9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Sanchez muestra su amor para la musica, March 27, 2005
This review is from: Coral (Hybr) (Audio CD)
Clifford Brown. George Shearing. Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. William "Bill" Evans. What do all of these musicians have in common? At one point in each musician's career, they have done albums with symphonies or string choirs. Since the 1950's, the marriage of the jazz combo and string section has lead to some of the most influential recordings in jazz heritage. Who can deny the power of the albums of "Charlie Parker with Strings"? . . . . who can deny the popularity of the "Satin" series of Captiol Records recordings done with the George Shearing Quartet? Either to your liking or disapproval, string section/combo jazz recordings are here to stay.
One play of this album left a definite impression on me. First, the DSD mastering of this disc makes the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra come alive. I haven't heard such a warm recording of strings since my late grandmother approached the old Dual turntable with a Shearing and strings recording. To this day, I play them on a VPI Hw19-IV/Rega 250/Grado/Lehmann Black Cube.
David's rapid-fire approach to solos and his ability to improvise fugues and passacaglias in his solos didn't stop on this recording. David is a bit paced on this recording versus Obsession or The Departure; however, his playing is still rich is his Hispanic lineage.
He takes these classics (and a few of his own tunes) and turns them into suites for sextet and orchestra. With a top notch band and the Prague Philharmonic in A+ form, what you get in this album is a celebration of music with the mastering that it deserves.
I have little doubt any jazz fan will dislike this recording. It's part strings/combo; it's part latin jazz sextet; it's part symphonic poem; and it's all music. While almost impossible to give you a related recording due to this innovative approach, I guarentee that this is something you will like and you never heard before.
With the information above, I give you a robust celebration of music from different countries and time periods. I welcome you to listen to David Sanchez as he documents his mastery of music. This is not jazz, this is not classical, and this is not Afro-Cuban. This is music; the true test of a music lover.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A new direction for Sanchez, August 3, 2004
This review is from: Coral (Hybr) (Audio CD)
This is a ground-breaking departure for Sanchez who has gathered around him a basic quartet of Edsel Gomez (piano),Adam Cruz (drums) and either John Benitez or Ben Street on Bass.He plays a beautifully controlled Tenor Sax on all the tracks. He's selected a wide range of different styles from Latin music and chosen to have string arrangements, sympathetically played by members the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. To this basic mix he's added Miguel Zenon on Alto sax (tracks 3,4 & 8) and Pernell Saturnino on percussion for tracks 1,2,3,4,6 &8.The real fascination is the way in which he has mixed material, some of the compositions,like the A.C.Jobim tracks, familiar to me, and others less well known.He also includes two self composed tracks (6 & 8) which fit perfectly into what he is trying to achieve.The ensemble playing is a delight, and the arrangements never overwhelm the basic quartet. My own two favourite tracks are "Eu sei que vou te amar" which envelopes the listener with sound, and "Vexilla Regis" which has some wonderful playing by Sanchez. It's not an album that gives everything immediately, but marks another move forward in the career of one of my favourite tenor sax players. This one may suprise you! Highly recommended.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
-Panambi, August 10, 2006
This review is from: Coral (Hybr) (Audio CD)
Beautiful phrasing! David is blessed to have an expression older
than his years. He was just in time to live in the beauty of
an era of fantastic music. With his life experiences he has
entered a wonderful portal of communication. I hope he
finds it is also what he loves. sincerely, jessandjazz
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