Reviews
Benjamin Taubkin – Trio + 1 (Adventure Music 2009)
In music – even in a zone of sublime comfort – a small, unexpected ripple can distrub the ebb and flow of the wave, or groove thereby upsetting the complete sense and flow of the ocean of sound. This happens all the time, a...
Mark Weinstein/Omar Sosa – Tales from the Earth (2009)
Tales from the Earth by flutist, Mark Weinstein and pianist and vibraphonist Omar Sosa is one of the most extraordinary musical expeditions in a long time. The need for a subscript is not necessary. The extraordinary depth and ...
Corina Bartra & Azu Project – Afro Peruvian Jazz Celebration (2009)
The rise of smaller record labels and independent music producers has made a significant contribution to the number of musicians from other parts pf the world getting not just radioplay, but - in the case of important new artis...
Emilio Teubal and La Balteuband – Un Monton de Notas (2009)
The spectacular collision of cultures raining down of music in the Latin idiom has brought with it a proverbial deluge of the most wonderful shower of metaphor and idiom, melody and rhythm and harmonics of a tantalizingly high ...
Rebecca Cline & Hilary Noble (Enclave) – Diaspora (2008)
In Diaspora, the quartet, Enclave, comprising the pianist Rebecca Cline, saxophonist and flutist, Hilary Noble, bassist, Fernando Huergo and percussionist, Steve Langone have a wonderful follow up to their eponymously ...
Fito Garcia – Mi Bajo Rumbero (Garra Music – 2009)
Fito Garcia has taken a small albeit bold step with the making of this record, Mi Bajo Rumbero. There is a sincere attempt to explore the harmonics of the bass as a critical voice in the creation of music. The German b...
Antonio Valdetaro & Group – Letícia (Independent, Brasil 2009)
What stands out immediately about this record Letícia is the ebullient mood that is struck with the first few notes of “Segura e Sai.” From then on the music gets busier but retains its sense of “alegria.” A w...
Yuri Juarez – Afroperuano (Saponegro Records 2009)
It may not happen from the first note, but soon the music on Afroperuano begins to magically evoke the sound of the wind rushing through the rarified air of the Peruvian Andes. It is also possible to feel the swishing ...
Hamlet & his Latin Jazz Experience – Descarumbiando (2009)
The Latin Jazz wave is old hat. There are too many hangers-on; too many copy cats and not enough original thinking musicians. But in contrast, the serious craftsmen and women are getting more skilled and penetrating the soul of...
Gabriel Espinosa – From Yucatan To Rio (Zoho Music 2009)
The journey from Yucatan to Rio was a really smooth one. It was brimful with samba and bossa nova, with a little baroque thrown in probably the happy memory of a childhood resplendent withy the music of Bach and Vivaldi. And th...
