Paquito d Rivera 1997

Paquito D'Rivera's second recording as leader of the United Nation Orchestra features a live concert from 1997. By then the ensemble (which was Dizzy Gillespie's last big band) did not display that distinctive a personality and was clearly missing the late trumpeter. However, it still had plenty to offer including such players as trombonists Conrad Herwig and William Cepeda, guitarist Fareed Haque, trumpeter Diego Urcola, and, of course, its leader. Most of the material on the CD is from bandmembers but the three most memorable selections originated elsewhere: Emiliano Salvador's "Puerto Padre," Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia," and Ernesto Lecuona's "Andalucia Medley," which is taken as a clarinet-bass duet.

This album has an extremly lively blend of streight ahead jazz and tropical island sounds. The playing is top notch and tight. While the rhythm section keeps the grooves mellow and movin' the rest of the band can get your head spinnin' with blazin' runs and wicked sincopation.

America/Brasil is a rollicking, celebratory album that keeps Herbie Mann on the winning streak he started with the release of Peace Pieces in 1995. Recorded during a week of concerts to mark his 65th birthday in April 1995, this disc is much stronger than its immediate predecessor, Celebration, also taken from the same week of live concert performances at New York's Blue Note jazz club. The material here is superb, and the playing top-notch. As the title implies, the emphasis here is on Mann's Brazilian side, but there are touches of the non-Brazilian with Bill Evans' "Peri's Scope" and Miles Davis' "All Blues." "Summertime" is recast in an Afro-Cuban mode with Paquito D'Rivera sharing the solo space on alto sax. However, lengthy Brazilian showstoppers are placed at the beginning, middle, and end of this wonderful disc. The opening "Keep the Spirits Singing" is propelled by the polyrhythmic pulse of percussionists Cyro Baptista and "Café," and the 17-minute title track finale features trumpeters Randy Brecker and Claudio Roditi, trombonist Jim Pugh, and guitarist Romero Lubambo.

Antonio Hart - Here I Stand (1997) {Impulse IMPD-208}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 373 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 131 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1997 Impulse! / GRP Records | IMPD-208
Jazz / Post Bop / Straight-Ahead Jazz / Saxophone

One cannot help but be impressed by the versatility that altoist Antonio Hart shows throughout this set. He plays with the intensity of John Coltrane on "The Community," utilizes his soprano on the light reggae groove of "True Friends," jams a boppish rendition of "Flamingo" in a trio with organist Shirley Scott (who plays effective piano on the blues "Like My Own"), sounds like a mixture of Richie Cole and Paquito D'Rivera on the Afro-Cuban "Ven Devorame Otra Vez" (which has a vocal sample of three Latin singers that fits in well), and also plays more advanced music that utilizes three or four other horns (a little reminiscent of Herbie Hancock's "Speak Like a Child").

Japan's Makoto Ozone is an internationally recognized, award-winning jazz pianist who is also an accomplished classical musician. Since making his recorded debut in 1984, he has been a mainstay at jazz festivals and concert halls across the globe.
His 1984 self-titled debut recording featured Burton and bassist Eddie Gomez as his sidemen. The album was critically celebrated for Ozone's knowledge and mastery of the full jazz piano spectrum. He followed it with the 1986 quintet offering After (adding Billy Pierce and Tommy Campbell to his lineup), the 1987 solo piano Now You Know, and a trio album of jazz standards, Spring Is Here, with drummer Roy Haynes and bassist George Mraz…