New Batacumbele!

[Gregory F. Pappas]

Okay...I have now listened to this Cd two or three times. This is one of
the best Cd's that Batacumbele have ever recorded!! But before I go into
the details and why you must or must not get this Cd I must make the
following observation (which may irritate some people): Batacumbele and
Irakere are two of the most important groups in the history of
afro-latin. Their importance have to do with being labs and schools for
some of the greatest musicians that have come from the islands. However,
with a few exceptions the recording quality (CD's or Lp's ) is poor or
at least not representative of their greatness (No Gems!). Okay, Misa
Negra is good and the last two Irakere are okay but are they the sort of
masterpieces that you can use to show someone the greatness and
importance of the group? the same thing with batacumbele. However, it
looks like things may change. The production quality is getting better
(perhaps a bit too late since some of the most important members of
either group went their own separate way!)

Now to the particular Cd. This Batacumbele Cd stands out in different
ways. First of all the recording quality is great even if it is a live
CD. Second, the presence of Jerry Gonzalez and Nestor Torres (and Hector
Veneros) is a move away from the strong Trombone sound that has
characterized batacumbele (with Papo Vazquez and William Cepeda in the
past). The muted trumpet of Jerry in the 4 cuts that he participates
sound lovely against the fiery percussion section.
But what stands out the most about this Cd (should not surprise you) is
the percussion and rythm section. Even in those cuts where it is in the
background, the percussive accents added by anthony carrillo and endel
Dueno are in your face! The solos of Giovanni and Patato (just one cut)
are just worth the price of the CD. Giovanni's solo relies on a melodic
line that he repeats throughout (perhaps because Patato is watching
him?)

About the Cuts below:

> Cuts:
> 1. manigua- de africa a los andes
> 2. manteca
> 3. majaderia
> 4. omorro
> 5. solo giovanni
> 6. solo nestor
> 7. vuelo 923
> 8. obligato de fefa
> 9. el mensajero 'patato'
> 10. konkoina

1 is a strange combination of flautas de bambu and Batas, 2, 3, 4 are
nice rendition of standards or songs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 consist in solos
and descarga mode: so if you are allergic to these sort of thing avoid
the Cd. The CD Hijos Del Tambo it is about Tambo! The CD has at times
the looseness of any live recording? But do you like great Tambo? Then
Get it!

Any interest in me saying something about the Puerto Rico Jazz Jam.

Gregory "el tejazzrican"

[JazzBuffalo]

Compadrito, I am sending my best scouts out for a bottle of
Barrilito to see if I can get you to look down...

> Any interest in me saying something about the Puerto Rico Jazz Jam.

YES!!!!!! :-)
Nina, do sumptin' for my compadrito's confidence! :-)

--
The JazzBuffalo a.k.a. Luis Moreno
==================================
"Francisco Aguabella is the John Coltrane of the Conga Drum"
--Dizzy Gillespie

[Gregory F. Pappas]

MARCANE wrote:
>
> I would be very interested in hearing your comments about it.
> What label is the new Batacumbele on???

First, the second question. I cannot figure out what is the label. It
looks like a self-produced CD. I mean on the side it has after the title
"hijos del Tambo" : BATA 99-005. In the back of the Cd it has the
following: GRUPO BATACUMBELE and their address and phone # in Barrio
Obrero (PR) and the name Raul Morales Guanill tel (787)783-4944 e-mail
rmorales...@equitable.com How did I get my copy? I made my parents
go to Sarava (a record store in Old Sanjuan).

About the Puerto Rico Jazz Jam in a different post...

Gregory "el tejazzrican"

[Gregory F. Pappas]

This is a sort of Various Artist type CD. The idea was for Humberto
Ramirez to showcase some of the best talent (new musicians and some of
the masters) that reside in the Island. According to the liner notes it
took him four years to make the recording possible. So what do we get?
Well, he proves his point (about the talent) but there are so many good
bands here playing only one cut that you are left hungry for more! This
sort of project deserves at least 2 or 3 CD's, or better, one for each
of the bands featured (easy for me to say..I am not paying for it). In
short, I love the CD but what a teaser!

Let me comment of each of the cuts: (I will only mention some of the
names of the members of each group. Most of the groups are composed of 6
or 8 solid musicians))

1. The All Stars -Israel
The All Stars are H Ramirez, Justo Almario, Bobby valentin, alex Acuna,
Roberto Roena, Richi Flores. Very nice (solid solos) but short. For sure
if there is a group here that deserves an entire CD (if not 2) is this
one, but that is all we get (7:25 minutes?).

2. Edgar Abraham group -A Smile from You
This is good but for me the weakest one in the CD. It stands out in the
CD in being somewhat fusive or lite.

3. Del Sur al Norte (with eric figueroa on piano)- Mambo Mongo.
good straight ahead latin jazz

4. Prodigio Claudio y Quique Domenech -Bello Amanecer
For me this is one of the high points and biggest discovery of the CD.
These are two excellent Cuatro Players in the context of a full rhythm
section and two horns. This is how Jibaro jazz is suppose to sound like!
This is the Yomo Toro "take no prisoners" approach to the Cuatro!
I noticed this was in the play list of WDNA!

5. Paoli Mejias Y Checkmate- Asora
What can we say about Paoli? Great percussionist with a solid group in a
standard type latin jazz composition.

6. Charlie Sepulveda Y the Turnaround- Bomba pa'Carmen
Do not ask me to be objective about Charlie. His first two Cd are in my
top 10 latin jazz cd's of the last 20 years. Here he is with his new
group and can still deliver a jazz bombazo. (but 5:28 of the entire cd!)

7. Luis Marin y New jazz band -Laurel
Ask Jazzbuff what we think about Luis Marin? Here is a promising piano
star that have not been given the opportunity to shine.

8. Puerto Rico Jazz Orchestra -Lamento Borincano
This is a big band led by Humberto. Not innovative but nice. As good as
it gets giving that it is a big band. (Elias Lopez and Mario Ortiz in
the trumpets).

So...what does the Cd says about the state of Jazz in P.R.? it could be
taken either way though I hope it is in the positive. I worry about
latin jazz musicians that decide to stay in PR or Cuba. Why? lets face
it, in comparison to the states there is not the opportunities or the
jazz audience. They get their jazz from the academy or in their small
circle of friends musicians or the few who care about straight ahead
jazz. But things may be changing. For example, I was impressed with the
local audience who seem to care about jazz in the last Heinekken Jazz
fest. I hope this Cd is a sign of better things to come!

Gregory "el tejazzrican"

I was impressed

[MARCANE]

greggory asked>>Any interest in me saying something about the Puerto Rico Jazz
Jam.>>>

I would be very interested in hearing your comments about it.

What label is the new Batacumbele on???

Marcané is Arturo Gómez at...wdna@paradise.net
Yo si son de la loma pero estoy en el llano rajando la leña
Música es la mejor medicina
La verdad es la verdad....Más mentiras no quiero
It's OK to think, no one has to know