AFRO CUBAN JAZZ [Vinyl]

Snowboy | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (June 6, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Cubop Records
• ASIN: B00004TLZ9
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #459,872 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Oya Ye Ye

2. Aguacero

3. Interlude

4. El Campeon del Mambo

5. Blues Para T

6. Straight from the Gate

7. Ofrenda

8. Descarga Angixi

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the past, percussionist Snowboy (a.k.a. Mark Cotgrove) took mambo, rumba, and Afro-Cuban jazz and juiced it with modern-day touches of house, hip-hop and lounge for acid jazz audiences. Here Snowboy and the Latin Section stick a little closer to the tradition, instead going for a jazzier vibe filled with Afro-Cuban rhythms and searing solos. While Cotgrove and his two percussion partners keep the music at a rhythmic boil, the three horn players skip across the top with snappy charts and brash solos that add new rhythmic layers. The secret weapon, however, is keyboardist Neil Angilley, who adds some dusty funk grooves to the proceedings with slammin' B3 and Fender Rhodes work. Another fine addition to the great Cubop catalog, Snowboy and Co. never let the party die down, and this high-energy disc is one that would make both Machito and Mongo proud. --Tad Hendrickson

From Jazziz

He's perhaps the first club DJ to make the jump from spinning disks to leading his own Latin jazz group and winning international renown as a hard- hitting Afro-Cuban percussionist. But it all seems perfectly logical to Mark Cotgrove, a 39-year-old Brit known to the Latin jazz world as Snowboy. His love of old-style Cuban music and deep involvement in London's Acid-Jazz dance scene have proven to be the inspiration for some of the most energetic, raw-edged Latin jazz since the Palmieri brothers, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, and Cal Tjader, the music's most important standard-bearers.

On Snowboy's current release, Afro Cuban Jazz, and its predecessor, Mambo Rage, the influence of vintage early '70s Latin jazz is as evident in the recording technique as it is in the arrangements' minimalist style. Snowboy favors the sound of organ and Fender Rhodes keyboard over the traditional acoustic piano.

Still much in awe of the pioneering Latin artists whose artful blend of traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms and funk-influenced, urban elements have guided his personal style, Snowboy has, nonetheless, crafted his own distinct rhythmic identity. He uses a mixture of three rhythms, that makes a kind of big groove sound on four congas. It comes from a style of bata [sacred Afro-Cuban] drumming called chachalokafun, rumba, and mozambique [a 6/8 rhythm]. Although the eight-member Latin Section includes only one Latino, it's closer to the vibe of benchmark, '50s-style Cuban descargas (jam sessions) than much recent Latin jazz and salsa.

--Mark Holstonm JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Resiliant and Energetic, October 17, 2000

By 

Matt Souden (East Lansing, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Afro Cuban Jazz (Audio CD)

This CD was hyped and sold to me by a guy who works at the best indie store in my college home town. He knows my taste in music (similar to his I like to think) and this CD is making the rounds of their group of friends. Unbelieveable. It holds up to many, many listenings. The Sax solo in track 6 still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and the volume compulsively must go up - it's that lyrical. My girlfriend wants this CD for herself. It is my most listened-to CD purchased in the last year.

I've just begun a love affair with Jazz in the last few years, and am a long ways from the technical ear some have. I'm not a musician, just a fan. This CD bridges jazz in an incredible, consistant, bouyant CD that is a great introduction to the genre- latin style. Exellent crossover potential.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Afro Cuban Jazz, December 19, 2000

By 

James T. Valles (Edmonds, wa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Afro Cuban Jazz (Audio CD)

I only heard a blurp of this artist on the radio, but just that 10 second bit was enough. I ordered the cd the next day and "Wow!" I wasn't disappointed. Every track is great,if you can listen to this cd without tapping your feet then check your pulse because your dead. Snowboy and his crew can really jam. I am not stopping at just one I'm ordering Mambo Rage after posting my review. I suggest you do the same.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars afrocuban jazz snowboy, June 11, 2000

By 

cindy cano (United States ,calif) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Afro Cuban Jazz (Audio CD)

heard the album last night at a friends house ,snowboy's hot on percussion the song el campeon de mambo ,which means champion of mambo" mans its hot . and the others songs are dynamite a must have for your collection if you like hot latin jazz.