Customer Reviews

Latin Jazz Suite

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

 

 

This album is the best big band latin album that I have heard in years. The compositions and arrangements are reminiscent of Kentons'Cuban Fire,Dizzys'Manteca, and Maynards' Si Si MF.But pure Lalo Schifrin Gillespiana. The solos by the statospheric Jon Faddis and firery David Sanchez are outstanding.The WDR Big Band plays with great precision and really swings.This is a "MUST BUY" CD.

I bought this CD about a year ago and have listened to it many times since, trying to understand it in the context of Latin music and trying to decide what I like and don't like about it.

I like Montuno, with its horns, piano and a definite salsa flavor. Martinique did not inspire, but I found the mellow Pampas to be an interesting composition. Fiesta is very percussive, rambling, and somewhat suggestive of the work of Chuck Mangione on his Bellavia album.

I find Ritual, the longest piece, to be also the most dynamic. It starts out gently, gradually builds musical tension, and develops a coherent theme that is interspersed with a variety of musically interesting interludes.

The final cut, Manaos, is evocative of Brazil, but is one that doesn't really ever speak to me although I am a fan of many Brazilian musical forms.

Overall, Latin Jazz Suite is an enjoyable big band style musical tour of Latin America and will continue to enjoy an occasional spot in my CD rotation.

Notes from April 2009: I pulled this out of mothballs and took it with me on a recent trip forgetting that I had already reviewed it. When comparing notes I made on the trip with the original review, I find that my opinion remains almost exactly the same, even down to the Chuck Mangione Bellavia reference.

This is another winner from the incomparable Lalo Schifrin. It contains a number of high energy pieces which are a delight. Now I don't know too much about Latin music per se, but if Latin Jazz doesn't sound like this, them maybe it should! Whether sylistically accurate or not (and I suspect it is) I recommend this offering to all who are interested in this genre and even to those who are not.

Lalo's best composition to date that I have heard. Jon Faddis is simply an ANIMAL. A must buy for all Jazz listeners.

This is a must buy for any music lover...especially for a fan of jazz. It is simply awesome.