Latin jazz has a certain something that makes it impossible to just sit still and listen. Even as I type I'm typing to a salsa beat. This is no sanitised bossa-nova but a revival of the style set down by Mongo Santamaria in the 1960s. It doesn't matter if you don't speak Spanish or Portuguese, the vocals have such a pulse that, to the non-linguist, they're another instrument augmenting both front line and rhythm section - and what a section!
Almario blows tenor as if he was on a non-stop flight from Tampa to Mexico City in Storm Eta. It's turbulent but he takes the calm and the storm in his stride. MD Lozano does amazing things on flute. Is it a bird? No, it's Lozano making his tongue work overtime!
José Rizo who co-produced the album is a Los Angeles DJ who hosts Jazz on the Latin Side on KKJZ (KJazz 88.1 FM). However, don't trying tuning in to 88.1 in the UK - you'll get BBC Radio 2!
So, if you are unable to get south of the border, this is a pretty good substitute. Further more, if you think Herbie's version of Watermelon Man is the definitive one then, let me tell you that this one runs it pretty damn close!
Lance
Available via usual suspects.
Justo Almario (tenor sax, flute); Danilo Lozano (flute, musical director); Ramon Banda (timbales); Dayren Santamaria (violin); Joey De Leon (congas); Francisco Torres (trombone); James Zavaleta (lead vocals); Joe Rotondi (piano); Alfredo Ortiz (guiro, bongo, bell, chekere, vocals); George Ortiz (timbales); Ross Schodek (bass) + guest vocalists: Darynn Dean, Yoshigei Rizo, Alexis De La Rocha.
No comments :
Post a Comment