Rumba a la Patato

Marlon Simon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 20, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cubop Records
• ASIN: B00004TM1X
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,720 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rumba a la Patato

2. Songo Pa Monk

3. Humble and Innocent

4. Ericka

5. Something For Carol

6. Easy Mood

7. Sandra Malandra

8. Belleza India

9. Clear to Take Off

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Venezuela-born percussionist/composer Marlon Simon is a veteran sideman with Jerry Gonzalez, Chucho Valdés, and Hilton Ruiz. Rumba a la Patato features bassists John Benitez and Fort Apache's Andy Gonzalez and pianists Ed Simon (Marlon's younger brother) and Luis Perdomo, highlighting the leader's skills as a composer of stateside jazz laced with Afro-Cuban rhythms. Simon's compositional style centers on singable melodies that overlay complex rhythmic signatures, which make for nice solo showcases. Alto saxophonist (and ex-member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers) Bobby Watson delivers his Birdlike soprano and alto sax lines on the moving midtempo piece, "Ericka," and the Thelonious Monk tribute, "Songo pa Monk." The title track, a riveting rumba with a 6/8 introduction, is written for the pioneering conguero Carlos "Patato" Valdes and is brightened by trumpeter (and Eddie Palmieri bandmate) Brian Lynch's clave-blooded solo. On "Sandra Malandra," Simon melds mainstream jazz with Cuban rhythm, and on "Something for Carol," the Trinidadian calypso and Dominican merengue are brought together under Simon's sexy groove flag. As this recording shows, Marlon Simon knows how put together Latin jazz for the head, hips, and heart. --Eugene Holley Jr.

From Jazziz

Drummer and composer Marlon Simon pays tribute here to fellow percussionist Carlos "Patato" Valdes, who arrived in New York in 1954 and quickly introduced jazz musicians like Herbie Mann, Kenny Dorham, and Dizzy Gillespie to the wonders of the Afro-Cuban rhythmic experience. But instead of an all-out drumming session, Simon delivers a set of nine meticulously crafted compositions, performed by an ensemble featuring a mix of Hispanic and non-Hispanic players that includes trumpeter Brian Lynch and alto saxophonist Bobby Watson.

Directing traffic from behind his drum set, Simon leads the band from introspective ballads - such as the highly lyrical "Belleza India," on which Watson blows haunting melodies while bells ring gently in the background - to the bouncy Afro-Cuban jazz of "Songo pa Monk" and a festive mix of merengue and calypso on "Something for Carol."

The presence of veteran bassist Andy Gonzalez and two of Simon's brothers explains the cohesive quality of the music. Trumpeter Michael Simon composed two of the tunes; his "Easy Mood" is just that, a relaxed cha-cha that serves as a vehicle for fluid solos by himself and tenor saxophonist Peter Brainin. Ed Simon, who has spent several years as pianist with trumpeter Terrence Blanchard, guests on three tracks.

If Valdes has the opportunity to hear this record, he'll be proud to know that the marriage between jazz and Latin music he started 46 years ago is still going strong.

--Alfredo Alvarado Jr., JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rumba with Marlon Simon, August 29, 2000

By 

Thomas Pena (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rumba a la Patato (Audio CD)

RUMBA A LA PATATO is an exceptional first effort by Marlon Simon and the Nagual Spirits. Marlon Simon is following in the footsteps of great (Latin) Jazz bands like Jerry Gonzalez's Fort Apache Band and Ray Barretto's New World Spirit. The project is dedicated to the legendary Patato Valdes.

"Marlon Simon feels that the flow of creativity stems from the suffering pain, and violence we are inundated with on a daily basis. It is up to the artists to consolidate all of these negative happenings and convert them into positive ones." So states Peter La Barabara in the liner notes. Marlon Simon's music definitely has a spiritual feeling that is undeniable.

Marlon and crew serve up a variety of rhythms: Rumba, Songo, Mozambique, Calypso and even a little Merengue!

My favorite tracks thus far are RUMBA A LA PATATO, SONGO PA MONK and HUMBLE AND INNOCENT. The compositions are complex, rhythmic and full of masterful improvisations by the band members. Marlon Simon maintains a low profile on percussion but makes his presence felt throughout.

This is an impressive first effort. I look forward to hearing more from MARLON SIMON AND THE NAGUAL SPIRITS in the near future.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Killer, June 23, 2000

By 

"wphipps" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rumba a la Patato (Audio CD)

Killer latin jazz...spiritual music...never meant to be bought or sold, just experienced. [e-mail]