John Santos and the Machete Ensemble Brazos Abiertos

Latin Beat Magazine, Dec, 2003 by Jesse Varela

(Machete Records)

As John Santos and the Machete Ensemble approach their 19th birthday, Brazos Abiertos (Open Arms) shows the creative cohesion this gifted jazz Latin ensemble has created. Mature and full-bodied, the group evokes en impression of the Duke Ellington orchestra if Juan Tizol had run it. The title track opens the disc and features special guests Steve Turré (trombone) and Andy González (baby bass) on a modal tour-de-force. Each subsequent track features a different ingredient in the band and spreads the sugar around to prevent solos from being dominated by a few. The collaborative arrangements between Santos, John Calloway and Wayne Wallace have the spark that Ellington and Strayhorn gave the swing era when jazz was dance music. The Santos original No Canto a Tus Ojos bears the influential tinge of Afrocuba and NG La Banda and lets the tenor of lead singer Orlando Torriente resonate clear and strong. Mi Plena de Libertad features a strong chorus and an infectious swing on the Puerto Rican trad-beat highlighted by the flute of Calloway and baritone sax of Melecio Magdaluyo. For Ellingtonesque drama, a la Black and Ten Fantasy, Ron Stallings contributes Buscando La Paz (Searching for Peace), as part of a series of compositions conceived by the renowned reedist and entitled "A Context For Peace." Timbalero Orestes Vilató blows up on Apetegbi, a Lucumi word referring to "las hijas de Ochún." The last two tracks are in English. The merengue Martinica, dedicated to Martinique, shows to beautiful advantage Torriente's Afro-American vocal soul. The gospel-fueled Going Home Tomorrow features guest singers Destani Wolf and Lakiba Pittman. Brazos Abiertos is a great listen from start to finish, with a diverse serving of Afro-Caribbean jazz and then some.