After listening to this disc, the first thought has to be “Why didn’t anyone think of this before?” Trombonist/bandleader Conrad Herwig records a gig at the Blue Note jazz club in NYC with a sizzlilng team of Joe Lovano/ts, Ronnie Cuber/bs, Alex Sipiagin/tp, Bill O’Connell/p, Ruben Rodriguez/b, Robby Ameen/dr and Richie Flores that covers El Senor Joe Henderson’s book with extra salsa and flavor.
The energetic rhythm section is perfectly picked for no-brainers like “ Recorda Me,” “Mamacita” and “Blue Bossa” but what makes this work so well is the bold and extroverted horns that blare out the themes as if it’s Cruise Night in Van Nuys. Herwig’s and Sipiagin’s macho exchanges on these tunes is exhilarating, and Lovano’s not exactly a slouch on “Mamacita.” Ronnie Cuber gets down and deep on a percolating “Blue Bossa” and O’Connell’s piano work is exemplary on “Black Narcissus.” Most of all, though, you’re going to walk away feeling you were recharged by the AAA guy with the battery cable. WHOA!
Half Note Records