Latin Beat Reviews - Reseña

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

ELISEO

The Prophecy

(Elibor Records)

Internationally known for his work with the Los Angeles-based group Strunz & Farah, Puerto Rican bandleader/bassist and multi-instrumentalist Eliseo Borrero renders his second solo project, The Prophecy, with his talents as composer and arranger. Full of colorful bass lines, impressive guitar and cuatro work, and an array of Caribbean rhythms, the production is a well-balanced listening and danceable treat. Based on an original Puerto Rican danza by Luis R. Miranda, the track Variación de Impromptu features excellent solos by Eliseo on both the bass guitar and the cuatro, as well as exceptional percussion work by Alex Acuña and Joey D'León. For the Latin jazz enthusiasts, Comparsa pa'l Compadre swings from a Cuban comparsa rhythm to a fiery Latin jazz beat. The cover track, The Prophecy, is a powerful upbeat mambo delight with descarga solos by most of the band. Borrero excels on his rendition of the classic Stella By Starlight, playing the melody on the bass guitar, accompanied by a trio comprised of Jenny Chun on cello, Charley Bisharat on violin, and Jimmy Branly on the snare drum. The CD includes a total of nine tracks featuring the talent of Joe Rotondi and Otmaro Ruiz on piano and keyboards, Joey D'Leon, Alex Acuña, Ricardo "Tiki" Pasillas, Jimmy Branly, Ramón Yslas, Cassio Duarte, Ramón Ramos, and Robertito Meléndez on percussion, John Fumo and Ramón Flores on trumpet, Eric Jorgensen and David Stout on trombone, and Willy Cadenas, Alberto Mirabal and Eliseo on vocals. (RM)

PABLO ABLANEDO OCTET

From Down There

(Fresh Sound)

Led by Argentinean pianist/composer Pablo Ablanedo, this octet--based out of Boston, Massachusetts--explores jazz forms through South American rhythms and styles. Setting them apart from most Latin jazz ensembles is their blend of jazz and classical influences with sounds from tango, zamba (not to be confused with Brazilian samba) and chacarera, which are rhythms from Argentina's folklore. The instrumentation of the group includes violin, guitar, bass, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, piano, and Argentinean percussion instruments. Their compositions are mostly soft and smooth, resembling classical works with jazzy arrangements, whose uniqueness makes them interesting and exciting. The title track From Down There sets the mood for what unfolds throughout the 8 tracks, indicative of a soundtrack from a surrealistic film noir. Dreaming is a brilliant composition reminiscent of the early jazz-fusion days of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, with commendable solos by guitarist Juancho Herrera, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, and reed-player Anat Cohen. A second a cappella short version of the composition closes the production with guest vocals by Katie Viqueira. La Viajera (traveling femme) like the title implies, takes you on a journey through a colorful musical world. Pablo Ablanedo--with the exception of U.M.M.G., which was composed by Billy Strayhorn--wrote all compositions. (GR)

ESTRELLAS CUBANAS

Pa' Bailar

(Envidia)