Harlem River Drive

Harlem River Drive | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Scorpio
• ASIN: B00005AVNU
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,850 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Harlem River Drive (Theme Song)

2. If (We Had Peace Today)

3. Idle Hands

4. Broken Home

5. Seeds of Life

Editorial Reviews

First time on CD for this 1970 album by Eddie Palmieri's supergroup, the first to really merge black and Latin styles and musicians, resulting in a free-form brew of salsa, funk, soul, jazz, and fusion. The band also featured Charlie Palmieri, Victor Venegas, Andy Gonsalez, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and Ronnie Cuber. Stateside. 2006. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolutely must have....Latin/Jazz album of considerable brilliance!!!, June 23, 2006

By 

fetish_2000 (U.K.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harlem River Drive (Audio CD)

If (Like me), you're only familiar will Eddie Palmieri (or "Charlie Palmieri"), via either's solo work, this will come as something as a slight shock, recorded originally in back in the 70's with a full band, This recording has been given a new lease of life, by the recent re-release of this seminal cd. This has the opportunity of inticing a new slew of fans, such is the brilliantly performed and arranged material here, that anyone with a passing interest in Latin, Funk, and Afro-Cuban Jazz, simply must check this out.

The Running time is only a partly 30 mins, but such complaints do prove to be somewhat redundant, as one listen to the performances contained here, will make such quibbles regarding its length seem foolish. This is the perfect example of the sound of Latin Americans migrating to North America, and becoming influenced by ther new surroundings and forming groups, and then performing/recording expressive and passionate music that not only touches upon the roots of latin music, but sounds like it was influenced by Black music such and R&B and early Soul. Because there is so much energy, modal musical shapes, rhythmic precision and melodic arrangements, that it's truly a wonder that this Cd, hasn't had the widespread recognition and praises heaped upon it, like some of the more universally recognised Jazz/Latin albums out there.

The Percussion throughout is sublime, and it highlights Eddie & Charlie's composition and arrangement skills to the fore, and if you've never given Eddie's (or indeed Charlies) other work the time of day, then I assure you, after listening to this staggering work, you'll certainly be inclined to seek out more of their work. As it takes on an almost experimental and improvisational feeling, moving effortlessly from mood, groove, feel and texture. multi-dimensional percussion sections, coupled with brass-heavy horn sections, and carefree guitar and ethereal keyboard work. Not that this album is anything less than accessible, which it frequently is...it's just that, this feels like a Special moment in time, when all the musicians are perfectly in synch with each other and remain musically locked into each other then and are Instinctually feeding off each other, you should take this opportunity to hear a exceptional one-off spectaclular performance, fron a band that would never (seemingly) follow up this landmark album. And it's a classic, not just purely for how breathtaking brilliant it was, but also for the fact that some 30 years later, it still sounds as innovative and essential as it did in the 70's. A must have release

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Unexpected, September 26, 2007

By 

Yothgoboufnir - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harlem River Drive (Audio CD)

I'm sitting here. I just unwrapped and listened to this album for the first time after getting it in the mail from Amazon. I can't move. I can't think. I am having a bit of trouble breathing. I don't know what to say. I am blown away. Every other song I've listened to in the following minutes, by other folks in all kinds of other genres, has sounded elucidated, beautified, more unique in itself. Something very rare has happened on this recording.

Attempts at musical fusion generally follow one of the two following courses: 1) they fail; or 2) they succeed, the music is "good," but nothing was really FUSED -- the components drawn from each style stand separate from each other. On this recording, the music suffers neither fate. A unique and captivating music is all that you will hear and feel. And not only does this album fuse genres, but it fuses other musical notions as well. For example, in "Broken Home" it combines atmospheric music with a very attention-demanding style -- that is, atmospheric music that is not for ambiance (note the pun on the literal meaning of "ambiance").

The writers and performers who created this music have shared their vision, an understanding of place, people, and sound. I recommend the experience.

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Funk, March 22, 2011

By 

Anthony Fernandez (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harlem River Drive (Audio CD)

This is just great music. Funk through the eyes of the great Eddie Palmieri. A total fusion of the time period. A mix of funky, jazzy latin rock-a little like the band "War".