Sometimes the “latin tinge” permeates jazz, and sometimes “jazz” permeates the latin tinge. That’s the story of, that’s the glory of…these four wonderful recordings.
Bandoneon player Hector Del Curto explores the songbook of Astor Piazzolla with Pedro Giruado/b, Sami Mardinian/vio, jisoo Ok/cello and Octavio Brunetti-Gustavo Casenave/p on this lithe and lively tribute. The feel is lighter on the feet and less sharply angular than some of the “Nuevo Tango” releases, making it a lot more acceptable to the ears, with the extra strings on “Verano Porteno” and “Zum” creating an almost classical/chamber feel. Del Curto’s Bohemian feel of the Bandoneon on “Michelangelo 70” and “Fugata” is wondrous and folksy, while the added piano of Pablo Zieglar on material like “Adios Nonino” gives a more jazzy feel to this successful melding of styles.
Drummer Duduka Da Fonseca has been on a roll with his trio lately, and this latest one of (mostly) band composed pieces is a true winner. Along with David Feldman/p and Guto Wirtti/b, Fonseca shows that the team can drive like a Maserati through tricky terrain as on “Duduka’s Mood” or can cruise at a jaunty grace as on the romantic “Solito.” The supercharged material such as “Zelao” and “Samblues” is V8 all the way, while Feldman’s delicate touch along with Da Fonseca’s tasty cymbal work on “Bad Relation” is as refined as fins on a 61 Caddy. Impressive interplay all around on this festive session.
Grupo Cha Cha is a rotating styled group centered around the core team of Lise Gilly/fl-sax, Victor Garcia/tp-voc, Brett Bentelier/b, Alberto Arroyo-Janet Cramer/perc with various vocalists, pianists, reed players and percussionists moving in and out like an Agatha Christie novel. The music itself is first rate, ranging from bouncy and crisp pieces like “Pa Gozar” (which has some wonderful trumpet and piano solos) to a folksly “Elegua” that includes choral vocals. Gilly’s sax shines on “Bedroom Eyes” along with a clever dialogue between the singers, while her flute breezes through “This is the Life.” A modal “Minorian” melds the best of South American and Miles Davis with a wondrous collaboration between flute and clarinet to follow the infectious bass line. Great times here!
After filling Birdland with some of the hottest big band music around for the past 14 years, Arturo O’Farrill’s ACJO delivered it’s swan song on July 26, 2011. The concert, which is saved on this wonderful disc, shows why they continued to pack the house even 10 years after father Chico passed to his eternal reward. The band shows it still has the punch of a heavyweight champ on material like “Caleidisopico” and “Mambo” as the trumpet section blisters with a left hook. Gregg August’s bass licks on “Mambo” and “Cuban Ritual” creates rivulets of rhythms, while “Havana Blues” delivers the knockout punch in the 11th round. We’re going to miss these guys, but at least you have one last souvenier.
Green Parrot Records
Zoho Music
Zoho Music