Manny Oquendo Los New Yorkinos CD

Manny Oquendo y Libre's previous Milestone album, On the Move!, was a crackling live date recorded in San Francisco -- a tough feat to beat -- and the band waited four years before they would try to follow it up. Yet the results are not so much a follow-up as they are a reprise; five of the seven tunes on the present CD were already heard on the live album. Also, according to bassist Andy Gonzales, this studio-bound album consists of remixes and overdubs as well as takes from earlier years that were never finished. So already one gets the feeling that this CD is a bit of a cheat, a stopgap until something new emerges. The five tunes are certainly worth repeating -- the mambo "Chiquilla Ideal" is a particularly memorable piece of material -- yet in each case, these studio versions sound somewhat inhibited and canned when compared to their exuberant live counterparts. The two tunes not included on the earlier CD are "Cuando se Acabara," a loping guajira, and "Quiereme y Veras," a moody bolero which is graced by the smoky-voiced vocalist Xiomara Lougart. New to the band is guitarist Octavio Kotan, who has a good sharp-edged feeling for the dance grooves, and Joe Locke contributes vibes and synthesizer washes. The upshot: If you have On The Move!, you really don't need this. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Manny Oquendo & Libre includes: Manny Oquendo; Jorge Maldonado (vocals); Octavio Kotan (guitar); Angel "Papo" Vazquez, Norman Hogue, Leonard Pollara, Jimmy Bosch (trombone); Willie Rodriguez (piano); Andy Gonzalez (bass); George Delgado (congas).

Norris (trumpet); Joe Locke (synthesizer, vibraphone).

Recorded at Unique Studios, New York, New York in April 2000.

Producers: Manny Oquendo, Andy Gonzalez, Todd Barkan.

Personnel: Manny Oquendo (bongos, guiro, maracas, timbales); Jorge Maldonado (vocals); Alex Norris (trumpet); Norman Hogue, Leonard Pollara, Jimmy Bosch, Angel Vazquez (trombone); Willie Rodriguez (piano); Joe Locke (synthesizer, vibraphone); George Delgado (congas).

Recording information: Unique Studios, New York, NY (04/2000).

Arrangers: Andy González; Angel Vazquez .

Additional personnel: Xiomara Lougart (vocals); El Cacique (rap vocals); Alex

JazzTimes (5/01, p.199) - "...Showcases a tight-as-nails band with first-call trombonists....The tunes are potent dancehall grooves with arrangements that breathe and a band that pumps life through them with zest and superb musicianship..."