Customer Reviews

Listen Here

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The 68-year-old Mr. Palmieri, celebrating 50 years in the music business with this release, has lost none of his fire even as he's achieved a gravitas and presence without peer in Latin Jazz. Combining an approach that draws from the masters of 20th century jazz piano, including Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Thelonius Monk, and McCoy Tyner--and even younger players like Hilton Ruiz and Danilo Perez--in the end he carves out a place for himself that is uniquely his own.

It helps to have a working band comprising some of the very finest jazz musicians on the scene today: Brian Lynch (trumpet); Conrad Herwig (trombone), Donald Harrison (alto sax), John Benitez (bass), Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (drums), and Giovanni Hildago (congas). Add to that guest appearances by Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Regina Carter (violin), John Scofield (acoustic and electric guitar), David Sanchez (tenor sax), Nicholas Payton (trumpet), and Christian McBride (bass), and you have a musical assemblage of astounding range and expression. Combine all the above with some brilliantly chosen standards and some very attractive Palmieri originals, killer arrangements full of surprise, nuance, and exuberance, a very high level of commitment by all the players (no one's mailing in their chops here!), and a recording of extreme clarity and brilliance, and you have, I think it can be said without contradiction, one of the very finest discs of Latin jazz every recorded.

I especially like the way the leader has organized the program: the originals and standards, the slower numbers and more up-tempo ones--all flowing together in almost suite-like fashion. And he gives the guest soloists quite different and challenging settings to strut their stuff. Brecker, who seems to be popping up almost everywhere lately, delivers some very powerful playing on his two guest spots, as do Carter (with a crazy pizzicato solo) and Scofield (playing some mind-boggling acoustic on "La Gitana"). But the biggest surprise for me is David Sanchez, a ridiculously talented player who never seems to have found exactly the right context for his prodigious chops. He ends up nearly stealing the show with his playing on "Tin Tin Deo," the old Dizzy gem.

What sets this disc apart, finally, is not just the level of musicianship. It's the masterful tempi variations, the brilliant palette of musical colors, and the stunning arrangements. Latin jazz too often can begin to sound all the same, kind of like one big wall of dancing horns and percussion assaulting the weary listener. Not here. There's such tonal and rhythmic variety that one is treated to a veritable banquet of musical offerings, all inventively prepared and served. The result is aural gustation of uncommon pleasure.

Sure to be a disc gracing many top ten lists at year's end.

With "Listen Here" the "latin monk" Eddie Palmieri explores his jazzier roots with guests soloists and his excellent working band with great sucess. It's fun and upbeat[like Eddie] but it is NOT big band latin jazz. For that turn to Eddie's cd's "La Perfecta" and "Obra Maestra". This cd has more of a small unit jazz flavor with several jazz standards[Monk,Silver] and Eddie originals. Frankly to my ears the originals work better.Regina Carter[violin] burns on "In Flight" and sax player Michael Brecker[who is very ill by the way] cooks on "Listen Here". Listen Here seems to work best with the pared down units in the several formats presented here. Eddie's percussive Monk-like piano playing is particually interesting on La Gitano with great subtle accoustic guitar work by John Scofield. Fans of Eddie's big band latin jazz may be dissapointed or suprised[I was pleasently] but this is Eddie reaching and stretching his art. I hope he cotinues to evolve. Heck he's only 68 years old! Reccommended.

This is my favorite Latin Jazz album to date. It is true that this is not the typical tropical big band sound. However, if you like variety (the first track includes jazz violin) and sheer musical talent, you should at least listen to the album samples.

Para muchos, la inesperada vuelta de Palmieri al jazz latino, dejando un poco de lado los ritmos salseros y rumberos, pero sin alejarse demasiado de sus sonidos caribeños más característicos. Es, sin lugar a dudas, una obra maestra del jazz afrocubano y de lo mejor que ha dado este género en los últimos años. Además, cuenta con maravillosas colaboraciones que hacen de este album un disco inolvidable e indispensable para cualquier amante del buen jazz.

Matrícula de Honor para Listen Here y Nica's Dream

A quick sampling of the openning track 'In Flight' and you will be hooked. If you are still on the fence about buying this album try the title cut 'Listen Here'. If these two tunes alone do not have you purchasing the album you may have a hole in your soul. This album swings and is great from front to back. Big latin jazz sound with excellent percussions, swinging horn arrangements and Eddie's pianio bring it all together and driving it forward. There is a reason why the man has won seven GRAMMY's. I love this album. If you like jazz or just music with a beat you will not be disappointed.

SIn lugar a dudas el mejor album de Eddie en los últimos años, incluso mejor que "master piece" con el gran Tito Puente. Con un sonido muy latin-jazz os encantará a todos.

I was disappointed in Eddie Palmieri's new CD. I am a fan of his Ritmo Caliente CD. I listen to salsas and chachas alot. But this CD has only one chacha and is strictly jazz. I wouldn't even classify the CD in the Latin Jazz catagory. While it is good music for sure, it wasn't exactly what I have heard from him before and not what I was looking for.

Having heard the title track on Pandora Radio, I found myself intoxicated by music for the first time in years. After purchasing the album at four o'clock in the morning, I became enchanted with the quality of the music and found myself dancing in my bare feet all over the livng room...and I can't dance. Having known and respected Eddie for over fifty years, I was not surprised by the exhuberant, finely honed talent exhibited on this album. In 1965, Eddie hired me to sub for his injured drummer, giving me the opportunity to experience the ecstasy of working for one of the finest human beings and creative talents I have ever known. This album is representative of the direction that Eddie has been striving for since the night I first heard him. Having developed his Afro-Latin roots without compromise, he has gone on to combine the funk of the mother country with the finest creative wine of the American Jazz tradition. Moforibale' y mucho ache' Eddie.
Ernest "Phil" Newsum

Senor Palmieri has done it again. Superb music to listen to and dance to as well. The group assembled here gives just what one would expect and more as we see the genius of a master pianist and arranger. A must have for Latin Jazz fans.

What I can tell you about the music of Mr. Eddie Palmieri. One of the just ahead thinking musician of all time in salsa and latin jazz but in this just hear Mr. Palmieri in combination with Mr.Brian Lynch in the trumpet. He is a killer. And if you want more Mr. Hidalgo in congas and Mr. Harrison in the sax. When I was a kid every one tell my that Mr. Palmieri was crazy, but is not that. You Know what is happenning. Too many years ahead of the other.