Manhattan School of Music Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra / Bobby Sanabria - Kenya Revisited CD

Kenya Revisited album for sale Recalling the moody and atmospheric mid-to-late-'60s work of fellow reedmen Wayne Shorter and Hank Mobley, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander's Dead Center has a reflective quality that lends itself to such timely compositions as McCoy Tyner's "Search for Peace." It also reveals Alexander's lithe and gentle touch on standards including "Almost Like Being in Love," while lesser known works like Herbie Hancock's "Sonrisa" showcase his deft harmonic invention and superb rhythmic sense. Similarly, pianist Harold Mabern's groove-oriented "A Few Miles From Memphis" is propelled along by drummer Joe Farnsworth's soul-inflected beat with Alexander nudging lines back and forth deep inside the rhythm pocket. While not a significant departure from his past work, Dead Center nonetheless finds Alexander revealing himself as a grounded and muscular improviser who never takes his eye off the target. ~ Matt Collar Liner Note Author: Neil Tesser. Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (06/10/2004). Photographer: John Abbott . Personnel: Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone); Eric Alexander ; ...

Kenya Revisited CD music During his career, Eddie Palmieri hasn't seemed completely comfortable unless he's allowing others to challenge him. It was true at the beginning of his career when he revolutionized Latin music with his charanga, the La Perfecta ensemble; it was true during the mid-'60s when he recorded two respected dates with Cal Tjader; it was true during the '60s and '70s when he energized the Latin superstar band, the Fania All-Stars; and it was still true in early 2005 when he recorded Listen Here! Released on Concord Picante, it sees an array of excellent jazz instrumentalists sharing solo space with his regular group. First up is Regina Carter, not a natural fit for a Latin group by anyone's estimation, but still a master musician whose sprightly violin proves surprisingly sympathetic with Palmieri's tough salsa unit (and she hangs on easily when the band kicks in to a hardcore salsa halfway through). Tenor Michael Brecker and bassist Christian McBride also prove up to the task on the title track, a salsa re-imagination of Eddie Harris' near-standard "Listen Here." Elsewhere, Palmieri gets several chances to extend his arranging chops, by translating a trio of real standards -- "Tin Tin Deo," "In Walked Bud," "Nica's Dream" -- for his group. ~ John Bush Liner Note Authors: Pia Lopez; Rene Lopez . Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (01/19/2005-01/23/2005). Photographer: Lisa Stein. Arrangers: Eddie Palmieri; Doug Beavers. Personnel: Eddie Palmieri (piano); Eddie Palmieri; Ivan Renta (alto saxophone); Christian McBride, John Benítez (bass instrument); John Scofield (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Regina Carter (violin); Donald Harrison (alto saxophone); David Sanchez , Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Nicholas Payton, Brian Lynch (trumpet); Conrad Herwig, Doug Beavers (trombone); Horacio "El Negro" Hernández (drums); Giovanni Hidalgo (congas, bata, guiro). Audio Mixer: Jon Fausty.

Kenya Revisited buy CD music On 2008's RAINBOW PEOPLE, veteran jazz trombonist Steve Turre leads an impressive ensemble that includes pianist Mulgrew Miller, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, and bassist Peter Washington. Standout tracks on this vibrant set include "Brother Ray," a bluesy number that nods to one of Turre's mentors, Ray Charles, and the Spanish-tinged "Midnight in Madrid." Personnel: Steve Turre (trombone, percussion); Kenny Garrett (alto saxophone); Sean Jones (trumpet); Mulgrew Miller (piano); Peter Washington (upright bass); Ignacio Berroa (drums, percussion).

Kenya Revisited songs The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra was created for Lincoln Center and is run by pianist/arranger Arturo O'Farrill. Oddly enough, this CD is much more salsa than jazz and is completely dominated by the singing of Herman Olivera. In fact, the all-star big band could just as well be a studio orchestra, playing the music with spirit but no real individuality. The results will be pleasing to dancers and fans of salsa but a disappointment to those expecting to hear something new, different, and creative from this potentially significant ensemble. ~ Scott Yanow Adapter: Michael Mossman. Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra: Pablo Calgero (reeds); Michael Rodriguez , Joseph Magnarelli (trumpet); Rubén Rodríguez (bass instrument); Joseph Julian Gonzalez (percussion); Claudia Acuña, Herman Olivera, John Walsh , Luis Bonilla, Mario Rivera, Milton Cardona, Arturo O'Farrill, Vince Cherico, Michael Mossman, Bobby Porcelli, Douglas Purviance, Renaldo Jorge, Noah Bless, Erica Vonkleist, Ivan Renta. Personnel: Claudia Acuña, Herman Olivera (vocals); Mario Rivera, Pablo Calogero, Bobby Porcelli, Erica Vonkleist, Ivan Renta (reeds); John Walsh , Michael Mossman (trumpet); Douglas Purviance (trombone, bass trombone); Luis Bonilla, Renaldo Jorge, Noah Bless (trombone); Arturo O'Farrill (piano); Vince Cherico (drums); Milton Cordona, Milton Cardona (percussion). Audio Mixer: Matt Balitsaris. Liner Note Author: Arturo O'Farrill. Recording information: Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall (01/28/2005/01/29/2005). Photographers: Frank Stewart; Ingrid Hertfelder. Arrangers: Michael Mossman; Chico O'Farrill; Jason Lindner; Ray Santos; René Hernández ; Harold Wegbreit.

Kenya Revisited CD music In addition to being one of the United States' top jazz cities, Los Angeles is also a strong center for Latin music. It therefore is quite logical that pianist Bill Cunliffe, a flexible and an always musically curious player, would put together a group of top local musicians to perform a stirring set of Afro-Cuban jazz. Cunliffe and his tentet perform five of his originals, a Steely Dan song, an obscurity, and three standards. All of the horn players, four top brassmen and the versatile Bob Sheppard on reeds, have solo space and the rhythm section is consistently burning. Even though much of the material is unfamiliar, these renditions are quite accessible, swinging, and heated. Fans of both Latin jazz and hard bop will find plenty to enjoy on this spirited outing. ~ Scott Yanow After Bill Cunliffe won several Down Beat Awards as an Eastman student, he taught at Central State University, in Wilberforce, Ohio. His first major gig was pianist and arranger with Buddy Rich, touring Europe with Frank Sinatra. He later performed with Ray Brown, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Art Farmer, Woody Shaw and James Moody. Bill was the 1989 winner of the $10,000 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Award, and has received stipends from the National Endowment for the Arts. He recently won a jazz composition competition sponsored by the American Composers Form in Philadelphia. His books "Maxx Blues Keyboard,""Jazz Keyboard Inventions" (available 2006) and "Jazz Keyboard Toolbox, " are published by Alfred Publications, his big band compositions are published by Kendor Music and the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press, and his choral music by Santa Barbara Music Publishers. Bill was Marian McPartland's guest on her famed "Piano Jazz" radio show in June '98. Cunliffe has released a dozen CD's as a leader. His latest, which spent a month in the #2 position in the JazzWeek radio polls is "Imaginacion" on Torii Records. The tune, "Do It Again" was nominated for a Grammy in 2005. Bill has composed extensively for big band, chamber groups, choir and orchestra. Recently his compositions and arrangements have been played by the Illinois Philharmonic, the San Diego Symphony, the Pasadena Pops Orchestra, the Reading (PA) Symphony and the New Zealand School of Music Symphony Orchestra. According to the Wellington (NZ) Times, Bill's recent concert at the Wellington Jazz Festival was "Best jazz piano since Oscar Peterson." The BBC Review recently said that "Bill Cunliffe is one of the great players of the day." The Atlanta Jazz Journal gave his album "A Rare Connection" five stars. He currently plays with the Clayton Brothers Quintet, trumpeter Terell Stafford, and in duet with the renowned flutist Holly Hofmann, in addition to his own projects. He teaches at the Henry Mancini Institute, the Vail Jazz Institute, and the Skidmore Jazz Institute, and is Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Cal State Fullerton. Liner Note Author: Rebeca Mauleón. Arranger: Bill Cunliffe. Personnel: Bill Cunliffe (piano); Bill Cunliffe; Rene Camacho (double bass); Bob Sheppard (flute, saxophone); Kyle Palmer, Bobby Shew (trumpet); Arturo Velasco, Bruce Paulson (trombone); Ramon Banda (drums, percussion); José Papo Rodríguez, Jose "Joey" de Leon (percussion). Audio Mixer: Rich Breen .

Kenya Revisited buy CD music A member of the lineage of Tito Puente and New York City big band Latin jazz, Bobby Sanabria is a Puerto Rican percussionist from the Bronx who is keeping the torch burning into the 21st century. BIG BAND URBAN FOLK TALES (2007) is a familiar, fiery ride through chunky horn arrangements and burbling polyrhythms that incorporate mambo, bomba, and guajira, among other Latin styles. The album features original compositions from the band members, as well as covers as diverse as "Besame Mucho" and Frank Zappa's "The Grand Wazoo" (one of the set's highlights). BIG BAND URBAN FOLK TALES was nominated for a 2008 Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album. Big Band Urban Folktales CD Bobby Sanabria Liner Note Author: Robert Farris Thompson. Recording information: Avatar Studios (Studio A), New York, NY (01/07/2007/01/08/2007). Photographers: Eddie Sanabria; Jeff Sacks. Arrangers: Chris Washburne; Jeremy Fletcher; Gene Marlow; Joe Fiedler; Ray Santos; Michael Mossman; Hermeto Pascoal; Bobby Sanabria. Personnel: Bobby Sanabria (vocals, kazoo, vibraphone, marimba, drums, hand claps, percussion, background vocals); Yeissonn Villamar (vocals, kazoo, piano); Alex Hernandez (vocals, kazoo, acoustic bass); Christian A. Rivera (vocals, kazoo, congas); Giancarlo Anderson (vocals, kazoo, bongos, hand claps, background vocals); Charenée Wade, Hiram "El Pavo" Remón (vocals); Nahyra Pérez (soprano, hand claps, background vocals); Obanilú Allende (cello); Ricardo S. Pons (flute, kazoo, baritone saxophone, hand claps, background vocals); David DeJesus (kazoo, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Peter Brainin (kazoo, soprano saxophone); Kevin Bryan , Andrew Neesley, Shareef Clayton, Justin Davis, Michael Mossman (kazoo, trumpet); Joe Fiedler, Tim Sessions (kazoo, trombone); Chris Washburne (kazoo, bass trombone); David Bixler (alto saxophone); Gene Marlow, Eddie Sanabria (hand claps, background vocals). Audio Mixers: Jimmie Gately; Bobby Sanabria.