Calle 54 Soundtrack CD

CALLE 54 was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.

One exciting thing about asking a label like Blue Note to provide a jazz soundtrack is the depth of catalog there is to draw from. And if that's Latin and Brazilian jazz, all the merrier. Obviously, it will be interesting to see how these 12 tunes match up to the images of the movie, but on its own, this disc is a great sampler of top-notch music from this genre. There's Paquito D'Rivera's smoky, romantic "Panamericana"; Eliane Elias' lively piano romp "Samba Triste"; the artful big-band flavored "Earth Dance" (by Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band); and even a thoughtful bit of romance from Michel Camilo (the classically influenced "From Within"). Other legends appearing here include Gato Barbieri, Tito Puente, Chucho Valdez, and Chico O'Farrill. It's the kind of disc you might put in to keep the party going. ~ Jonathan Widran

2000 soundtrack to the critically lauded Latin jazz movie. These recordings were made specifically for the project & they've all been taped 'live-in-the-studio' by all the Latin greats: Paquito D'rivera, Michel Camilo, Chucho and Bebo Valdes, Jerry Gonzalez, Eliane Elias, Chano Dominguez, Cachao, Gato Barbieri and Tito Puente (one of his last recordings). A true all-star treat for anyone interested in real, heartfelt Latin music.

Recorded at Sony Music Studios, New York, New York in March 2000. Includes liner notes by Nat Chedlak and Fernando Trueba.

Personnel: Pedro Martinez (vocals, congas); Milton Cardona (vocals, bata); Aquiles Baez (guitar); Dave Valentin (flute); Raul Jaurena (bandoneon); Paquito d'Rivera, Marshall McDonald (clarinet, alto saxophone); Peter Brainin (clarinet, tenor saxophone, double bass); Mike Migliore (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Joe Ford, Richard Perry (alto saxophone); Gato Barbieri, Mario Rivera (tenor saxophone); Diego Urcola, Matt Hilgenberg, Jon Owens, Michael Mossman, Jim Seeley (trumpet); Jerry Gonzalez (flugelhorn, congas); Papo Vazquez, Rick Stepton, Sam Burtis (trombone); Jack Jeffers (bass trombone); Chico O'Farrill, Dario Eskenazi, Eliane Elias, Hilton Ruiz, Chucho Valdés, Larry Willis, Mark Soskin, Michel Camilo, Arturo O'Farrill, Bebo Valdés, Chano Domínguez (piano); Dave Samuels (vibraphone, marimba); Tito Puente (vibraphone, timbales); Marc Johnson , Andy González, Javier Colina, Cachao (double bass); Anthony Jackson (electric bass); Guillermo McGill, Robert Gonzales, Horacio "El Negro" Hernández, Satoshi Takeishi, Steve Berrios, Mark Walker (drums); Giovanni Hidalgo, Carlos "Patato" Valdes (congas); Joe Gonzalez (bongos, percussion); Jose Fernandez, Abi Holliday (bata); Felix Sanabria (claves); Israel "Piraña" Suarez (hand claps, palmas); Frank Colon, Pernell Saturnino (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Thom Cadley.

Liner Note Authors: Fernando Trueba; Nat Chediak.

Recording information: Sony Music Studios, New York, NY (03/2000); Sony Music Studis, NY (03/2000).

Director: Chico O'Farrill.

Photographer: Jordi Socías.Entertainment Weekly (4/20/01, p.73) - "...A dozen lavish tracks by superb musicians make it clear: Latin music is sexy, but not at the expense of the intellect..." - Rating: B+
Down Beat (5/01, p.74) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Features some of the most important figures in Latin jazz....It's a sampler-like disc with many highlights..."