Insight in Jazz

Ottla is a bird that not only sings beautifully but also vigorously flaps and squawks. Also known as a band that Bert Dockx formed to play together once to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jazz Lab concert series. Fortunately, Dockx and the musicians he gathered for that anniversary sextet quickly found much enthusiasm and more opportunities to play together. In 2019, what initially seemed like a fleeting experiment transformed into composing, rehearsing, recording an album, and playing more. Ottla's fluttering spirit appeared to have cooled down, at least for a while.

The 16 tracks presented here are some mighty fine recordings, featuring Cal Tjader on vibes throughout. "Manteca" becomes a sexy weaving of melodies between the flute and vibes, adding depth to this modern classic. "Soul Burst" features an explosion of percussion by congas, timbales and more – while Tito Puente's "Picadillo" is rendered superbly as well. Not a bad track on the CD, and you will have fun recognizing some of the 60's classic jazz performers that have joined in, including Chick corea, Donald Byrd, Willie Bobo, and more. –Amazon