Customer Reviews

Homage to Art Blakey

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

. . . gearing up for their real work, Zenon's astounding debut, Ceremonial.

Yes, these three (Glawischnig, bass; Perdomo, piano; and Zenon, alto sax) form the band (with brilliant drummer Antonio Sanchez, who doesn't play on this disc) that produced one of the finest examples in the burgeoning Nu Latin-jazz. It's almost ironic that here they find themselves in a band playing music in tribute to a man who helped launch the careers of everyone from Horace Silver to Lee Morgan to Wayne Shorter to Bobby Watson to Wynton Marsalis.

And I certainly don't intend to demean this disc or its esteemed leader by focusing on the younger players. It's just that with Ceremonial we can see that they've so thoroughly absorbed their lessons they've come up something that places them, conceptually, compositionally, sonically, and conversationally way beyond the purview of the music on this disc, enjoyable as it is.

With half the disc being compositions by probably the greatest Messenger, Wayne Shorter, this could just as easily have been called Homage to Wayne--although that lacks the nuance and resonance of Homage to Art, which can be taken in a number of different ways.

I was originally going to dock this disc a half star, on account of I don't generally like tribute discs, and because I originally thought it sounded a little too monochromatic. On repeated listens, I've changed my mind. This is truly a great Latin-jazz disc, right up there with Chucho Valdes's New Conceptions and Babatunde Lea's Soul Pools. Graced by simply wonderful playing throughout, the band rhythmically reconfigures the more and less familiar Shorter tunes in imaginative and very pleasing fashion.

Completely enjoyable, and not to be missed by anyone who fancies Latin jazz, be it Nu or traditional.

Because of its strong material--by Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, etc.--, and the magnificent and cohesive playing by the band, this is a highlight in Ray Barretto's output. Whether playing Cuban music or jazz, Barretto's bands have always been outstanding, and this recording shows that he continues to be a very fine leader. Highly recommended.