There is a reason Latin is known as the “romance” language. Can you imagine sensuous music being called “Teutonic”?!?
Israel Tanenbaum plays piano, keyboards and synthesizer as he leads a large team of percussion, brass, reeds and rhythm on a collection of exciting originals. His piano is a charmer on thel ovely intro to “ Another Life” and he slithers along the sensuous bolero of “Steamy Patricia”. The horns are crisp and snappy on “Strange Destiny” and the mix of congas, drums and bongos sizzle on the salsa’d “Hot Bridge” and “Mambo Raro”. Tenor saxist Benitez sears through the relentless “Vaya” while Jonathan Powell’s trumpet hits the stratosphere on the sauntering “ Cuando Te Asomas”. These guys work up a sweat!
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Guitarist Ben Sher leads a deft quartet of Gary Fisher/p-key, Gregory Jones b and Vanderlei Pereira/dr on a mix of originals and standards. He ads some sensuous caliente flavors to the Jackson Five hit “Neve Can Say Goodbye” with a slow and sleek vibe, wile Fisher adds some classy ideas to a folksy take of “On Green Dolphin Street”. Rich work of guitar and piano create a pretty title tune” and the strings are warm on the fun and funky “Anrofagia”. On acoustic guitar, Sher picks his notes well on the classic “Eu Vim da Bahia” while Jones digs in deep for an upbeat dig of “Mas Que Nada”. A warm Brazilian breeze.