Eddie Palmieri 50th Year Anniversary DVD

By Danilo Navas

Dedicated to his wife, Iraida Palmieri, this long-awaited DVD (due to some technical issues its release was delayed a few years) serves two purposes. It celebrates 50 years of Eddie Palmieri’s prolific musical career (one of the most influential and acclaimed in Latin music). 50 years since Mr. Palmieri started to perform as a pianist, and 50 years since he formed his first band, Conjunto La Perfecta. Innovative, respected and adored by fans and peers alike, “La Perfecta” revolutionized the musical scene with a bold, striking sound, coming from a very unusual combination of horns, two trombones and flute. Later on, Eddie Palmieri would blend his Afro-Caribbean distinctive take on Latin music with Jazz, presenting an exciting combination that would stretch seamlessly between the two genres. Since then, he’s always been at the forefront of Salsa and Latin jazz.

A night to remember, this concert took place in 2006 at the Bushnell Auditorium in Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Palmieri is in top form and backed up by his terrific band, mostly composed by long-time collaborators (Brian Lynch, Conrad Herwig, Hermán Olivera, José Clausell, Richie Viruet and more) and a few new additions (Luques Curtis, Philip Dizack). Together, as a solid, tight unit, with an impressive sound, they revisit classical tunes from Mr. Palmieri’s repertoire (Muñeca, Vamonos Pa’l Monte, Azucar Pa’Ti), covering decades of historical performances. Latin jazz fans get treated to a terrific performance with the composition entitled “Vanilla Extract”.

The DVD also offers an insightful conversation between Mr. Palmieri and Felipe Luciano (well-known community activist, journalist and political figure from New York). Mr. Palmieri talks about his life, his music, achievements and challenges as an artist who’s always given the best, and nothing but the best, to his huge legion of followers.

You can buy this DVD -a true collector’s item- online from Eddie Palmieri’s official website, www.eddiepalmierimusic.com.

Songs:

1. Palo Pa’Rumbá
2. La Voz Del caribe
3. Pa’La Ocha Tambó
4. Muñeca
5. Vanilla Extract
6. Oyelo Que Te Conviene
7. Azucar Pa’Ti
8. Vamonos Pa’l Monte

Musicians:

Eddie Palmieri: Leader, Piano
Hermán Olivera: Lead Vocalist
Brian Lynch: Lead Trumpet
Richie Viruet: Trumpet
Philip Dizack: Trumpet
Conrad Herwig: Trombone
Jimmy Bosch: Trombone
Nelson Gonzáles: Tres Guitar and Back Up Vocal
José Claussell: Timbales
Vincent “Little Johnny” Rivero: Congas
Orlando Vega: Bongó
Luques Curtis: Bass
Joseph “Quique” González: Back Up Vocalist
Julio Salgado: Back Up Vocalist and Maracas

Related Link:

The Power of the Patriarch by Larry Blumenfeld – The Wall Street Journal

Latin Jazz Network Radio – Jukebox – October 2010 Playlist

Click here to launch our audio player. See our playlist below.

# Song Artist Album Label 01 Giant Steps Benjamin Taubkin Piano Masters Vol. 1 Adventure Music 02 New Orleans Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers Chucho’s Steps Four Quarters Ent 03 Watermelon Man Conrad Herwig The Latin Side of Herbie Hancock Half Note Records 04 Melodious Funk The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project Mambo Influenciado Cagoots Records 05 Cuban Lament Curtis Brothers Quartet Live at Kuumbwa Truth Revolution Records 06 Joyride Dave Holland – Pepe Habichuela Hands Dare 2 Records 07 Canto de Ossanha Fabiana Cozza Quando o céu clarear Brazilmusica 08 Taita Guaranguito Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet Voyage Self-Produced 09 El Paisa Gabriel Palatchi Diario de Viaje Self-Produced 10 Rubastica Greg Burk and Vicente Lebron Unduality Accurate Records 11 Carnavalito del Duende Guillermo Klein Domador de Huellas Sunny Side Records 12 Conversation with a Lunatic Hilario Durán Trio Motion Alma Records 13 Como Fue Leny Andrade Alma Mia Microservice Brazil 14 Maracatu MArcos Amorim Trio Portraits Adventure Music 15 Mi Amigo el Machista Michael Simon New York Encounter Fresh Sound Records 16 Camino al Barrio Nelson Riveros Camino al Barrio Nelsongo Records 17 Yubá a Santurce Pedro Bermudez No Limits Self-Produced 18 Rumba Urbana Spanish Harlem Orchestra Viva la Tradición Concord Records 19 Susie Hansen Frank Sinatra Cha Cha Cha Representante de la Salsa Jazz Caliente 20 The Black Butterflies Afro Blues 1 de Mayo Self-Produced

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 obvious, at all costs. The percussionist is well known for his abillity to slip into almost any kind of rhythmic mode, whether deriving from samba, or with clave or swing. He does just that and then some… Ameen soaks it all and, as it percolates in his percussion brain, he channels it out through his arms and fingers into a mix of rhythms that comes alive with surprises at almost every turn.

It seems that the prime directive of the music is to dance madly as one on hot coals or a tightrope or a trampoline. There is never a dearth of surprise in anything that Ameen does–alone, or in conjunction with bandmates such as guitarist Wayne Krantz and bassist Lincoln Goines. Of course the brassmen–Conrad Herwig and Brian Lynch, both deeply in the pocket at all times, light blue flames to the melody trailing in behind it or racing in front with florentine swirls and madcap runs. Trombonist Herwig, in particular, solos in great swathes of sound that begin rather quietly and then build up into mountainous tones of great harmonic consequence. John Beasley–probably missing clave in his wrists–makes up for it all by playing beguiling lines on Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes.

Ameen is fiery on almost every song, but really pulls out the stops on his stunning composition, “Skateboard Intifada.” The title is brazen as his drumming, with furious rolls of the tom toms and heavily laid bombs on the bass drum at breakneck speed. The funky riff is followed simply but memorably by Goines, Krantz and especially Beasley. The composer also shows great tenderness in his ballad, “Una Muy Anita” and brings new fire to Joe Farrell’s “Sound Down.” “Stagger” is a fine example of a visually driven piece, where Ameen shows great skill in varying the beats to create a feeling of unsteady, but purposeful movement. His off-key figure with guitar and organ is also well knit into the melody. Krantz plays in gut-wrenching style. “RR” is a spectacular duet with conguero, Ritchie Flores.

Essentially, though this is a vehicle, which is crafted to display Ameen’s compositional skills. In this department, he brings off a near flawless performance. The percussionist also shows that he is unafraid to step outside the comfort zones of easy-to-execute rhythms. Nor does he shy away from brash and forthright manners of expression. His songs are based on sound melodies, which he writes cleverly for the bass as well as treble clefs, and this is a rare feat indeed for any percussionist to pull off.

Tracks: 1. Swiftboating; 2. Baakline; 3. Sound Down; 4. 2′s & 3′s; 5. Una Muy Anita; 6. Skateboard Intifada; 7. Ceora; 8. Stagger; 9. RR.

Personnel: Robby Ameen: drums, percussion; John Beasley: piano, Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes; Lincoln Goines: acoustic and electric basses; Wayne Krantz: guitar (1, 2, 4, 6, And 8); Ritchie Flores: congas (3 – 5, 7, 9); Conrad Herwig: trombone (2, 3, 5, 7); Brian Lynch: trumpet (2, 3, 5, 7).

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Robby Ameen on the web: www.robbyameen.com

Review written by: Raul da Gama