Caribbean Guitar

The third CD for this band has a change in personnel, with Paquito D'Rivera and Andy Narell gone but Dave Valentin (flute) and Steve Khan (guitars) joining. It has changed the entire dynamic structure of the band, for the better. Valentin's otherworldly sound and Khan's acoustic and electric abilities open fresh vistas for Samuels' pan-Caribbean notions on vibes and marimba. They have worked together before; see Valentin's Sunshower (GRP) or Samuels' excellent Tjaderized (Verve) for further examples. The threesome are complemented by Eddie Palmieri band members John Benitez (bass) and Richie Flores (congas/bongos), with timbalist/percussionist Robert Vilera and background singer Caridad Canelon. The combination has great potential, fully realized on several of the ten selections.

When Dave Samuels first formed the Caribbean Jazz Project with, at that time, Paquito D'Rivera and Andy Narell, it was an extension of his own studies in Latin jazz that had been part of his music - both solo and with Spyro Gyra – since the mid-'70s. After two albums with the first team, the Project was set aside for other gigs. During this time, Samuels kindled musical friendships with flutist Dave Valentin and guitarist Steve Khan, and Samuels got excited about the possibility of playing off of a traditional Latin instrument – flute and the guitar, which wasn't.