartet that goes by the name: Bye-Ya! On the face of it this fine ensemble might appear to be a tribute to Thelonious Monk and, indeed, their chattering approach to music might well be the debt they owe to His Great Outness. However, the music dances to a Latin American rhythm and so, these three men and a woman are quite the singular musical entity, dancing to a beat that is all their own. And the more-than-passing-homage to Monk is clear from the spectacular “guaguanco” that is centered in his classic composition, “Evidence.”

Bye-Ya! gets its character from the supple bass of Mick Paauwe, a musician from the Netherlands, who—as Charles Mingus might has said—is one “nervy broad.” In fact, although she plays music in the Latin-American idiom here and elsewhere, Paauwe might owe her sinewy intonation as much to Mingus as she does to Andy Gonzalez from the mighty Fort Apache Band. Paauwe also has a voice that sings in harmony to Lynch’s trumpet with as much flair as she anchors the rest of the rhythm section in a manner that dances around the melodies with irresistible flair. The intention is not to dwell too much on the Monk chart, but this is very the center-piece of the album all the same.

Randal Corsen, the pianist and co-conspirator to Paauwe is the other lead voice in the group. Corsen is responsible for egging both Lynch and the bassist on as they twist and turn up and down the melodies, with solos that must heat up the lead-sheets to such an extent that they catch fire and burn as guaguanco, descarga, montuno and maracatu germinate and fertilize the musical seeds that explode and unfurl like gigantic Afro-Cuban and Amazonian whorls. Corsen has near-flawless technique and a robust tumbao. He also is brimful with ideas that seem to flow in dancing lines as they shuffle through the melodies. His soli are breathtaking and expressed with rippling intensity, best experienced on “Dance The Way You Want To.”

The two percussionists, Uruguayan-born drummer, Enrique Firpi and Jens Kerkhoff, the co-founder of this ensemble provide not just the shuffling rhythm, but also annunciate this with bold and subtle accents as the music demands. Both percussionists appear to feed off each other and in the culminating moments of “Arriba Abajo” raise their playing to an intensity that is stutteringly majestic.

Brian Lynch, who is well-known for his steamy Latin-American idiomatic phrasing revels in the volcanic atmosphere created by the other four musicians. Lynch recently released a spectacular album, Unsung Heroes: a tribute to some underappreciated trumpet masters, where he doffs his hat to such masters as Tommy Turrentine, Idrees Sulieman, Claudio Roditi, Kamau Adilfu, Howard Mcghee and Charles Tolliver. He is playing with sublime mastery and his chops are as fine as any of the masters to whom he pays homage. A long way off from his days as a Jazz Messenger, Lynch plays with unquenchable fire here as he scorches through his own charts, “Further Arrivals” and “Dance The Way You Want To” and through the rest of the program, providing a glorious, bronzed approach to the Latin rhythms of Bye-Ya! on their wonderful third album.

Track Listing: 1. Further Arrivals; 2. Descarga # 1; 3. Mellotone; 4. Tranquilidad; 5. Evidence; 6. Downunder; 7. Dance The Way You Want To; 8. Arriba Abajo.

Personnel: Brian Lynch: trumpet; Randal Corsen: piano; Mick Paauwe: baby bass; Jens Kerkhoff: percussion; Enrique Firpi: drums.

Related links: Bye-Ya! The Latin Jazz Quintet on the web: www.bye-ya.com

Review written by: Raul da Gama -

Of all the musicians who have contributed to keeping the repertoire of great Brazilian composers alive, Mario Adnet may be making the greatest contribution here. Like trombonist Roswell Rudd, soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy and pianist Misha Mengleberg who gone to great lengths to keep the music of the great pianist and composer Herbie Nichols’ and (to a certain extent) Thelonious Monk’s repertoire alive, the guitarist Adnet has created some of the finest repertory albums of Brazilian music. His work to preserve and spread the music of Moacir Santos, ranks among the finest albums of Brazilian music to have been released as is his album of Baden Powell music and of course his Jobim Jazz album. To these he has now added More Jobim Jazz, another exquisite album produced by the Adventure label of Richard Zirinsky Jr. and Mike Marshall.

Mario Adnet may well be one of the finest living orchestrators in contemporary musical idioms outside what is still catalogued as classical music. He combines the skill of Gil Evans in his use of woodwinds and brass, with a stylish use of strings and percussion and although he has not written much for truly large ensembles he is easily the peer of the Duke, or at least the Duke Ellington of small and medium sized Brazilian ensembles. His elegant taste and his marvelous sense of colours and shades puts him in a secure place where the only other reigning musicians are The Duke, Gil Evans and George Russell. He has a sensibility that makes him to small ensembles what Respighi is to the large world of classical music. Such is his extraordinarily sharp ear for timbre and for the tonal spectrum of the instruments in the brass, woodwinds and certainly strings as well and it seems only a matter of time before he uses the larger family of strings—violins, violoncellos and multiple basses.

On More Jobim Jazz Adnet seems to have tapped into the soul of Jobim, just as he did before. Here, however he is more assured than ever before. This is evident from the sure-footed manner in which he has paced the music, using tempi that are marginally quicker than the Master himself. “Wave” is a wonderful example. On lesser-known Jobim charts such as “Samba de Maria Luiza” “Marina Del Ray” he uses sixteenth notes to colour his harmonies with the most subtle hues. And in “Deus e o Diabo Do Sol” his masterful use of color and nuanced shades turns the melodic narrative into something of a masterful and visually exciting medieval battle. This he repeats in his re-creation of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” as he introduces Jobim’s beautiful “Samba do Avião”. The superb work of the trombones has much to do with this and it bodes well for the earthy energy of new Brazilian masters of the instrument, Everson Moraes and Vittor Santos.

Mario Adnet says he discovered the link between Gerry Mulligan’s Tentet and Quartet from 1953. If he goes on listening to the cool surfing sounds of the 50s West Coast, heaven knows what he will come up with next!

Track Listing: 1. Takatanga; 2. Mojave; 3. Boto (Porpoise); 4. Bonita; 5. Antigua; 6. O Homem (The Man); 7. Ai Quem Me Dera (I Wish); 8. O Barbinha Branca (The Little White Bearded Man); 9. Samba de Maria Luiza (Maria Luiza’s Samba); 10. Wave; 11. Marina Del Ray; 12. Deau e o Diabo Na Terra Do Sol (God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun); 13. Samba do Avião (Song of the Jet) (intro: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin).

Personnel: Andrea Ernest Dias: flute (4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13); Joana Adnet: clarinet (2, 8, 9 – 11, 13); Zé Canuto: alto saxophone (1, 3 – 9, 11, 12); Marcelo Martins: tenor saxophone (1 – 5, 8 – 13); Henrique Band: baritone saxophone (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13); Philip Doyle: French horn (1, 3, 5, 6, 10 – 13); Jessé Sadoc: trumpet (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 12), flugelhorn (2, 10); Aquiles Moraes: trumpet (9), flugelhorn (11, 13); Everson Moraes: trombone (1 – 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 – 13); Vittor Santos: trombone (6, 9, 10 – 13); Mario Adnet: acoustic guitar (1 – 6, 10, 11, 13); Antonia Adnet: acoustic guitar (7 – 9); Ricardo Silveira: electric guitar: 4, 5, 8, 10, 12); Marcos Nimrichter: piano (1, 2, 4 – 10, 12, 13), accordion (3, 7, 8); Jorge Helder: acoustic bass (1 – 10, 12, 13); Jurim Moreira: drums (1 – 3, 6, 12); Raphael Barata: drums (4, 5, 7 – 10, 13), Armando Marçal: percussion (1 – 3, 6, 12).

Related links: Mario Adnet on the web: www.marioadnet.com

Review written by: Raul da Gama -

From the first notes of the lilting, swaggering Afro-Caribbean melody of “Corrente” it is clear that Jovino Santos Neto is on his surreptitious way to making his Quinteto album, Corrente one of his most memorable to date. From there on, whether he is rendering a baião, a choro, marcha, samba or xoté, it is clear that his mastery of crossing rhythms as they collide with the idiom of jazz is sublime. The magical and beguiling polyrhythms of “Two Friends, True Friends” is a classic example of this, as is the mystical “Zagaia”. And then there is the masterful cross-rhythms of “Matraca,” a chart that owes much to the maddeningly ingenious music of Hermeto Pascoal, an early mentor of Santos Neto.

Jovino Santos Neto, more than any Brazilian musician, with the possible exceptions of Egberto Gismonti, Nana Vasconcelos, Sergio Santos—vastly different artists from each other as they are from Santos Neto—yet who revel in the deep roots of African, native as much as they do on European sources. These artists are in the forefront of a neo-Brazilian revolution that is setting the world on fire. Jovino Santos Neto gives notice of this with the sublime ingenuity of his composition “Vivendo no Presente”, which is as much raucous melding of native and African flavours, with its berimbau and pandeiro mixing with pianism that is technically proficient in the European sense of the phrase.

Despite his masterly piano virtuosity, Santos Neto remains a grassroots Brazilian musician. His approach to music is very much polyrhythmic rather than polyphonic and although he layers Harvey Wainapel’s saxophone and his own flute, or melodica or his piano and Ben Thomas’ vibraphone using multiple counterpoint, it is the bass lines of his compositions that drive the melodies. Thus he is able to accommodate the dancing polyrhythms of his own piano, vibes and of course the drums of Mark Ivester and the percussion of Jeff Busch in the grander scheme of things; making rhythm the stellar concepts of his music.

In the fine choro, “Pra Casa” Santos Neto pits his melodica against multiple layers of clarinets and here the roles of polyphony and polyrhythms are reversed. Yet the angularity and elemental saudade of his song is superbly crafted, with gutbucket tones and exquisite Afro-Brazilian rhythms. The visual extravagance of “Sea and Sky” highlights Santos Neto’s penchant for creating large canvases on which he daubs bright colours and hues, crossing them with thick bass lines hidden in the melody so to create the illusion of multiple textures underscored by percussion and melodica. The forlorn loops and tottering gamboling of the clarinet on “A Fonte” foretell of impending bloom—a colourful symphonic sojourn led by the woodwinds of Wainapel into a mysterious soundscape painted over by the palette of the bass and the hypnotic lines of Santos Neto’s piano that increases the drama and kinetic energy of the piece with its dense Brahms-like textures and timbres.

Somehow the final “word” is that the soul is now in a place from where it will eventually emerge joyfully. But that is a story that the next album from Jovino Santos Neto must tell.

Track Listing: 1. Corrente (Current); 2. Vivendo no Presente (Living in the Present); 3. Two Friends, 4. True Friends; 5. Matraca (Rattle); 6. Outras Praias (Other Beaches); 7. Zagaia (Spear); 8. Pra Casa (Homeward); 9. Sea and Sky; 10. A Fonte (The Source).

Personnel: Jovino Santos Neto: piano, Rhodes, flute, melodica, hand claps; Harvey Wainapel: clarinets, saxophones; Chuck Deardorf: acoustic, electric basses; Mark Ivester: drums; Jeff Busch: percussion; Ben Thomas: vibraphone (2, 4, 6, 8); Lena Simon: vocals (3); Caroline Corcoran: vocals (3).

Related links: Jovino Santos Neto on the web: www.jovisan.net

Review written by: Janine Santana -

Nat King Cole’s Latin influenced recordings of 1958 and 1962 were performed in both Spanish and Portuguese. Cole spoke neither, but sang the lyrics phonetically, maintaining his signature phrasing style. Although it sounded odd to native Spanish and Portuguese speakers, his obvious affection for the songs beloved world-wide by Latinos was accepted as it opened the door to a new audience for the music. To be honest, Cole’s versions of the songs my parents loved and I grew up listening to were not my favorite versions, although I am fond of Cole’s other offerings. What I admire about the work is his verve. Not one to be threatened by cultural barriers and willing to step up to the plate to create and explore cultural music, Cole put his unique stamp on these Latin arrangements. Fifty years later Saxophonist David Murray, himself a bold breaker of barriers, has recorded a testimonial to Cole’s excursion into the popular Latin music of his day.

Known for free-style improvisation and dissonant interpretations, Murray takes traditional dance rhythms and transposes them into a swinging, jazzy journey rich with his signature sound. With the support of a Cuban jazz ensemble and a Portuguese symphonic orchestra, as well as exciting, rough vocals by Latino Rock/Tango interpreter Daniel Melingo, Murray and co-producer Valérie Malot have offered an exciting meld of different traditions and styles that work well together.

There is an interesting relationship in the way Murray has arranged the brass, woodwinds, strings and vocals. The spices of this recipe are all pertinent. The resulting flavor is Dissonance meets Melody and Rhythm.

El Bodeguero, also called “the Grocer’s Cha Cha” Takes an old favorite and transforms it into a treat in counterpoint. While the essence of the original remains, there are many layers of sound both dissonant and harmonious weaving in and out of the arrangement while the rhythm remains true. I’d love to see the sheet music! Besides a tasty solo by Murray, there is a fun, well-formed trombone solo by Denis Cuni Rodriguez. While the piece carries Murray’s signature free –flow arrangement style, it also remains a danceable cha cha.

Quizás, Quizás, Quizás enters with all the theatricality this long time favorite by Osvaldo Farrés deserves. The creative melding of the instrumental voicings are joined by a human voice that was quite a surprise! The thoughtful phrasing, deep, rough and passionate vocals of Daniel Melingo are the perfect choice for the rougher mood of this arrangement. A veteran vocalist of star caliber for both tango and rock in Argentina and beyond, he dances his voice around Murray’s saxophone as if they were teasing each other.

Tres Palabras, a romantic favorite is given a hard punch of excitement immediately via the skillful, stunning high notes of trumpeter Mario Felix Hernandez Morrejon. The spirit of the tune picks up beautifully near the end of the arrangement with an intertwining of alto saxophone by Roman Filiu O’Reilly with Murray and Ariel Binguez Ruiz on tenor saxophones. Congas driven by Abrahim Mansfarroll Rodriguez carry the piece out in style.

Another well-known piece that has been given an entirely new face is Piel Canela, composed originally by Bobby Capó. Here we have a rendition with an elegant alto sax solo by O’Reilly. This arrangement is my least favorite on the project, but by no means does that mean it is weak. It held my attention from start to finish.

The most pleasurable tune is No me platiques, an arrangement where Murray’s mournful tenor saxophone is lifted up by the stringed orchestra. The effect is interesting, slightly unnerving yet I could not turn away. With an outstanding solo by Murray, this is by far the most expressive piece on the recording.

Black Nat, an original by Murray starts out with fire and gets hotter from there. Murray works the band and orchestra to completely support free and wildly expressive horn solos, including a very elegant trombone solo by Denis Cuni Rodriguez. Murray saves the last tenor solo for his own statement.

Cachito, a Consuelo Velásquez composition, is given a good treatment with excellent woodwind arrangements and straight ahead percussion balancing the arrangement. The string section supports a fine be-bop influenced alto sax solo by Oreilly that shows off finesse on the instrument.

A Media Luz returns us to the tango influence, highlighted by the rough vocals of Melingo. The arrangement moves in a dissonance that stretches boundaries for the vocalist, who handles the piece skillfully. Murray Captures the vocals with his bass clarinet and carries the mood through the rest of the piece.

Aqui Se Habla En Amor opens with the keys of José-Pepe Rivero’s teasing us into the tune before the orchestra and band kick in, supporting Murray’s conversational solo.

There is a bonus track on U.S. releases, El Choclo. Bandeleon by Juanjo Mosalini opens the tune as Melingo’s raspy and expressive voice treats us to a flowing tango journey that carries the listener straight to Argentina. The saxophone enters and injects a North American Jazz flavor into the recipe. This tune is a real treat!

David Murray, Valérie Malot, Producers in Argentina, Portugal, France for 3D Family

Track Listing: 1. El Bodeguero; 2. Quizás, Quizás, Quizás; 3. Tres Palabras; 5. No Me Platiques; 6. Black Nat; 7. Cachito; 8. A Media Luz; 9. Aqui Se Habla En Amor; 10. El Choclo; 11. Quizás, Quizás, Quizás (Radio Edit).

Arranger: David Murray.

Personnel: Joana Dias, Joana Cipriano, Rui Guimaraes, Maria José Laginha, Joao Andrade (violin); Joao Gaspar, Gonçalo Ruivo (viola); Samuel Santos, Catarina Anacleto, Tiago Vila, Rita Ramos (cello); David Murray (bass clarinet, tenor saxophone); Roman Filiu O’Reilly (alto saxophone); Ariel Bringuez Ruiz (tenor saxophone); Mario Félix Hernandez Morejon, Franck Mayea Pedroza (trumpet); Denis Cuni Rodriguez (trombone); Pepe Rivero (piano); Georvis Pico Milan (drums); Abraham Mansfarroll Rodriguez (congas).

Related links: David Murray on the web: www.davidmurraymusic.com

Review written by: Wilbert Sostre -

Unlike Bossa Nova, a widely recognized style in the US, Brazilian choro is relatively unknown outside Brazil. The members of Falso Baiano with their refined and gorgeous sound are trying to change that.

Falso Baiano is a choro ensemble based in the United States. Their new release Simplicidade: Live at Yoshi’s was recorded live at Yoshi’s Club in Oakland, California in July 5, 2010, and captures vividly the richness and beauty of choro music. The album starts with the more familiar samba rhythms of Nelson Cavaquinho “Caminhando”, followed by the melancholic, delicate sound of the choro “Simplicidade”.

Jovino Santos Neto joins the group, playing piano and flute on three of his compositions. The classically tinged piano intro on “Feira Livre”, where Neto cleverly quotes lines from the ballet The Nutcracker, quickly turns into a contagious baião, a music style from the north of Brasil. Santos Neto masterfully plays the flute on “Kenny É Você” and engages in a superb dialogue with Zack Pitt-Smith on the soprano saxophone. Neto goes back to the piano on his beautiful composition “Rosa Cigana”.

Neto also plays the piano on Pixinguinha’s “Cheguei”, on the sublime interpretation of Jacob de Bandolim “Doce de Côco” and the accordion on Sivuca “Forró na Penha”.

The release also includes special guest Brian Rice on percussion in “Cheguei”, “Feira Livre”, Kenny É Você” and “Forró na Penha.”

Track Listing: 1. Caminhando; 2. Simplicidade; 3. Cheguei; 4. Feira Livre; 5. Kenny É Você; 6. Rosa Cigana; 7. Bem Brasil; 8. Deixa o Breque; 9. Doce de Côco; 10. Forró na Penha.

Personnel: Zack Pitt-Smith – saxophones, flute; Jesse Appelman – mandolin; Brian Moran – guitar; Ami Molinelli – percussion. Special guests: Jovino Santos Neto – piano, flute; Brian Rice – percussion

Related links: Grupo Falso Baiano on the web: www.grupofalsobaiano.com

Review written by: Wilbert Sostre -

The whole concept of Peter MacDonough’s album The Woo: A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone, from the cover art to the name of the songs is based on the movie The Wizard of Oz. Reinterpretations of movie songs is not something new in jazz, John Coltrane did it with My Favorite Things, a song from The Sound of Music. But what MacDonough did here is a Latin Jazz version of a complete movie soundtrack. And just as Coltrane did on My Favorite Things, MacDonough also plays the soprano sax.

MacDonough’s creative and refreshing arrangements bring new life to the music of this classic movie. The sublime sounds of the soprano sax on “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” serves as an intro to the samba rhythms of “We’re off to see the Wizard”. The short tango “Miss Gulch” gives way to the dark, kind of melancholic jazz ballad, “Come out, come out wherever you are Part I”. In “Come out, come out wherever you are Part II”, the same music sounds happier with a smooth jazz arrangement. After the 6/8 African rhythms of “Lions and Tigers and Bears”, the band goes once again into the contagious rhythms of Samba in “Optimistic Voices”.

The samba-reggae “Merry old land of Oz” and the Cuban danzon version of “If I only had” takes the listener to the sounds of the Caribbean. Listening to the nice tumbao and Michael Spiro’s conga solo at the end of the track, is hard to believe these guys (except for Jovino Santos Neto) are not from Latin America.

After the excellent vocals of Australian Adrian Payne over a clave rhythm on “March of the Winkies“, finally the song most people recognize from the Wizard of Oz, “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. With so many recordings of this classic it is hard to come up with an original and fresh arrangement. The odd time signatures on this version do the trick.

The album ends up with the gorgeous piano of Jovino Santos Neto in the light samba “If I were the king of the forest”, the soothing soprano sax sound of “The Lullaby League”, the danceable “Ding Dong” and a more intimate reprise of “Somewhere over the Rainbow”.

Track Listing:

1. Follow the yellow brick road
2. We’re off to see the wizard
3. Miss Gulch
4. Come out come wherever you are Part I
5. Come out come wherever you are Part II
6. Lions and tigers and bears
7. Optimistic voices
8. Merry old land of Oz
9. If I only had
10. March of the Winkies
11. Somewhere over the rainbow
12. If I were the king of the forrest
13. The lullaby league
14. Ding dong
15. Somewher over the rainbow (reprise)

Personnel:

Peter MacDonough – soprano saxophone
Jovino Santos Neto – piano
Mark Levine – piano
Michael Spiro – percussion
David Belove – bass
Paul Van Wageningen – drums

Review written by: Wilbert Sostre

Related links:

Peter MacDonough on the web: www.petermacdonough.com

Review written by: Wilbert Sostre -

Born in Bronx, NY, multi instrumentalist Rick Arroyo began playing piano at the age of 9, drums at age 11, congas, vibraphone at the age of 14 and has worked with some of the best Latin jazz musicians in the US. All that experience shows on his album Mr. P.

The album starts with “Mr. P”, dedicated to master Puerto Rican pianist Eddie Palmieri. The “afinque” on this piece (afinque means playing tight) is reminiscent of the glory days of salsa music. Eddie Palmieri was a big part of the salsa movement back in the seventies. Even the montunos played by Rick Arroyo on this track and throughout the album echoes the sound of Palmieri.

The tempo slows down for the beautiful bolero “Claudia”, the Brazilian sounds of “Across the Miles” and for “Another Monday”, a piece that starts as a bossa nova and quickly changes into Afro Cuban rhythms. Artie Webb on flute has some excellent moments on “Another Monday”, improvising with elegance and emotion.

The band goes back to the Caribbean in the Cuban Son “Feeling the Change”, an interesting arrangement with constant changes in tempo. This time is Rick Arroyo who shines on piano, playing some crisp, melodic breaks.

On the second half of the album, Arroyo and his band add a latin flavor to some jazz classics like “Equinox”, “Blue Bossa”, and “Song for my father”. Especially creative and exciting are the Latin jazz arrangements of Horace Silver “Song for my Father” and the energetic salsa arrangement of Kenny Dorham “Blue Bossa”.

Track Listing:

1. Mr. P
2. Another Monday
3. Across the miles
4. Feeling the change
5. Equinox
6. Blue Bossa
7. Claudia
8. Song for my Father
9. Flight to Jordan

Personnel:

Rick Arroyo – piano, cha cha bell, chekere, Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez – bongos, clave, bongo bell, Artie Webb – flute, Tata Palau, Rob Stone – alto sax, Rob Mader – alto sax, flute, Matt Taylor – tenor sax, Glenn Colby, Dave Perrico, Chris Ecklund – trumpet, Eddie Di Marino, Adrian Garcia, Jiovanni Cofino, Mario Trejo – bass, Mitchito Sanchez – congas, chekere, Alex de Jesus – congas, Pepe Jimenez, Steve Gutierrez – drums, Dwayne Matos – timbal.

Review written by: Wilbert Sostre

Related links:

Rick Arroyo on the web: www.facebook.com/rick.arroyo

These musicians are finely tuned with each other, particularly in the title cut, but why, oh why did they choose to leave out percussion, with the exception of piano? It creates a strange and gaping hole in the otherwise beautiful arrangements. A number of years ago LP and other music companies would produce training recordings where all players were top-notch and percussion was purposely left out, thereby allowing students to learn by playing along with the records. It was a training exercise. Unfortunately, to me that is what much of this otherwise tasteful and creative recording sounds like. To eliminate such important voices from Brazilian music in particular is like trying to play a chord with one finger.

Happily, Koorax has a very rich, earthy quality to her voice, allowing a sense of grounding to anchor the arrangements and the tight lock of the rhythm section is solid enough to lessen the size of the previously mentioned gaping hole in the sound.

Granted, this reviewer is a professional percussionist. In order to ensure the missing sound was not merely a personal bias, I played the recording without comment for a non-musician friend. She found the music to be pretty…but also felt something was missing although she wasn’t sure what.

Despite that perplexing reflection, this is an interesting project that expresses a love of Brazilian style Latin Jazz. Tender piano begins the first offering, Fotographia, before the velvety voice of Koorax enters. Her interpretation is moving, mature and sweet. There seems to be just a tiny bit more reverb effect on her voice than I am comfortable with. I wanted to hear her voice without any echo at all. Her vocal timbre is a nice match with the deep, spacious and rich tones of Schärli’s trumpet. Each musician’s phrasing envelops the other’s, evoking a haunting emotional power to this beloved Jobim composition.

In Sandalia Dela the trumpet carries the tune with a crisp, clear sound that contrasts the previous cut. As the vocals and rhythm section enter, the trumpet does a fantastic job of mimicking a cuica voice. Yes, I miss hearing an actual cuica here, but I thought this was a fun and playful choice. Mixing trumpet and vocals is not always easy and beautiful, but here it works. Hans-Peter Pfammatter delivers a fun piano solo in this arrangement that rides over a slightly dirty bass. I feel it would benefit this version to bring the vocals out over the instruments a little, yet it is a fun and energetic piece that all four musicians deliver well.

Septembro has a better balance between the levels of vocals and trumpet work, resulting in a more attractive blend. This allows a fuller appreciation of Koorax and Schärli’s intelligent and heartfelt interplay. Pfammatter delivers a lovely use of dynamics in the piano work in this piece.

Pfammatter composed the next cut, Wedileto, where the pitch skills and vocal control of Koorax are highlighted as she enters in concert with the trumpet. The vocals and trumpet use the same tones, an unusual choice.

The title cut, O Grande Amor, is a Jobim/Moraes tune which is beloved and has been covered by many artists around the globe. Here it is given a beautiful treatment with skillfully interpreted vocals by Koorax, strengthened even more by attentive piano accompaniment. With muted trumpet by Schärli and a cleaner, steady bottom bassline held up by Thomas Dűrst, this is the most elegant, lyrical piece on the recording.

The samba Deixa breaks the soulful mood with a lively, relaxed version of the Baden Powell/Vinicius de Moraes composition. It contains thoughtful trumpet work – but loses quite a bit of potential from the lack of percussion, despite the good lock of bass and piano. This is another tune where vocal and trumpet play with the same tones simultaneously.

Entering with vocals and bowed bass, Para Machucar Meu Coraçao brings in a haunting flavor before it moves into a steady, pretty version of this classic. The mix is improved in this cut, with the vocals and trumpet not competing as much when appearing together in the composition. The trumpet solo contains very thoughtful phrases, with the piano solo picking up on those and carrying it forward.

The final piece, Zum Zum begins with wild, outspoken sounds and at last works in some percussion from bass and piano as the musicians explore other parts of their instruments, hitting the soundboards and strings to create percussion. Overtones are allowed to ring freely, filling in space before the bass and piano fall into steady rhythm. Koorax’s delightful vocals fall in and pulling the tune together actually drive the piece forward while the trumpet lines soar above the rhythm and vocals.

Despite the glaring omittance of percussion, this CD has many outstanding moments and is an interesting project, especially for fans of the beauty of Koorax’s voice and phrasing.

Track Listing:

1. Fotografia
2. Sandalia Dela
3. Setembro
4. Wedileto
5. O Grande Amor
6. Deixa
7. Para Machucar Meu Coraçao
8. Zum Zum

Personnel:

Ithamara Koorax, vocals
Hans-Peter Pfammatter, piano
Thomas Dűrst, bass
Peter Schärli, trumpet

Produced by TCB Music and Peter Schärli

Related links:

Peter Schärli on the web: www.schaerlimusic.ch/en/
Ithamara Koorax on the web: www.koorax.com/

In recent years, Roditi has come into his own again in intimate settings that he has created with fellow Brazilians, percussionist Duduka Da Fonseca, bassist Leonardo Cioglia among others. And his work literally shines in deep bronze colors and shades. Roditi has a singular voice as melodious and spare as that of Lee Morgan and Clifford Brown, both of whom he once cited as reasons for his coming to the US. However, Roditi has forged a path of his own, melting the sensuous nature of Brazilian music into an idiom aglow with the infinite ache of saudade and alive with bebop. So stunning and inimitable is his sound that he seems to set fire to a room in which his music is heard and much of this comes in fact from the exquisite recordings he has made with George Klabin and Resonance Records.

His third album is Bons Amigos that takes its name from a gorgeous melody created by another fine Brazilian musician, Toninho Horta. Once again Roditi soars and this time, it seems, into the proverbial azure so much so that he creates a blues of his own. It is the warmth of his tone, which can be both heartbreaking and joyous at the same time, that seems to emanate from so deep within his musical soul that it brings with it a gravitas that creates splashes of color and shade of mauve and brown and gold as well as indigo and deep blue. His silken timbre is gracefully resonant and infinitely bold and his notes rise and fall like cascading waves. He is—in a word—unique. Roditi has also picked his repertoire here with such studied majesty that the charts sound positively regal even as they are quite accessible to even the casual fan.

“O Sonho,” with its brisk “maracatu-like” rhythmic attack makes a stunning beginning for the album that rises to greater heights as it progresses. Roditi’s latest drummer, the brilliant Mauricio Zottarelli gives notice here that he is a force to reckon with as he shades the piece with earthy tones and polyrhythms. Elsewhere—on “Fantasia” for instance—Zottarelli shows how sensitive he can be. Roditi is also joined by the Brazilian guitarist, Romero Lubambo, one of the finest and oddly, one of the most neglected geniuses of modern guitar. Lubambo shows his ingenuity throughout, especially on “Amandamada” where he appears almost vocal-like on electric guitar. Nicaraguan pianist, Donald Vega is another member of Roditi’s stellar cast here and wastes no time in showing how much in the pocket he is, especially on the trumpeter’s original, “Levitation”.
Then there are the two outstanding pieces on the album: the first is “Ligia,” a heartbreaking ballad featuring Roditi on vocals. With a voice so full of longing and remarkable phrasing, Roditi negotiates a marvelous piece. And then there is “Piccolo Samba” played on the piccolo trumpet, a rather difficult instrument that Roditi has appeared to have come to terms—even mastered in his own way. This chart also features a fine solo from the Italian bassist, Marco Panascia.

This album must surely cement Claudio Roditi’s reputation as a modern master of brass and win him both accolades and awards if true aficionados in this otherwise dismaying industry are paying close attention.

Track Listing:

1. O Sonho
2. Para Nada
3. Bossa de Mank
4. Ceu e Mar
5. Bons Amigos
6. Ligia
7. Levitation
8. Fantasia
9. Amandamada
10. Piccolo Samba.

Personnel:

Claudio Roditi: trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, vocal (6); Romero Lubambo: electric and acoustic guitars; Donald Vega: piano; Marco Panascia: bass; Mauricio Zottarelli: drums.

Claudio Roditi on the web: www.resonancerecords.org/claudioroditi

Review written by: Raul da Gama