Latin Beat Reviews - Reseña

Latin Beat Magazine, Feb, 2002 by Luis Tamargo, Jesse Varela, Gilbert Rivera, Rudy Mangual

AMAURY GUTIERREZ

Piedras y Flores

(Universal)

Radicado a partir de 1993 en la antigua Tenochtitlan, el cantautor cubano Amaury Gutierrez es oriundo de Las Villas, la cuna de numerosas luminarias vocales de la música criolla (Benny Moré, Raúl Planas, Bobby Carcassés, Moraíma Secada, Pedro Luis Ferrer, etc.). Instigado precisamente por la impredecible y versátil propuesta de Ferrer (e inspirado por el amor, el desamor y otras cuestiones emotivas), Gutierrez despliega un sello distintivo y creativo mediante la amplia gama estilística manifestada en su más reciente grabación, producida par el colombiano Kike Santander y grabada en la autoproclamada capital del exilio cubano. Es indiscutible que la magia vocal de Gutierrez se refleja en cada uno de los números seleccionados, desde la influencia neocharanguera de Aguita de Tu Boca y el enfoque trovadoresco de Regreso Pronto hasta la convergencia de funk, scat y rapeo cubiche de Yo no Soy. Sus mejores dotes artísticos, sin embargo, se ponen de relieve en un par de estándares actualizados (Son de la Loma y Guajira con Tumbao) que reflejan fehacientemente la virtuosidad del antiguo cantante de Afrocuba como scat singer e improvisador vocal en general. (LT)

PONCHO SANCHEZ

Keeper of the Flame

(Concord Picante)

The first couple of Concord Picante LPs that the L.A.-based tumbador Idelfonso "Poncho" Sánchez recorded after Cal Tjader's demise, upon becoming a full-time bandleader, (*) have been reissued in a 2-CD package.

Sonando and ¡Bien Sabroso! marked the beginning of a productively enduring relationship between Poncho and the Latin jazz label founded in 1979 by the late Carl Jefferson (according to my calculation, Concord Picante has released at least 18 additional Poncho Sánchez albums from 1984 to the present). Both of these memorable 1982-83 recordings reflect Poncho's tendency to combine smooth, west coast style ballads (a la Cal Tjader) with brassy, upbeat tunes (a la Mongo Santamaría) and sleek adaptations of such Cuban classics as Almendra and Con tres tambores batá, un quinto y un tumbador. Although he has been usually associated with the U.S. branch of the Latin jazz idiom, Poncho has always aimed, throughout his entire bandleading career, to preserve a vital link with the popular dance music styles of Cuban origin, as illustrated in the harmonically progressive guaracha titled Este Son, featuring the seasoned vocals of José Caridad Hernández (better known as Perico), one of the last authentic practitioners of the son genre in the City of Angels. (LT)

* During his prior tenure with Tjader, Poncho had recorded seven albums with him, as well as two under his own name for Discovery-- Poncho (1979) and Straight Ahead (1980). (LT)

PUCHO & HIS LATIN SOUL BROTHERS

How'm I Doin'?

(Cannonball Records)

Henry Lee "Pucho" Brown, the last of the African-American Latin jazz bandleaders still actively playing this wonderful music, is proud of his longevity in the business. His unique versatility and proficiency in the realms of Latin, jazz and funk music dates back to the sixties, placing him in a parallel path with legendary figures Tito Puente and Frank "Machito" Grillo, whose sublime brand of music made its way to all corners of the planet. On this latest release titled How'm I Doin'? Pucho continues to delight the listener with his novel blend of Latin jazz/funk/acid-jazz or what-ever-you-wanna-call-it flavor. The veteran timbalero maintains a commendable rhythm section in an ensemble framed with colorful horns and strings. The flavor of the day is always Latin with a twist of funk. A cross-pollination of rhythms continues throughout the 11 selections of the production, merging everything from Harlem to Cuba and East to West. They interpret an excellent cover version of the classic O Jays hit song, For The Love of Money (Money, Money, Money), as well as with two Tito Puente compositions, Willie and Ray Mambo and Esy. Special guest musicians on this recording include Fred Wesley on trombone, Dave Valentín on flute, Lew Soloff on trumpet, Louis Kahn on violin and trombone, Harvie Swartz on bass, and Eric Alexander on tenor saxophone. (RM)