October 26 - Show #65

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

The peanut vendor (el manisero) – Stan Kenton and His Orchestra – Compilation Latin
Jazz La Combinación Perfecta – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Mambo Inn – TheGeorge Shearing Quintet – Compilation Latin Jazz La Combinación Perfecta – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Cha cha cha – Tito Puente – Compilation Putumayo Presents Latin Jazz – Putumayo Records

Rumdrum – Tómas Einarsson – Compilation Putumayo Presents Latin Jazz – Putumayo Records

Afro Blue – Mongo Santamaría – Afro Roots –Prestige

Soul Sauce (Guachi guaro) – Cal Tjader – Compilation Latin Jazz La Combinación Perfecta – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Juana Mil Ciento – Irakere – Irakere – Columbia

What are you doing tomorrow night? – Paquito D’Rivera – Havana Café – Chesky Records

Autumn leaves – Ray Barretto – My Summertime – Blue Note

El watusi – Ray Barretto – Compilation We Got Latin Soul! – Charly Records

Do you dig it? – Ray Barretto – Latino con Soul – Polydor

Acid – Ray Barretto – Acid – Fania

Leeway – Grafitti – Grafitti – Self-edited: www.tomgraf.com

Seven steps to heaven – Phil Hawkins – Sugarcane Suite – P. Note Music

Solid – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – ¡Bien Bien! – Patois Records

Hay días como hoy – Pilar de la Hoz – Jazz con Sabor Peruano – Tumi Records

Sombras – Concha Buika – El Último Trago – Warner Music Spain

Mucho corazón – Martirio, featuring Chano Domínguez & Jerry González – Mucho Corazón – 52. P.M./Sunnyside

October 19 - Show #64

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Seven Steps – Phil Hawkins and his ensemble – Sugarcane Suite – P. Note Music

Eight o’clock blues – Phil Hawkins and his ensemble – Sugarcane Suite – P. Note Music

Todo aquel ayer – The Caribbean Jazz Project – The Caribbean Jazz Project – Heads Up International Ltd.

Jambo – Dizzy Gillespie – Jambo Caribe – Limelight/Verve

Laurel Z27 – Luis Marín y New Jazz Band – Puerto Rico Jazz Jam – AJ Records

Blue bossa – McCoy Tyner – And The Latin All-Stars – TELARC Jazz

Poinciana – McCoy Tyner – And The Latin All-Stars – TELARC Jazz

Namesake – Ray Mantilla – Good Vibrations – Savant Records

Florecita – Robert Incelli and his Latin Jazz Band – From Bolívar to L.A. – Tonga Records

Después de la tierra – Antonio Restucci – Crisol – Petroglyph Records

Night in Granada – Ottmar Liebert + Luna Negra – Borrasca – Higher Octave Music

Mestizo – Terra Sul – Kindness of Strangers – Motown Records

Mulatas, etc, and All – Paulo Mora – Winds of Brazil (Um Sopro de Brasil) – Adventure Music

Amorous flower – Altamiro Carrilho – Winds of Brazil (Um Sopro de Brasil) – Adventure Music

Choro volador – Marcos Ariel – Terra do Indio – WEA Latina

Balança pena – Marisa Montes – Compilation Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

O que pode ser – Jussara Silveira – Compilation FNAC Spain 2002/3 – FNAC Spain

Outro lado – Zuco 103 – Compilation Latin Jazz The Essential Album – Union Square
Music

Cariocas (Remix 96) – Adriana Calcanhoto – Compilation FNAC Spain 2002/3 – FNAC Spain


Highlights of the show:

The highlight of the show tonight came of the hand of McCoy Tyner and the Latin All Stars. Always a reference for Latin jazz of the latest years in Latin Soul, it has been dedicated a segment entirely to this album. Next, you may find its review as it has been taken from James Rozzi, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. at Amazon.com.





Pianist McCoy Tyner & The Latin All-Stars come on like a band of Latino musical marauders. Running the gamut of grooves in a state-of-the-art fashion, Tyner's nonet proves exemplary at distilling the deep connections betwen Latin music and jazz. For example, Kenny Dorham's jam-session favorite, "Blue Bossa" is presented as an uptempo samba with alternate changes - far removed from its relaxed original form. "La Habana Sol" - one of three Tyner originals - is a blistering line woven through a slightly veiled merengue beat. Excellent arrangements of "Poinciana" and "Afro Blue" round out the more recognizable fare.

The soloing is heavy-duty. tyner is heard sounding much more aggressive than of late. Trombonist Steve Turre breaks out his conch shells for several inspired solos. While Gary Bartz's gutsy alto and soprano are firmly grounded in latter-day Coltrane, Claudio Roditi's trumpet conjures the fluidity of a Clifford Brown.

The Latin All-Stars' horn section spews tight passages like an open fire hydrant on a stifling summer day in the Bronx. The crisp rhythm section, based around drummer Ignacio Berroa, clearly understands how to work the fundamental clave. All the while, Tyner stokes a fire beneath his hot band, spurring impulsive soloists to reach beyond their technical facilities toward the realm of free association.

From James Rozzi, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. at Amazon.com.

October 12 - Show #63

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Latin fever – Jack Costanzo – Compilation Latino Blue – Blue Note

Woody’n you – Sabu Martínez – Jazz Espagnole – Vampi Soul

Cachondo – Mario Bauzá – Finest Volume One – Messidor

Caravan – Machito and His Orchestra – The Original Mambo Kings, An Introduction to
Afro-Cubop 1948-1954 – Verve-Polygram

Manteca – Dizzy Gillespie – Afro – Norgran Records/Verve

Jungle rhumba – Xavier Cugat – Music to Watch Girsl By – Hitland

Afrodisia – Kenny Durham – Afro-Cuban – Blue Note

Tin tin deo – Clark Terry & Chico O’Farrill – Spanish Rice – Impulse!

Latin blues – Dave Pike and his orchestra – Manhattan Latin – DECCA

Sandunga – Dave Pike and his orchestra – Manhattan Latin – DECCA

Baby – Dave Pike and his orchestra – Manhattan Latin – DECCA

Hot club of Madrid serenade – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra & Quintet – Jazz
Flamenco – RCA/BMG Music Spain

Canción del fuego fatuo – Pedro Iturralde Quintet featuring Paco de Lucía – Flamenco Jazz – Polydor

Oye cómo viene – Chano Domínguez – Compilation Calle 54 – Blue Note

Gracia – Yuri Juárez – Afroperuano – Saponegro Records

Valicha – Gabriel Alegría y Afro-Peruvian Jazz Sextet – Wayruro – Rhino Records

Deve ser amor – Vinícius de Moraes & Odette Lara – Vinícius & Odette Lara – PolyGram

No ano que vem – Tania Maria – Compilation The Most of Latin Groove – Jazz FM Records

Se Você Pensa – Elis Regina – Elis Live in London – Universal Japan


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul dedicated a set to Dave Pike and his album ‘Manhattan Latin’ tonight. A regularly played album in the show, it was about time to bring it up to the front and having it reviewed. Next, you may find a review by Jason Ankeny, obtained at www.cduniverse.com.





Manhattan Latin captures Dave Pike in flux between the straight-ahead approach of his earlier sessions and the psychedelic pop-jazz of his efforts for MPS: a playful yet methodical immersion into pure, sunkissed groove, its artful assimilation of global rhythms and textures anticipates the direction of Pike's most memorable work. Recorded with an impressive lineup including flautist Hubert Laws, drummer Willie Bobo and then-unknown pianist Chick Corea, the album largely eschews familiar Latin standards in favor of Pike originals. What's impressive is that the end result seems completely organic, living up to the album's title in terms of both sophistication and flavor. Phenomenal cover, too. ~ Jason Ankeny, at cduniverse.com.

September 28 - Show #62

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Welcome to the party – Har-You Percussion – Compilation The New Latinaires – Ubiquity Recordings

Watermelon man – Mongo Santamaría – Compilation Latin Soul, Descarga & Boogaloo –
Manzana Producciones Discográficas

Camel walk – The Latinaires – Compilation The Bad Boogaloo Ny Yorican Sounds 1966-1970 – Fania

Dame un tipi – Frankie Dante & Orquestra Flamboyan – Compilation Playtime, Latin Soul Boogaloo – Hy&Fly Records

Hey mama – Johnny Zamot – Boogaloo Frog – J. Z. Productions

Every Monday – Manteca – Tremendo Boogaloo – Freestyle Records

Mini skirt – Mambo Zombies – Mambo Zombies – Self-produced: www.mambozombies.com

Hippie tune (Song for Josh) – New Cool Collective – Soul Jazz Latin Flavours
Nineties Vibe – Club 802/Challenge Records

Soul limbo – Cándido – Thousand Finger Man – Blue Note

The opener – Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble – Just Like Magic – Latin Percussion Inc.

McCanna – Les McCann Ltd. – Compilation ¡A Gozar! – Blue Note

Tupac Amaru – Gato Barbieri – Fenix – Flying Dutchman/RCA Victor/BMG France

El arriero – Gato Barbieri – Fenix – Flying Dutchman/RCA Victor/BMG France

Bert’s bossa nova – Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra – Compilation The Bossa Nova
Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Bossa per due – Nicola Conte – Bossa Per Due – Eighteenth Street Lounge Music

Sai das trevas – Jazzamor – Compilation Sinners Lounge: The Latin Sessions – Confort Sounds

Criança das ondas – Intuit – Compilation Sinners Lounge: The Latin Sessions – Confort Sounds

Brazil nuts – Alex Valentin – Compilation Latin Vibes: Club Selection – Kinkysweet


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul dedicated a set to one of the favorites artists and album ever played in the show. This is, Gato Barbieri and his 1972 album ‘Fenix’. An awesome musical gem that naturally deserves to be the highlight everytime is played on the air. Next, you may find a review on this album.





Gato Barbieri´s “Fenix” is an album from 1971 that could have been released today, 40 years later, and it would keep the freshness and cutting-edge than from back then. Well, we don´t talk about some electronica effects or something alike, but the pattern-free melodic evolutions in it. Greatly inspired by the free jazz movement of earlier seventies, this album will resemble to legendary saxophonist such as Pharoa Sanders or Ornette Coleman. The presence of the raw saxophone sound all over guiding the tune at its discretion is the distinctive feature of the earlier years of Gato Barbieri, and this album in particular earned him popularity becoming quite well known among jazz connoiseaurs or those seeking the new and non cannonical jazz style at the time. Regarding the content of the album, it is a fact in Mr. Barbieri´s first part of career to have a conception of jazz like a panamerican source of musical representation. This is, through this compositions, he wants to follow the jazz standards, adding nonetheless those instruments from the Southamerican music tradition. So, instruments from the Andean cultures wouldn´t surprise in this productions. In “Fenix”, the approach is more to the Brazilian music school, and instruments like the birimbau and conga and bongo drums are present all ove the album, at times getting engaged with samba rythms as well. The six tracks of the album are superb, offering a great listening experience along the forty minutes it lasts. Tunes which are a must to review from time to time: “Falsa bahiana”, “Bahia” which are clearly Brazilian inspired, and “El arriero”, in the best Gato´s tradition of saxophone raw power, cheered up vocally boosted tune, which is so typical of him. Definitively a gem of a very personal way to understand Latin jazz, easy to fall under the spell work of art.

September 21 - Show #61

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

We got Latin soul – Mongo Santamaría – Compilation Kool It, Soul Funk & Jazz Go Latin – Harmless Recordings

It’s not what you say – Louie Ramírez – Louie’s Grooves – Vampi Soul

Latin Soul Square Dance – Joe Bataan with Los Fulanos – King of Latin Soul – Vampi Soul

Fever – La Lupe – Compilation Kool It, Soul Funk & Jazz Go Latin – Harmless Recordings

Do you dig it? – Ray Barretto – Latino con Soul – PolyGram Records

Tighten up – Al Escobar & His Orchestra – Compilation Kool It, Soul Funk & Jazz Go Latin – Harmless Recordings

Vehicle – Susie Hansen – Representante de la Salsa – Jazz Caliente

Las calles de Chicago – Susie Hansen – Representante de la Salsa – Jazz Caliente

The new arrival – Charlie Sepúlveda – The New Arrival – Antilles

Passing by – Marlon Simon and the Nagual Spirits – In Case You Missed It – Jazzheads

El toro – Jerry González & The Fort Apache Band – Moliendo Café – Sunny Side Music

Contagio – Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Compilation Afro-Cuban Jazz Now – Blue Note

Yemayá – Jane Bunnett – Radio Guantánamo: Guantánamo Blues Project Vol. 1 – Blue Note

Footprints – Mark Weinstein – Timbasa – Jazzheads

Go east – Jeno Somlai – Let It Go – Self-produced album: www.jenosomlai.net

Bulerías del norte – Tino di Geraldo – Nuevos Medios Colección – Nuevos Medios

Entre tinieblas – Jorge Pardo – Las Cigarras Son Quizá Sordas – Milestone

Orobroy – Dorantes – Orobroy – Phantom


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul kicked off tonight with an interesting selection of hyper upbeat tunes from reference artists from the so called Latin soul of the 70’s. The compilation Kool It, Soul Funk & Jazz Go Latin fed most of this segment. Next you may find a review on this album.





This compilation released by the British label Harmless in 2001 is another sample of the high interest that in the latest years is brought to this other kind of the golden era of the 70’s soul. Here you may find the great names of the genre, such as Mongo Santamaría, Ray Barretto, Joe Bataan, Jack Costanzo, Jimmy Sabater, and even La Lupe. The compilation works perfect as a whole despite the variety because it really sets a flow from tune to tune, truly making the whole piece a connected collection made up of very well back to back complemented songs. In the end, it is a very enjoyable piece of music to retro speed up your parties or just having a cool funky moment. Many of the songs are in English, always having a base on a typical Latin percussion and song rhythm structure. In this sense, Mongo Santamaría and Jack Costanzo got the highest accuracy in the crossover of Latin and Soul. Mr. Santamaría’s “We got Latin Soul” could be taken as an anthem for the genre. Ray Barretto is bringing here a more jazzy mode, as Joe Bataan, with his cover of “Theme of Shaft”, is closer to a purest soul style. Al Escobar & His Orchestra is another of the assets of the album, as Pucho & the Latin Brothers, who is a main reference in the style. Finally, the cover of “Fever” by La Lupe is one to remember and appreciate in its entire kitschy dimension. Concluding, a varied and very attractive compilation to help out interested listeners around finding more artists who at a certain point of music history wanted to explore both their Latin and Afro-American musical heritage with truly enjoyable results.

September 14 - Show #60

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Campiña – Afro-Cuban Jazz Project – Putumayo presents Cuba – Putumayo Records

Sabroso como el guarapo – Orquesta Sublime – Putumayo presents Cuba – Putumayo Records

El bodeguero – Rubén González – Chanchullo – World Circuit/Nonesuch

No me llores más – Omara Portuondo – Buena Vista presents Omara Portuondo – World Circuit/Nonesuch

Boliviana – Irakere – Putumayo presents Cuba – Putumayo Records

Flores para tu altar – Celina y Reutilio – Éxitos de Celina y Reutilio – Discos Meca Suaritos

Rhapsodia del maravilloso – Sabu Martínez & Arsenio Rodríguez – Palo Congo – Blue Note

La luna en tu mirada – Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán – Mambo Sinuendo – World Circuit/Nonesuch

Foforo Fo Firi – Los Hombres Calientes – Vol. 3 New Congo Square – Basin Street Records

Brother running – Los Hombres Calientes – Vol. 3 New Congo Square – Basin Street Records

Fantazias de samba – Los Hombres Calientes – Vol. 3 New Congo Square – Basin Street Records

Berimbau – Americo Bellotto – Compilation The Mood Mosaic 7-The New Shapes of Sound –Partners in Crime

Bim bom – Silvio Silvera – Compilation The Mood Mosaic 7-The New Shapes of Sound – Partners in Crime

L’enfant samba – Cortex – Compilation The Mood Mosaic 7-The New Shapes of Sound – Partners in Crime

Forever song – Mosquitos – Mosquitos – Bar/None Records

No ano que vem – Tania Maria – Compilation The Most of Latin Groove – Jazz FM Records

Tudo que você podia ser – Azymuth feat. Nair Candia – Compilation The Most of Latin Groove – Jazz FM Records

Nagô Buddha – Gilberto Gil – Parabolic – Warner Music Brazil/WEA Latina Inc.

Minhas lágrimas – Caetano Veloso – Cê – Nonesuch Records


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul dedicated a set to the New Orleans ensemble Los Hombres Calientes. Out of their album New Congo Square Vol. 3., the veterans from the Big Easy give a shot to a jazz and latin crossover. Next, you may find a review on their album by Eugene Holley, Jr., from Amazon.com.




New Orleans's fabled Congo Square was the meeting place where blacks from Africa and the West Indies danced to their native grooves during the slavery era. Paying homage to one of the Crescent City's most historic spots is the city's own Los Hombres Calientes--percussionist Bill Summers, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, and the newest member, drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez. They take Congo Square to the Americas beyond the U.S. with Cuba's Isaac Delgado and Jamaica's Burning Spear. Recorded in New Orleans, Havana, Santo Domingo, and Bahia, New Congo Square delves into the rumba/salsa "Forforo Fo Firi," the reggae classic "I Shot the Sheriff," and the merengue-motored "Dominicanos." Mayfield plays the Brazilian bossa nova with passion on "Corcovado/Nocturnal Low Moan" and Jamaica's Rastafarian rhythms spring forth on "Nyabinghi." Stateside, the group also funks up contemporary urban dance grooves on the "New Bus Stop," and trumpeter Michael Ray and vocalist Kermit Ruffins serve up a tasty musical gumbo on "New Second Line." Los Hombres Calientes vividly connect the musical dots in the African American hemisphere. By Eugene Holley, Jr., from Amazon.com

August 24 - Show #59

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Mamá agüela – Cal Tjader – Primo – OJC/Fantasy

Baby – Dave Pike and his orchestra – Manhattan Latin – DECCA

Rip a dip – The Latin Jazz Quintet – Latin Soul – Prestige

Arthur’s dance – The Caribbean Jazz Project – Compilation The Colors of Latin Jazz A Latin Vibe! – Concord Records

Tanguedía – Gary Burton – Compilation The Colors of Latin Jazz A Latin Vibe! – Concord Records

Have you met Miss Jones – Jeno Somlai – Let It Go – Self-produced album: www.jenosomlai.net

Caragua – Grafitti – Grafitti – Self-produced album: www.tomgraf.com

Brigas nunca mais – Jacob Melchior – It’s About Time – Self-produced album: www.jacobmelchior.com

Samba de Orly – Miguel de León – Postcards from Rio – Self-produced album: www.migueldeleon.net

Atabaque de Cunha – Dendê & Hãhãhães – Bahia de Todos os Santos – Mamadêlê Productions

Fado Alfacinha – Amália Rodrigues – Compilation Café Portugal – Union Square Music

Olha a Ribeirinha – Negros de Luz – A Tribute to Amália Rodrigues – Times Square Records

Oye cómo viene – Chano Domínguez – Compilation Calle 54 Music from the Miramax motion picture – Blue Note

La danza de las sombras – Dorantes – Sur – EMI

Soleares – Pedro Iturralde & Paco de Lucía – Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y 2 – Hispavox/Blue Note

Bulerías – Pedro Iturralde & Paco de Lucía – Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y 2 – Hispavox/Blue Note

Las ciudades – Concha Buika y Chucho Valdés – El Último Trago – Warner Music Spain

Corazón loco – Bebo & Cigala – Lágrimas Negras – Calle 54 Records/Ariola-BMG



Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul aired today a few good flamenco and jazz crossover tunes, as it is the nature of the show. Among other artists featuring their blend of jazz and flamenco creations, a double set dedicated to Pedro Iturralde, a pioneer of this genre, has been the highlight of tonight´s show. Following, you may find a review to a landmark album from which two themes were aired in Latin Soul tonight.




Pedro Iturralde is a retired Spanish musician and composer who graduated from Royal Conservatory in Madrid, from which he retired in 1994. He was born in 1929, and dedicated his life to music. As a musician, his instrument was saxophone, and he enjoyed an extense and international career (studied at Berklee College of Music Boston, Ma) as a performer in jazz and as soloist at symphony orchestras. Being keen on jazz, along with classical music, he went on to lead his own jazz band in Madrid, and probably catched the new trend on crossover jazz and flamenco started in the 60's by Miles Davis and his “Sketches of Spain”. In 1967 and 1968, Pedro Iturralde goes on to experimenting and doing recordings for the Spanish label Hispavox, which were released under the name “Jazz Flamenco”, which later would be released as one album with the title “Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y2”, which later in the 90's were released by Blue Note as well.

“Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y 2” joins Pedro Iturralde's jazz band and the guitar of Paco de Lucía. This is a collection of eight themes were mainly a bebop jazz sound shares wisely with the flamenco guitar. The overall flow of the saxophone and drums will break a clear space for the guitar and the flamenco melodies at certain points in the evolution of the themes making the perfect ensemble of both jazz and flamenco musical languages. If you like jazz, the fresh guitar notes for opening and guiding first steps in tunes, as in “Zorongo gitano”, “Soleares” or “Bulerías” setting the flamenco tone to let the saxophone blend in and having the jazz band constrined in the complex rhythms of flamenco, you are going to enjoy this album. If you are on flamenco only, maybe this is not your cup of tea. All in all, it´s remarkable the solos of saxophone and guitar going back and forth as in a dialogue between Mr. Iturralde and Mr. De Lucía in the tracks of this highly recommendable album.

August 17 - Show #58

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label


Swamp people – Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers – Compilation Can You Dig It? – Brown Sugar Records

Hit de bongo – Tito Puente – Compilation Can You Dig It? – Brown Sugar Records

Light and sweet – Willie Rosario – Compilation Latin Dance Party Vol. 2 1960's Boogaloo – Warner Jazz/Atlantic

One, two, three – Ramsey Lewis – Goin' Latin – Verve

Mexican hat dante – Clark Terry & Chico O'Farrill – Spanish Rice – Impulse!

Minor's holiday – Kenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban – Blue Note

Poinciana – McCoy Tyler – And The Latin Jazz Stars – Telarc Jazz

Ping pong – Conrad Herwig – The Latin Side of Wayne Shorter – Half Note

Watcha gonna do – Pete Escovedo – Mister E – Crossover

Iracuba – University of North Texas Latin Jazz Ensemble – En Clave – North Texas Jazz

Just now – Michel Camilo – Spirit of the Moment – Telarc Jazz

On the other hand – Michel Camilo – One More Once – Sony/Columbia

Watermelon man – Michel Camilo – Thru My Eyes – RMM Records

Samba triste – Eliane Elías – Compilation Calle 54 – Blue Note

Corcovado – Vince Guaraldi – The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi – Fantasy Records

Você e eu – Herbie Mann – Do the Bossa Nova – Atlantic

Mas que nada – Oscar Peterson – Soul Espanol – Verve

Can't buy me love – Os Sambeatles – Os Sambeatles – Braz-Bossa-Roots

A hard day's night – Os Sambeatles – Os Sambeatles – Braz-Bossa-Roots



Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul aired today a complete three-theme set on the Dominican Republic pianist Michel Camilo. A composer and musician whose career spans three decades, and who has been years on top of the Latin jazz stardom, also a recognizable figure in straightahead jazz and classical piano. The clean, soberb, and outstanding piano sound of Mr. Camilo has long been appreciated in Latin Soul. By this set, the show wanted to go through different albums by him, covering different registers. Next, you may find the review of the albums from which themes has been selected to be aired in Latin Soul tonight. They are three different Latin jazz and jazz perspectives by a truly piano virtuous.





“Spirit of the Moment” was released by Telarc in 2007. It has the sound of a personal intimate album. Michel Camilo plays piano, Charles Flores plays bass, and Dafnis Prieto plays drums. A three-men lineup that approaches to straightahead jazz more than pure Latin jazz. You may find tunes reminding you of more Latin/funk sounds, as the opening track “Just now”, track 3 “Spirit of the moment”, or “Nardis”, which got a Flamenco jazzy tinge for its rythym at the piano performance. Finally, “Hurry up and wait” is another leaning on the Latin side. Overall, it´s a great sample of piano jazz with basic accompanying instrumentation, which appeals to all those who may enjoy melow piano tunes, with upbeat moments where piano and percussion explore a not very marked Latin connection as you may expect from other mainstream Latin jazz albums by Michel Camilo himself.





Michel Camilo´s “Thru my Eyes” is a 1997 album released by RMM Records, produced by Michel Camilo himself. It´s overall a wonderfull collection of takes on Latin jazz classic tunes, hence “Thru my eyes”. From “Poinciana”, “A night in Tunisia”, or “Oye cómo va”, to “Mambo Inn” and “Manteca”, among others, Mr. Camilo´s mastery at piano to be the main instrument, even at the lead of the percussion with his own piano strokes. Going from Latin “clave” sound to melodic piano tune just happens in a matter of seconds, showing the versatility of Mr. Camilo progressing from pure Latino to jazz and reverse. The accompanying band includes the ubiquitous Horacio “El negro” Fernández at drums, together with a bass support by the sidemen Anthony Jackson and John Patitucci, but no brass in this album. Mongo Santamaría´s classics “Watermelon man” and “Afro blue” are also among the reviews here done. A truly tour de force by Michel Camilo covering on many different tunes, but taking care of them offering something like a piano caress to Latin jazz marklands, and presumably keystones for his here shown exquisite talent.





“One More Once” is a 1994 album released by Columbia/Sony, where Michel Camilo composes all the songs. It counts with a truly big ensemble, among whom, we may find the saxophone of Paquito D'Rivera, and Giovanni Hidalgo at congas. The Latin jazz sound to this album is more obvious than in other samples by Mr. Camilo. There is a general festive flavor to all the tunes in the album, making any of them a good example of what it is contemporary Latin jazz with an aim for joy and catchy rhythms. The opening track “One more once” and following “Why not!” really set the tone for the album, suggesting that this is not the intimate piano jazz that we may find in other Michel Camilo´s works. Although, you still find room for Mr. Camilo piano solo on “The resolution”. Anyway, the album´s themes in general seek the syncopation to have the listener in the delightful territory of upbeat Latin jazz at its best.