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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have Among the 2005 Releases!, June 23, 2005
This review is from: Live in Brooklyn (Audio CD)
By sheer coincidence I was able to be attend the CD release party for "Live in Brooklyn" actually held in New York City's Greenwich Village, in the cellar of the Cornelia Street Café earlier this month (June 2005). A sweltering day, followed by a steamy hot night - perfect for great live jazz. And I was literally blown away by Arturo O'Farrill's artistic talent that evening - and on this CD. He is one of a handful of jazz pianists out there who can play in any style - and be audibly comfortable in any of them - without losing himself and by mesmerizing the audience phrase by phrase. O'Farrill's Cuban family background makes him at home in the Latin jazz category but I assure you his approach to swing era ballads, bebop and hard bop tunes is as inventive, musically exciting and technically sound as could be. On this album you will find straight out Latin sounds ("Vieques"), and subtly Latin-tinged arrangements of tunes by Carla Bley, Horace Silver, and Wayne Shorter. I particularly am enchanted by O'Farrill's masterpiece arrangement of Ellington's "In A Sentimental Mood" which is followed - how's that for a turnaround - by Monk's "Well You Needn't". Great praise also for Andy Gonzalez on bass and superb drummer Dafnis Prieto. A must have, Grammy-worthy album (produced by O'Farrill himself in teamwork with world-renowned Todd Barkan)!
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