Barracuda Rmm

Cuban music legend, Jesus "Chucho" Valdes is fiery hot and still impacting the jazz world with his diverse musical elements. Riding the new wave in Latin jazz fostered by the pianist's critically acclaimed 3/4le Bele en la Habana on Blue Note in 1998, Valdes reserved enough energy to excite his fans with an exquisite blend of technique and soul on Live. The CD, an infectious, collection of cubop grooves and rhythms, further develops the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz collective Chucho has been pulsating for the past 25 years as musical director of Irakere, the award-winning band he co-founded to play both music styles. "Tumbao," and "Blues a Puerto Rico," feature a variety of moods, melodies, syncopation and the signature solos of Chucho's formidable piano.

For Time Shifter, percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo is featured with groups ranging in size from nine to 14 pieces. Hidalgo presides over dense ensembles that perform a variety of complex frameworks with apparent ease. "From This Moment On" (which has an effective vocal by Jill Amesbury that at first seems out of place) and "Yesterdays" are the only standards. Among the many soloists are Mario Rivera on tenor, trumpeter Lew Soloff, flutist David Rodriguez, pianist Eric Figueroa, and trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez (on "Call of the Jungle Bird"). A rather creative set full of unusual twists and turns.

Juan Pablo Torres is one of the best trombone players in the Latin-jazz community of the 1990s.This CD is compilation of tracks of well known latin flutist Dave Valentin and Juan Pablo Torres.Here you'll find both artists in excellent form.

THRU MY EYES is pianist Michel Camilo's take on his favorite standard tunes. With but a few exceptions, Camilo, being such an accomplished composer, has found little need in past efforts to resort to covering other artist's songs. Here, however, his keen musical taste has yielded a collection of 12 outstanding interpretations of some of the best Latin-flavored gems in the repertoire. With such high-class sidemen as Anthony Jackson, John Patitucci and percussion powerhouse Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Camilo has turned in yet another top-flight performance.

Primitive Passions is an auspicious venture for the flautist. Dave Valentin's playing, like that of longtime colleagues Bill O'connell, Lincoln Gaines, Robbie Ameen and Milton Cardona, seems more sharply focused and energized than ever. The album abounds with the stylistic diversity and genre-defying performances that could only come naturally from an artist with Valentin's unique background. Primitive Passions explores all of the most entrancing corners of Dave Valentin's musical world. This albums sets a new standard for the flutist and his talented associates. It's exhilarating and soothing; provacative and reassuring.