Bennett Paster Grupo Yanqui CD

Pianist Bennett Paster and bassist Gregory Ryan team up with drummer Rob Garcia to form the core of Grupo Yanqui. Chris Cheek and Yosvany Terry Cabrera share saxophone duties (and appear only on separate tracks), while Gilad and Dafnis Prieto handle percussion. Not unlike the Rumba Club, Grupo Yanqui looks at Latin jazz as a springboard for highly creative and complex original music. Paster penned six tunes for the session; Ryan, who plays both acoustic and electric bass, contributes three others. There's also a playful arrangement of Harburg and Lane's "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" and a boisterous closing rendition of Bebo Valdés' "Cactus Mambo." Paster is featured without horns on his "Fantasy," a piece with symphonic overtones and an intoxicating, repeated melody. Other highlights include Ryan's "Storytime," a snappy minor-key groove in six; Paster's "Tema Para Yosvany," an elaborate piece based on a tricky figure in five; and "Oaktown Morning Blues," also by Paster, a brooding song in a slow 7/4. Involved arrangements, passionate solos, and vigorous, spontaneous interplay, all with a melodic and cosmopolitan Latin funk touch. Highly recommended. ~ David R. Adler

"If you like Buena Vista Social Club, you'll flip over Grupo Yanqui. These guys take the tradition and go loco..." -Sr. CactitoGrupo Yanqui plays original Latin jazz and crusty salsa favorites. Their self-titled debut CD juxtaposes high-energy, percussive grooves with lyrical melodies and evocative textures.Co-leaders, pianist Bennett Paster and bassist Greg Ryan, contribute original compositions and arrangements of classic Cuban music. Drummer Rob Garcia completes the core trio. Half of the tracks feature the important Cuban artists Yosvany Terry on saxophone and Dafnis Prieto on percussion. The others feature saxophonist Chris Cheek and Irsaeli percussionist Gilad.This CD is entertaining and artistic, but the focus is always on groove. The original compositions draw from Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and American traditions. The band contrasts their creative originals with classic Cuban Mambos, Bolero's and Cha-Chas. Grupo Yanqui is fun and funky; a true "salsa" of modern and traditional music.Based in Brooklyn, New York, Grupo Yanqui has perfomed at clubs, festivals and intimate soireés accross the United States. Whether you're looking for percussive, energetic music or you're ready to mambo, Grupo Yanqui delivers the goods.

Recorded in Brooklyn, New York on April 4 & 5, 2000.

Recording information: 04/2001.

Personnel: Bennett Paster (piano); Gregory Ryan (bass); Yosvany Terry Cabrera (soprano & alto saxophones); Chris Cheek (soprano & tenor saxophones); Rob Garcia (drums); Dafnis Prieto, Gilad (percussion).

JazzTimes (p.107) - "[This sextet] puts a clever salsa spin on Chick Corea's 'Tones for Joan's Bones' and Billy Strayhorn's 'Chelsea Bridge.'"