Havana Blues

Rodriguez/Rendon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 5, 1998)
• Original Release Date: May 5, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Palmetto Records
• ASIN: B000006PMX
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,797 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Jazziz

Like two country kids living out their lifelong fantasy of making it in the big city, Texas-born musicians armando rodríguez, a trumpeter, and victor rendon, a timbale player, deliver a labor of love born of their respect for the vintage mambo-era style of Latin music on Havana Blues (Palmetto). Their augmented Latin Jazz Orchestra, featuring Chico O'Farrill as guest conductor, arranger, and composer, boasts a long list of celebrated participants and a program that combines nostalgia and modern concepts in a winning way. O'Farrill's title tune, a bold, leisurely paced big-band outing featuring a bolero-cha tempo, cascading brass, and punchy sax riffs, recalls the glory days of New York's Palladium and of other '50s dance clubs. Along with originals like Rendon's exhilarating "Blue Mambo" and Rodríguez's exotic, Mexican-flavored "Huachinango de Veracruz," the group tackles Chick Corea's "Guajira," a '60s classic from the late Willie Bobo's band that features spicy Cuban-style trumpet licks from Jim Seeley and vocals by Adela Dalto, and Kenny Dorham's spunky "Afrodisia," a showcase for the band's rhythm section. Big-name guests include bassist Andy Gonzalez, vibraphonist Victor Mendoza, flutist Mauricio Smith, and conguero Giovanni Hidalgo. Throughout the album, O'Farrill's talented son Arturo, the band's pianist, impresses with his lithe and expressive soloing and with persuasive comping.

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

Jazz Times

Havana Blues pairs veteran composer/conductor/arranger Chico O'Farrill with the Rodriquez-Rendun Latin Jazz Orchestra for a second recording of vintage Latin jazz. While there are no surprises, this CD reveals big band Latin jazz at its most exuberant.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Latin Jazz, March 31, 2005

By 

K. Lee (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Havana Blues (Audio CD)

If you are currently in the market for a Latin Jazz CD, you do not need to look any further! This is the one to buy! The songs have a combination of Cuban beats as well as an American Jazz feel. In fact, I had never really been into Latin Jazz until I heard this CD. Now, I cannot seem to get enough of it and being a trumpet player myself, makes me love this CD even more. The way that Armando Rodriguez plays the flugel horn solos and Jim Seeley plays the trumpet solos as well as how they sound together, makes me want to go out and practice some more. They have a way of playing completely in tune with one another.

The percussion section is amazing and has a way of keeping everyone together perfectly. Being right on the beat is very important in a band like this and Victor Rendon has a way of being right on the money every time.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent CD, December 23, 2011

By 

David E. Hill Jr. "D. Hill" (Weslaco, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Havana Blues (Audio CD)

This CD has a lot toe taping tunes on it plus a couple beautiful ballads. If you like latin jazz, you can't go wrong with this one.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars everyone better listen, September 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Havana Blues (Audio CD)

This is the greatest, most authentic, latin I've ever heard. The more I listen to it the more I need to hear it.I urge ANYONE who calls themselves a latin jazz lover to listen. If you don't, your definitley not.