Ari

I´ve been fascinated by latin jazz (especially afro-cuban) for some time now. Artists like Paquito D´rivera, and Michel Camilo. I got very inspired when i watched the dvd "Calle 54". I also very enjoyed Tito Puentes (along with the saxophonist and fluteist) preformance on that dvd. I´ve been looking for records to check out, but have kind of hit the wall, lately. Not finding anything I like. I prefer energic and up-tempo songs with wind players, pianists, and latin percussionists. When I listen to randomly "latin-jazz" records I mostly find the latin part been more dominating then the jazz. I´m looking for something balanced. The best example I can come up with is the song "caribe" on Michel Camilo´s "one more once" (this is also the intro song to Calle54). So is there anybody here that can give me any advices on good records?

tromj

Check out anything with Ray Vega!

Whataguy!

Arturo is a great guy to listen to for Latin Jazz . . . or anything else.

dambly

If you're looking for a good balance of jazz and Latin, you really should check out Brian Lynch's brand new recording that features Eddie Palmieri and Phil Woods, plus a guest appearance by vocalist Lila Downs.

You can hear samples and see videos from the recording sessions at:

http://myspace.com/brianlynchjazz

If you like what you hear, you can go to Brian's web page and click the "Purchase Simpatico Now" link to buy the CD online:

http://www.brianlynchjazz.com

This recording features an all-star cast -- scroll down Brian's MySpace page to see the list of personnel!

GLM

Definitely check out, Claudio Roditi ,Serafin Aguilar, Jesus Alemany ,Diego Urcola , Pete Rodriguez. Just a few more for the list.

Gerry

Ari

thank you for the replies! I am checking out the artists as we speak. Another question: I´m not very good in hearing the clave. Are there any methods except listening alot to clave-oriented music you know about? I´m from Norway, thats about as far away from latin america you can get.

Billy B

Check this out.

http://www.rebecamauleon.com/index.html

trpt2345

A great resource. It's important in latin jazz and Afro/Cuban or other Carribean styles to understand about the clave, and how it rules everything. There are several layers of rhythm, with the clave at the foundation, the tumbao (what the bass player plays, and of 2 and four), the cascara (what the timbale player plays on the sides of the drum) and the montuno (what the pianist plays. Then you add the different variations of the conga rhythms, the martillo (usually the bongos) and cow bell, guiro, etc., and you get a really interesting combination. And to play over all that stuff is really FUN! And memorize the tunes so you can watch the dancers.

Michael McLaughlin

Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.
Mark Twain

Ari

I had to bring this thread up again. I downloaded a version of "blue bossa". The artist name was John Coltrane, but this is definitively not Coltrane.

It has an uptempo latin feel to it, not bossa or samba, more afro-cuban, with a syncopated bass, with percussionists (i can hear timbales and congas). The melody is arranged for several wind instruments (flute, tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone). After the melody the piano takes a solo (you can also hear him "sing" along while he play), then the fluteist, followed by the saxophonist, then the bass. Then the trumpetist and trombonist take 4 bars each, followed by percussion solos a couple of times.

Does anybody know the name of this band?

PINCHUNO

Ralph Irrizarry. Nueva Manteca. Bryan Lynch. Conrad Herwig. Some Irakere records. The best mix of Latin Jazz (IMO) is having a good Latin rhythm section with seasoned jazz soloists. This may sound obvious, but there are soooooooooo many records out there where the soloists aren't really that well grounded in the jazz vocabulary and you keep hearing the same old tired "descarga" riffs and vamps. Horn phrases and piano montunos repeated ad nauseum. Unfortunately, the late, great Tito Puente recorded many such albums (I'm not talking about his salsa records, cool it!)and if it weren't for Mario Rivera on tenor and flute, most of these records would have been too dull for words.
"Jam Miami" is another example of this boring repetition. I'm sorry but Dave Valentin, should not have been allowed out to play that night. He only plays about 4 bars before he goes into his flute "sound effects" and multiphonics and why Sandoval insisted on murdering the timbales when he had 3 or 4 great percussionists playing behind him is beyond me.