It’s pretty tough mixing jazz with the tuba these days, but Jim Self makes it work .He released a strings album a few years ago that was impressive, and this one featuring the Latin music of Francisco Torres is just as rich.
Self is anything but selfish leading a joyful band of Torres/tb, Ron Blake/tp-fh, Rob Hardt/ts-ss, Andy Langham/p, Rene Camacho/b, Joey De Leon/perc, Giancarlo Anderson-George Ortiz/bongos. The album’s focus on Torres includes a deeply grooved Afro Cuban “Sweetest Blue” and an irresistible mambo during “For Charlie” which includes sizzling percussion underneat the brass work. The team also has some fun with the standard “Poinciana” which turns into a coy cha cha, while the dance floor gets filled on Tito Puente’s “Old Arrival.” Through it all, Self’s horn sounds logical, mixing both visceral pulse and lyrical grace, particularly on his own title track. Not just Yo, but Oye!
Basset Hound Records