April 12 - Show #81

Theme: Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Lael

Tropical breeze – Mongo Santamaría – Instant Party – Concord Records

I’m on my way – Cándido – Compilation A Gozar! – Blue Note

La descarga del Bobo – Willie Bobo – Juicy – Polygram

Sax con ritmo – Jack Costanzo – Compilation Masters At Work present Latin Sounds – Verve

McCanna – Les McCann – Compilation Masters At Work present Latin Sounds – Verve

Latin bit – The Jazz Crusaders – Compilation Masters At Work present Latin Sounds – Verve

Rhapsody in Blue – Chucho Valdés – Briyumba Palo Congo – Blue Note

Los pingaleros – Jerry González & The Fort Apache Band – Moliendo Café – Sunny Side Music

Q.T.P. – Raynald Colom – #Sketches of Groove# – Fresh Sound New Talent

I say a little prayer – Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds from the Elegant World -groovy night club music from Uruguay 1968-71 – Vampisoul

Llegando a la capital – Jaime Delgado Aparicio – Original Motion Picture Sondtrack ‘El Embajador y Yo’ – Vampisoul

Un poco más – Charlie Sepúlveda – The New Arrival – Antilles

In case you missed it – Marlon Simón and the Nagual Spirits – In Case You Missed It – Jazzheads

Barcelona – Bill O’Connell – Latin Jazz Fantasy – Random Chance Records

Somewhere over the rainbow – Peter MacDonough – The Wizard of Oz -A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone – Self-produced album: www.petermacdonough.com

Spain – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra & Quintet – Jazz Flamenco – RCA/BMG

Tangos del fuego – Chano Domínguez – New Flamenco Sound – Verve

El llanto de la lluvia – Diego Amador – Piano Jondo – Milestone Records

Alfonsina y el mar – Diego El Cigala – Cigala & Tango – WEA


Highlights of the show:

Tonight´s Latin Soul brought a tune from the jazz flamenco fussion pioneer Lionel Hampton to the airwaves of North East Texas and the Internet... In a set dedicated to a crossover overview of flamenco and jazz, the tune “Spain” was a truly hightlight of the show.



Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra & Quintet recorded in RCA studios in Madrid, Spain this jewel entitled “Jazz Flamenco”. It was the year 1956 and it was probably the first attempt to put these two musical genres together. Lionel Hampton has been one of the main figures of jazz, starting his career in the 30's, playing the vibraphone for Louis Armstrong and later becoming part of the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Starting as vibraphonist, his abilities include piano playing, percussion, writer and producer. By the decade of the 1940's, he started his own group, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. His recordings and performances has been large and almost never ending until his death in 2002.

Hampton´s orchestra was one of the first, if not the first, jazz bands to tour Spain after the country devastating civil war in years 1936-39 and extremely poor times in the postwar period in the decade of 1940's. Apart from dictatorship strict political times, the late 50's showed some slight economical recovery at least in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona. It was in these cities that Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra toured around, and falled for the spell of the flamenco music.

In Madrid, Mr. Hampton had the chance to see the perfomance of a flamenco band, and the charm of María Angélica, who didn´t pass as a star of flamenco, made him to have a recording in Spain where she would be guest and both musical styles would came together. The result is a smooth album of vibraphone cool bop jazz with castanets introduction and codas to the tunes. Some of the tunes were written for the occasion, making references to the experience in the title: “Lovely nights in Spain”, “The bullfighter from Madrid”, “Hamp´s jazz flamenco”, “Spain”, “Hot club of Madrid serenade”, “Toledo blade”, or “Flamenco soul”. Had the songs had a presence of Spanish guitar in them, the outcome would have achieved a higher grade of compenetration of sytles. Only castanets, doesn´t add that much to the flamenco part, however. This is a cool jazz album, with a devotion feeling for flamenco in it. A nice attempt to fussion both styles, being the flamenco a bit faded in the overall picture. Recomendable, nonethless, to know what musical exploration gets to, and to enjoy Lionel Hampton good work. It´s worth to point the presence of Tete Montoliú at the piano, who toured with Hampton in Spain and France that year of 1956, and helped to launch internationally the most acclaimed Spanish jazz piano player.

April 5 - Show #80

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

A la luna yo me voy – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

La culebra – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Mambomozart – Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion – Classic Meets Cuba – Sony

Cachaíto in laboratory – Orlando Cachaíto López – Cachaíto – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Piel canela – Las Rubias del Norte – Rumba Internationale – Barbes Records

Los teenagers bailan changui – Marc Ribot y los Cubanos Postizos – The Prosthetic Cubans – Atlantic

Siempre me va bien – University of North Texas Latin Jazz Ensemble – En Clave – North Texas Jazz

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

I mean you – Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads

Batucada – Eliane Amherd – Now And From Now On – Self-produced album: www.elianeperforms.com

Nothing will be as it was – Sarah Vaughan – Brazilian Romance – CBS

Gostoso veneno – Carmen Lamarque – Live from Lima – Self-produced album: www.carmenlamarque.com

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

Jogo da vida – Tamba Trio – Compilation Can You Dig It? – Brown Sugar Records

Serra acura – W. Hill – Morphine Mambo Jazz Club – Qualiton Imported Ltd.

Minha saudade – Cannonbal Adderley – Compilation From Latin… To Jazz Dance Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

The boulevard of broken dreams – Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica – The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel – Self-produced album: www.orchestrotica.com

Ibérico jazz – Quinteto Montelirio – Ibérico Jazz – Vampi Soul

Sería feliz – Julieta Venegas – Bueninvento – BMG/Ariola

Paloma – Pacifika – Asunción – Six Degrees Records

Barataria – Palo Viejo – Estás Aquí Ahora – Self-produced album: http://www.myspace.com/paloviejo


Highlights of the show:

A long time played on the air album in Latin Soul has been the highlight of the show tonight. The wonderful tune ‘El toro’ out of the album ‘Moliendo Café’ was the perfect contrast to shift from one end to another among all the tunes that Latin Soul offered tonight. Next, you may find the review of the album where ‘El toro’ may be found in.



Jerry González is a reference trumpeter in the Latin jazz scene of nowadays. Born in New York of Puerto Rican parents, he started The Fort Apache Band in 1994 with his brother Andy at the bass, and the today renowned drummer and percussionist Steve Berrios. From that year and the album ‘Crossroads’ as first of their discography, they have gone a long way up to ‘Obatalá’ released in 2006, many have been the albums of Jerry González and The Fort Apache Band. Jerry González has also a series of albums under his own name.

‘Moliendo Café’ was released in 1995 by Sunny Side and it means a perfect blend of the old school jazz style that Mr. González plays the trumpet with a Latin tinge given by The Fort Apache Band. More jazzy than Latin at times, it is a perfect mix of both musical influences, letting being carried more by the melodies and the evolution of the leading trumpet than letting the percussion take over. The overall tone is one of melancholy inviting to listen to in solitude. The whole album makes you feel the magic of the great works of jazz, as the mastery of the musicians is remarkable. A great sample for those who want to start enjoying of Latin jazz, and for those who want to know more of this genre. Definitively a landmark in contemporary Latin jazz.

March 29 - Show #79

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

Bella cosa – Mambo Zombies – MZ3 – Self-produced: MamboZombies.com

Peter Gunn Mambo – Jack Costanzo & His Orchestra – Ultra-Lounge Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

I can’t believe that you’re in love with me – The Buzon Trio – Ultra-Lounge Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Taki Kari – Yma Sumac – Ultra-Lounge Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Deve ser amor – Vinícius de Moraes & Odette Lara – Vinícius + Odette Lara – Polygram

Falsa baiana – João Gilberto – João Gilberto – Polygram/Verve

Minha senhora – Gal Costa & Caetano Veloso – Gal e Caetano Veloso – Domingo – Philips

Bicho do mato – Walter Wanderley – Compilation Nova Bossa - Red Hot on Verve – Verve

Surfboard – Roberto Menescal e seu conjunto – Compilation Nova Bossa - Red Hot on
Verve – Verve

Upa Neginho – Edu Lobo – Compilation Nova Bossa - Red Hot on Verve – Verve

Supercabana – Caetano Veloso – Compilation Nova Bossa - Red Hot on Verve – Verve

Doña María – The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project – In The Middle – Cagoots Records

Suk-Kyo’s Samba – Phil Hawkins and his ensemble – Sugarcaine Suite – P. Note Music

Brazil – Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads

Brasilia – Vince Guaraldi – The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi – Fantasy/Original Jazz
Classics

Samba triste – Eliane Elías – Compilation Calle 54 - Music from the Miramax motion picture – Blue Note

Historia de amor en El Carmen – Richie Zellón – Landología – Songosaurus Music

Valicha – Gabriel Alegría & Afro-Peruvian Jazz Sextet – Wayruro – Rhino Music

Cántelo usted – Yuri Juárez – Afroperuano – Saponegro Records

Espérame – Eva Ayllón, Jean Pierre Magnet & La Gran Banda – Del Perú Para el Mundo – Jaguar Music Records

Quiero que estés conmigo – Pilar de la Hoz – Jazz con Sabor Peruano – Jaguar Music Records


Highlights of the show:

A wonderful Brazilian inspired Latin jazz tune was aired tonight, “Doña María”, which was a great transition from Brazilian bossa and samba to Latin jazz. Next, you may find a review of this album by The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project.



“In the Middle” is the title of the 2007 album released on Kagoot Records by The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project. Craig Russo, an experienced jazz musician who falls for the Afro-Cuban percussion and guides his career in terrains of Latin jazz, being “In the Middle” in the actual middle of the discography of The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project ensemble. “In the Middle” is not a name chosen randomly, as it is quite an evocative one for what this group of musicians presents in this album. In the middle is the situation of many aspects such as the location of the band, in the state of Illinois; a mixture in the middle of two schools of music such as jazz and Afro-Caribbean; apparently in the middle of the career of Mr. Russo. Let me add that to be “in the middle” of so many aspects, the musical result is ahead many standards. Mr. Russo presents a collection of ten tunes that represents a jewel of contemporary Latin jazz with roots in classical Afro-Cuban patterns of rhythms. A call to Brazilian melodies is also present through the song ‘Doña María’, a tune that brings quite a good mixture of different influences, as the nature of the whole album wants. The cover of ‘Bésame mucho’ is also remarkable. In conclusion, a very compact album that flows from beginning to end putting together a wonderful crossover of Latin music and jazz inspiration.

March 22 - Show #78

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

El carretero - Elíades Ochoa, vocals; Ry Cooder, Cachaíto López, Ibrahim Ferrer – Buena Vista Social Club – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Mali Cuba – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate, et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Djelimady Rumba – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate, et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Guantanamera – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate, et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Jiin ma jiin ma – Orchestra Baobab – Specialist in All Styles – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Mani mani kuru – Ketama, Toumani Diabate, Danny Thompson – Songhai – Nuevos Medios

Caracola – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

Unicornio – Silvio Rodríguez – Canciones Urgentes - Los Grandes Éxitos – Luaka Bop

Steppin’ with T. P. – Hilton Ruiz – Putumayo presents Latin Jazz – Putumayo

Just another guajira – Bobby Matos & His Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble – Beautiful as the Moon – Life Force Jazz Records

Un poco loco – The Conga Kings – Compilation Jazz Latino - A Collection of Latin Inspirations – Chesky Records

I mean you – Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads

Samba para dos – Eddy Harris feat. Lalo Schifrin – Compilation The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhytms Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Summer samba – Walter Manderlay – Compilation Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – EMIN/WEA

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

Samba de una nota so – Maria Leao – Compilation Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – EMIN/WEA

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

Bossa per due – Thievery Corporation/Nicola Conte – Jet Sounds Revisited – Eighteenth Street Lounge Music

Rio de Janeiro blue – Mario Biondi and the High Five Quintet – A Handful of Soul – Intuition/Edizioni Ishtar


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul has released tonight the album ‘Afrocubism’ by the collaboration of Elíades Ochoa & Cuarteto Patria from Cuba and the Toumani Diabate troupe from Mali. Three tunes were played tonight making the release of the album a moment to highlight.



‘Afrocubism’, the 2010 release by Nonesuch Records means the realization of long pursued project by the producer Nick Gold. He had the idea of putting together traditional music of Cuba and Mali and expects the miracle of the musical communion to happen. It couldn’t be back in the day, and the project became the world famous ‘Buena Vista Social Club’. So, in this album you are going to meet the nowadays renown Elíades Ochoa and his Cuarteto Patria together with Toumani Diabaté, Mady Diabaté, Lassana Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyate and Djelimady Tounkara.

The final musical mixture tries to find the balance to so different musical traditions, getting in the end a good feeling of fusion and an even outcome of music roots. On the Cuban side, the guitar and the usual ensemble of brass and percussion work to cooperate with the hypnotical sounds of the kora, the ngoni and the balafon, traditional instruments from Mali. The tunes are in part compositions by Toumani Diabate and revisions of Cuban classics, as ‘La culebra’ or ‘Pa los pinares se va Montoro’. However, the nicest blend of sounds is obtained in those by Mr. Toumani Diabate. There is a version, which is the final track to pack the whole collection, of ‘Guantanamera’ which is much more enjoyable in its live version. The album was presented in summer 2010 in La Mar de Músicas Festival in Cartagena, Spain, long ahead of the release of the album. Nevertheless, the waiting has been worthwhile and the results of so many years of projecting and rehearsal are contained in this close to an hour experience of fussion of music apart put together with remarkable good sense.

March 15 - Show #77

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

Latin fever – Jack Costanzo – Latin Fever – Liberty

Don’t squeeze the peaches – Jack Costanzo & Gerry Woo – Latin Percussion with Soul – Vampi Soul

Agua dulce – The Jazz Crusaders – Chile con Soul – Pacific Jazz

Mambo Bobbie – Latin Jazz Quintet – Latin Soul – Prestige

Soul cha – Joe Torres – Latino con Soul – World Pacific

Woody’n you – Sabu Martínez & Dizzy Gillespie – Jazz Espagnole – Vampi Soul

Lucy’s Spanish Harlem – Louie Ramírez – In the Heart of Spanish Harlem – Mercury

Summer samba – Dizzy Gillespie – Melody Lingers On – Limelight

Mas que nada – Oscar Peterson – Soul Espanol – Limelight

Take five – Tito Puente – Mambo Diablo – Concord Records

Skaravan – Jazz Jamaica – Compilation Latin Jazz - The Essential Album – Union
Square Music Label

Mr PC – Snowboy – Compilation Latin Jazz - The Essential Album – Union Square Music
Label

Got myself a good man – Pucho and The Latin Soul Brothers – Best of Pucho – Fantasy

Bye-Ya – Jerry González – Compilation Latin Jazz - La Combinación Perfecta – Smithsonian Folkways

Serafina del Caribe – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Hear From There – Patois
Records

Libertango – Astor Piazzolla – Itinerary of a Genius – Éditions Milan Music/BMG

Como dos extraños – Tango Bar – Compilation Jazz Latino - A Collection of Latin
Inspirations – Chesky Records

Stone flower – Antonio Carlos Jobim – Stone Flower – Epic/Legacy

Aula de Matemática – Oscar Castro-Neves & Paul Winter – Brazilian Days – Earth Music
Productions

Deve ser amor – Herbie Mann – Do the Bossa Nova – Atlantic

Samba diferente – Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds from the Elegant World - groovy night club music from Uruguay 1968-71 – Vampi Soul



Highlights of the show:

Among the great set dedicated to Brazilian music, a historic recording to highlight since it’s a symbolic approach to Brazilian classics from one of the greatest in jazz, Oscar Peterson.



The title of the album, ‘Soul Español’, may be a little misleading since you are not to listen to Spanish or Latin oriented music specifically. The orientation is more the Brazilian musical tradition, making rendition on Brazilian classics as ‘Mas que nada’, ‘Manha de carnaval’ or ‘Samba de Orfeu”. The song played in the show tonight, ‘Carioca’, is a piano tune masterpiece. You wouldn’t expect less from Mr. Peterson, and so ‘Carioca’ is a delightful piece taken by a breathless piano solo that reconcile with life and make you being thankful for just existing. Almost the whole album does. Being this said, let your senses be delighted. All the tunes make the piano, of course, protagonist making this album a great crossover of a jazz master introducing another musical inspiration as Brazilian bossa is. As a result, as we could see, a fantastic piece of music all wrapped up under this album.

March 8 - Show #76

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

Can’t buy me love (No puedes comprarme) – Guianko – Tropical Tribute to the Beatles – RMM

A hard day’s night – Johnny Rivera – Tropical Tribute to the Beatles – RMM

A hard day’s night – Manfredo Fest – Os Sambeatles – Fermata

Can’t buy me love – Manfredo Fest – Os Sambeatles – Fermata

Para Lennon e McCartney – Friends from Rio – Compilation Café do Brasil - A Pure Blend of Cool Brazilian Music – Union Square Music

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

Ifá, um canto pra subir – Margareth Menezes – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Balança pena – Marisa Monte – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Batuque – Daniela Mercury – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

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

Xuertnom – Projecto 3 – Compilation Café do Brasil - A Pure Blend of Cool Brazilian Music – Union Square Music

Vals for us – Azymuth – Compilation Latin Jazz - The Essential Album – Union Square Music

I like it like that – Cosa Nostra – Cosa Nostra – RAFF

Latin soul square dance – Joe Bataan with Los Fulanos – King of Latin Soul – Vampi Soul

Te doy la vida – Compay Segundo – Las Flores de la Vida – Nonesuch Records/World Circuit

Perla oscura – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

La noche de un trago – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

Chanchullo – Rubén González – Chanchullo – Nonesuch Records/World Circuit

Thembi – Pharoah Sanders – Thembi – Impulse!

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


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul has played two tunes by former frontman of Spanish pop band Radio Futura, Santiago Auserón, under his pseudonym Juan Perro. The Spaniard brought two hot tunes and made the Cuban traditional music set.





Santiago Auserón, AKA Juan Perro for the occasion and the forthcoming career after this album, left the frontman position of Radio Futura (legendary pop band from Spain which got dissolved) to start his solo project “Raíces al Viento”. He changed his musical identity and inspiration, and left many die-hard followers in dismay. Juan Perro released this album in 1995 and explored the traditional sounds of the Cuban old trova, something so far apart from the pop sounds that made him renown. The change was for good as the Ariola/BMG label release were right to offer a new face of Santiago Auserón before Ry Cooder did with his Buena Vista Social Club a few years later. Santiago Auserón/Juan Perro wasn’t obviously so successful to bring old Cuban trova back to world popularity as the former did, but got us a wonderful album mixing his pop music expertise and the inspiration he found in Cuban lands. The opening track ‘A un perro flaco’ is a cheerful tune setting the happy tone for the album, introducing us in the world of this album, to the common stories from common people in the Caribbean. Stories such that one may live over there, or come across when they tell you about them. Stories that make possible the music and deal with old pirates, beautiful women in La Habana or Santiago, nights of pleasure, joy and party, people (or dogs) trying to find their way in life. You may also find neighboring countries music inspired tunes as well, as some Jamaican related tunes where characteristics guys from Negril come across the protagonist of our songs, presumably Juan Perro, or anyone whoever that is. Anyone can be the protagonist of a song. That’s the idea, in my opinion, behind the album. “Raíces al viento”, or Roots to the Wind in English, are those that anyone may find whenever you decide to leave your usual vital background and explore beyond. This great album is the perfect transition to get more into Cuban along the hand of pop music standards.

March 1 - Show #75

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

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

That’s the way – RG Royal Sound Orchestra – Impact – RG Records

Fuego – Manteca – Tremendo Boogaloo – Freestyle Records

Light and sweet – Willie Rosario – Compilation Latin Dance Party 1960’s Boogaloo – Warner

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

Boogaloo Lebron – The Lebron Brothers Orchestra – Compilation The Rough Guide to
Boogaloo – World Music Network

Batman’s boogaloo – Bobby Valentin – Compilation The Rough Guide to Boogaloo – World Music Network

Spanish rice – Clark Terry & Chico O’Farrill – Spanish Rice – Impulse!

Barrio Nuevo – Louie Ramírez – Louie’s Grooves Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo from Louie Ramírez – Vampi Soul

Concierto para metales – Irakere – Misa Negra – Messidor

We are our father’s sons – McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars – McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars – TELARC Jazz

The peanut vendor (El manisero) – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Hear From There – Patois Records

We’re off to see the Wizard – Peter MaCDonough – The Wizar of Oz A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone – Self-produced: www. petermacdonoughs.com

A Ernesto – Mark Weinstein – Timbasa – Jazzheads

Brazil – Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads

Mulatas, etc, and All – Paulo Mora – Winds of Brazil (Um sopro de Brasil) – Adventure Music/Núcleo Contemporãneo

Amorous flower – Altamiro Carrilho – Winds of Brazil (Um sopro de Brasil) – Adventure Music/Núcleo Contemporãneo

Mas que nada – Lani Hall – Brasil Nativo – Windham Hill Jazz

Jambull – Antonio Restuci – Crisol – Petroglyph Records

Spain – Michel Camilo y Tomatito – Spain – Polygram


Highlights of the show:

Among the great tunes from tonight show, a special release took place today when airing ‘Brazil’ from last work by Mark Weinstein, who is visiting Brazilian classics and approaching to jazz sounds from a Brazilian perspective.



The prolific Mark Weinstein is bringing ‘Jazz Brasil’, another album in a short period of time since his last 2010 release in his label Jazzheads, which is bringing his new work as well. This time, the long-life Latin jazz musician, renowned for his approach to Afro-Cuban inspired music, make a leap into Brazilian musical terrains along with his flute and a small lineup with the basics; this is piano, bass and drums, accompanying him. Other than the awesome renditions to Tom Jobim’s tunes as ‘Triste’ or ‘If you never come to me’, you may find the popular ‘Brazil’ which sounds pretty cool from the flute perspective by Mr. Weinstein. He also presents covers of other very popular jazz musicians as Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter or Herbie Mann. The overall sense of peacefulness and achievement of musical mastery is remarkable throughout the whole album. However, the pulse and tense from the first half of the album doesn’t keep up as well in the second half, where the tone is mellower and it is offered a darker, more introspective view. Nevertheless, this is a great album as a whole which will be delightful to take in bits to truly appreciate to make it grow in your appreciation. Enjoy!

February 22 - Show #74

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Chan chan – Compay Segundo – Buena Vista Social Club – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Candela – Ibrahim Ferrer, vocals; Faustino Oramas, composer – Buena Vista Social Club – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Alto Songo – Afro Cuban All Stars – Afro Cuban All Stars – Nonesuch/Warner

Patricia – Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán – Mambo Sinuendo – Perro Verde/ Nonesuch/World
Circuit

Carmen cubana – Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion – Classic Meets Cuba – Sony Classical

A un perro flaco – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

Manteca – Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo – Afro – Verve

Cubop city – Mario Bauzá & Howard McGhee and His Afro-Cubpoppers – Compilation The
Original Mambo Kings – Verve

Peter Gunn Mambo – Jack Costanzo & His Orchestra – Ultra Lounge-Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

El cumbanchero – Don Swan & His Orchestra – Ultra Lounge-Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Way down yonder in New Orleans Mambo – Van Alexander & His Orchestra – Ultra Lounge-Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Mambo #504 – Fredy Omar con su Banda – Desde Nueva Orleáns – Louisiana Red Hot Records

If I only had a brain – Kermit Ruffins – Happy Talk – Basin Street Records

If I only had a brain – Peter MacDonough – The Wizard of Oz-A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone – Self-produced: www.petermacdonough.com

Aikawarazusa – Hiroshi Takano – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Kiss – Chiharu Iwamoto – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Cannabis – Cornelius – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop –
Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Samba de minha namoradinho – Calin with Fantastic Plastic Machine – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Boy from Ipanema – Jumbo – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul opened today with a modern classic in Cuban traditional music, and ended with a supermodern compilation from Japan. Despite distant geographically and stylistically, both share the spirit of this very program Latin Soul, bringing an approach to different ways to understand the whole generality of Latin music and its relationship to other genres.




Buena Vista Social Club came to light in 1997 and it has ever since the reference to traditional Cuban music since it came to the world attention the faded away style of “son”, which is pretty much a steady mellow and acoustic rhythm accompanying stories of love and whereabouts of peasants in the turn and beginning of the XIXth-XXth centuries. Back in the nineties, “Western” musicians dug dip in the archives and the living musical history in the island and found out those beautiful sounds, maybe some overlooked for the shine of the Cubop or Afro-Cuban jazz, or mambo, or the hype of funk/traditional in the latest years of XXth century. But, the “old trova” was still there, and guys like Santiago Auserón from Spain (from whom Latin Soul aired a tune tonight), or the musical archeologist Ry Cooder. Buena Vista Social Club is a production from the later, Ry Cooder, who took these tunes almost from forgotten and put them back in the music map again. Off this album, more new and individuals albums were released relaunching the careers of Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Elíades Ochoa, Rubén González, or ‘Cachaíto’ López, who was one of the new breed in the group. Musically, all the songs are good and this album is worth while stopping what you do and just pay attention to its music and relax, or keep doing what you were doing, in a better mood, though.




“Sushi 3003 – A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop” is not really a Latin or Brazilian album at all. Compiled by Olaf Maikopf and released in 1996 by Rough Trade Records and distributed by Bungalow in Germany, it is a collection of pop tunes that are trying to promote Japanese electro-pop bands in Europe. Among all those, the avid sounds explorer may find that some of them show young Japanese musicians keen on Brazilian bossa and samba. You may find entertaining these electro/naïve pop reviews with a bossa tinge among other purely electro pop, like the tune by Pizzicato Five or Les 5-4-3-2-1; but especial attention is dedicated to artists approaching Brazilian/pop crossover such as Chiharu Iwamoto, Mari, Calin with Fantastic Plastic Machine, Cornelius; or Jumbo, who actually brings ‘The boy from Ipanema’. Japan pop is fun and bossa nova-like as well, and we’re ready for it!