Chembo Corniel – Things I Wanted To Do (Chemboro Records 2009)

There is nothing like a swinging, stomping Latin-Jazz record laden with sensuous clave and robust horns and relentless, driving percussion to stir the senses. And this is exactly what Wilson “Chembo” Corniel brings to life with Things I Wanted To Do. And this is also one more step in the journey for Corniel on his way to join the rarified space occupied by the likes of Tata Güines, Pancho Quinto, Long John Oliva and many others. Much of this has to do not just with Corniel’s wonderful abilities as percussionist, but also because of his ability to make music with his cohorts which is new and memorable.

Corniel is a mature artist and a fine, tasteful percussionist. His style may not be flamboyant, but he has this great depth as a musician. And as a punisher of the skins he is extremely intelligent. Corniel also understands not just clave, but pulse and dynamics. His work is inspired by living color and myriad timbral texture – as much as the mind can imagine. He often shows controlled passion and he certainly has a deep understanding of the metaphors and phrasing of music – no matter what dialect he sings in – Afro-Cuban or jazz. This is what makes his percussion work almost vocal. He rides his congas like a master who can tame even the wildest skins. His work on the smallest Batá (Okónkolo) together with Pedro Martinez and Ogduardo Roman Diaz, who play (Itótele and Iyá Batás, respectively) is highly spiritual and authentic. Together these percussionists – especially on “Oru Pa Tommy Lopez” is especially heartwarming as Corniel, Martinez and Diaz return the drum to its deep sacred voicing.

On Things I Wanted To Do Chembo Corniel makes short work of the exuberance of Latin American music. He swings from flamboyant to thoughtful and extreme virtuosity on “The Sultan,” a track that the great Marty Sheller wrote with him in mind. The restraint here is admirable. And this stands him in good stead as he leads from the front. And this is a powerful quintet that he leads. The group includes Ivan Renta on tenor and soprano saxophones who is especially memorable on “Tenia Que Ser Asi.” Then there is Vince Cherico, who brings that hard edge and filigreed drumming approach to the music. Pianist Elio Villafranca is outstanding throughout this recording. Villafranca, not only a soloist with a voice of his own is fast becoming a first-call sessions pianist and he is highly adept at eschewing the flash and showmanship that comes so easily to many pianists these days, replacing this with feeling and emotion instead. There is ample evidence of this especially on the extraordinary “Isla Verde.” And bassist, Carlos DeRosa is solid as a rock!

Things I Wanted To Do showcases all of the group’s formal rhythmic structures from cha-cha to classic son and rumba, with “Oru Pa Tommy Lopez” being a beautifully pure ritualistic percussion ensemble conversation with God. But there is also a spectacular array of music here. For instance Corniel stretches wonderfully on Ludovic Beier’s “Swing Street,” a track on which Beier’s accordion adds a superb harmonic twist to the ensemble sound. “Descarga Patato” and “The Sultan” are also tremendous vehicles for Corniel. “Fantasma,” although somewhat dark in tone is bewitching and beguiling and is riveting as it progresses languorously towards its denouement.

This record is also marked by several fine performances by its guest musicians. Frank Fontaine, who guests on “Descarga Patato”, is superb on flute alongside Jimmy Bosch, who growls his way on trombone. This may not be a typically rocking Latin record, but it is thoughtful and majestic and marks another giant step for Chembo Corniel in the world of Latin music.

Tracks: Buena Gente; Habana; September Cha; Tenia Que Ser Asi; Descarga Patato; The Sultan; Things I Wanted To Do; Isla Verde; Swing Street; Fantasma; Oru Pa Tommy Lopez.

Personnel: Grupo Chaworo: Ivan Renta: tenor and soprano saxophone; Vince Cherico: drums; Carlo DeRosa: acoustic bass; Elio Villafranca: piano, Fender Rhodes; Chembo Corniel: tumbadoras, Batá (Okónkolo), all percussion; Guests: Dave Samuels: vibes (4); Ludovic Beier: accordion (9); Jimmy Bosch: trombone (5); David Oquendo: guitar (3); John Di Martino: Fender Rhodes (10); Ruben Rodríguez: acoustic bass (4, 10); Tino Derado: piano (4); Gennaro Tedesco: lead guitar (7); Octavio Kotan: rhythm guitar (7); Junior Rivera: tres (5); Frank Fontaine: flute (5); Marvin Diz: timbales (3, 5, 10); Nelson Jaime (Gazu): string arr. and player (4); Pedro Martinez: Batá {Itótele} (1, 2, 6, 11), vocals (2, 5, 6, 11); Ogduardo Roman Diaz: Batá {Iyá} (1,2, 6, 11), vocals (2, 3, 5, 6); Iliana Santamaria: vocals (2, 5, 6).

Chembo Corniel on the web: www.myspace.com/chemboro

Review written by: Raul da Gama

2nd Annual L. A. Latin Jazz Festival

Held every year on the 3rd weekend of May at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre, the goal of Nederlander Concerts is to present artists and music that have been recognized by the Grammys in the category of Latin Jazz and the Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year. According to event producer, Eddie Rodriguez, “We are preserving and bringing to ‘Angelinos’ a genre of music that dates back to pianist, Jelly Roll Morton’s Habanera rhythms of the 1920’s. These are the same rhythms that found their way to New York City in the 1940s via Dizzy Gillespie, Mario Bauza, Chano Pozo, Machito, Tito Puente and are as relevant today as they were then.” The 2nd Annual Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival will take place at the Greek Theatre on Saturday, May 16th. Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 28th at 10 AM.

The one night only event will bring together an assortment of award winning artists who have played a significant role in the development and popularization of Latin Jazz. The lineup includes: Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project, Paquito D’ Rivera, Jose Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, jazz legends, Kenny Burrell and Hubert Laws and Charlie Sepulveda and the Turnaround and Giovanni Hidalgo. The L.A. Latin Jazz Festival is a celebration of Jazz, Latin Jazz and the artists who create it.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
(In Alphabetical Order)

KENNY BURRELL
Kenny Burrell is among a handful of guitar greats who have forever changed the role of their instrument. Staunch musical integrity and discriminate taste coupled with matchless technique have made him a legend among his peers. Burrell is a master instrumentalist, composer and virtuoso whose quest is to get the most out of a natural acoustic sound. And he is no stranger to Latin Jazz. Case in point, his 1963 recording, “Midnight Blue” and the tune, “Chile Con Carne,” where he collaborates with NEA Jazz Master and Salsa legend, Ray Barretto.

PAQUITO D’ RIVERA Born on the island of Cuba, saxophonist/clarinetist and 9-time Grammy Award winner, Paquito D’ Rivera began his musical trajectory as a child prodigy. D’ Rivera is a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Music Moderna, the former co-director of the groundbreaking group, Irakere and a charter member of the Caribbean Jazz Project. His appearance at the L.A. Latin Jazz Festival marks a historic reunion between he and Dave Samuels of the Caribbean Jazz Project.

GIOVANNI HIDALGO
Widely acknowledged as the greatest percussionist of his generation, Giovanni Hidalgo was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1963. He is the son of the noted percussionist Jose “Manengue” Hidalgo and was educated in Latin rhythms from childhood. While still in his teens he caught the attention of the legendary Dizzy Gillespie, toured in his United Nations All-Star Orchestra and became a noted session player, recording with Freddie Hubbard, Paul Simon and Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum project among others. In 1997 he earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Latin Jazz Category for his collaborations with pianist, Michel Camilo on the album, “Hands of Rhythm.” Hidalgo has shared the stage and recorded with Batacumbele, Carlos Patato Valdez, Candido, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’ Rivera, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Hilton Ruiz and many others.

HUBERT LAWS
Internationally renowned flutist Hubert Laws is one of the few classical artists who is able to move effortlessly from one genre to another. He took up the flute and was exposed to jazz while in high school. After graduating he began performing with the Modern Jazz Sextet, the Jazz Crusaders and more recently, the Crusaders. From 1963 to 1967 Hubert earned his “bones” as a Latin Jazz player with Mongo Santamaria’s band. Today, session work, collaborations and his publishing companies take up the majority of his time.

JOSE RIZO’S JAZZ ON THE LATIN SIDE ALL STARS
The Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars, so named after creator Jose Rizo’s Latin Jazz radio program, is a 15-piece all-star ensemble made up of legendary figures, world-class studio musicians, jazz artists, and popular bandleaders. This versatile ensemble is as comfortable playing Salsa as it is performing progressive Latin Jazz. The Ensemble and its rotating members include: Justo Almario (tenor sax), Marvin “Smitty” Smith (drums), Danilo Lozano (flute / musical director), Francisco Aguabella (congas), Poncho Sanchez (congas), Alex Acuna (drums), Freddie Crespo (lead vocals / timbales), Francisco Torres (trombone / prime arranger), Rene Camacho (bass), Bijon Watson (trumpet), Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet), Robert Incelli (alto sax), Scott Martin (baritone sax), Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet), Eric Jorgensen (trombone), Joey De Leon (congas), Alfredo Ortiz (bongo / vocals), Andy Martin (trombone), Jimmy Branly (timbales), Joe Rotondi (piano),and Luis Eric Gonzalez (trumpet).

DAVE SAMUELS AND THE CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT
Dave Samuels is best known for his approach to both the vibraphone and marimba. Dave has demonstrated his versatility and gained world wide recognition by performing and recording with a broad scope of artists ranging from Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Carla Bley, The Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny, Bruce Hornsby, Frank Zappa, The Fantasy Band, Spyro Gyra, Double Image and The Caribbean Jazz Project. During his time with Spyro Gyra, the 5-time Grammy Nominated group was named #1 Contemporary Jazz Artist and Contemporary Jazz Group of the 80′s by Billboard magazine.
Dave’s other awards include: Best Vibes Player in both Jazziz and Modern Drummer Magazine. In addition, he received a Grammy Award in 2003 for Best Latin Jazz Recording with his group, the Caribbean Jazz Project’s, CD, “The Gathering”. In 2004 he received a second Grammy Nomination for “Best Latin Jazz Recording for the “Caribbean Jazz Project’s release “Birds of a Feather” and in 2005 he received an unprecedented third consecutive Grammy Nomination for the Caribbean Jazz Project’s release “Here and Now, Live in Concert”.

CHARLIE SEPULVEDA AND THE TURNAROUND
Trumpeter, Charlie Sepulveda hails from Puerto Rico. His most recent recording, Charlie Sepulveda and the Turnaround was highly acclaimed and was nominated for a 2008 Latin Grammy for the Best Latin Jazz album of the year. Sepulveda studied at the School of Arts, the Conservatory of Music and the University of Puerto Rico as well as City College in New York. Over the years he has recorded and shared the stage with: Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Dizzy Gillespie, Mc Coy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Valentin, Hilton Ruiz, Paquito D’ Rivera, Michel Camilo, Sheila E., Ray Barretto, Marc Anthony, La India, the Fania All-Stars and has appeared on the Tonight Show.

The Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival is produced by Nederlander Concerts in Association with Eddie Rodriguez & Latin Works Music. The event will take place on Friday, May 17th at 7:00 PM at the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations.

TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH AT 10 AM
Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets including select Macy’s locations and Ritmo Latino. To charge by phone, call (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or at The Greek Theatre box office. All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. A service charge is added to each ticket price.