Michel Camilo and the Latin jazz trio

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2004 by Frank M. Figueroa

The most recent addition to the group is bassist Charles Flores, another product of Cuba's fertile music industry. At home, he honed his skills as a member of Bobby Carcassés' jazz group, and performed and toured with the late and great Emiliano Salvador. Before leaving Cuba, the bassist provided rhythmic background for Isaac Delgado's group. Once he arrived in the United States, Flores has performed with Jane Bunnett, Juan Pablo Torres, Brian Lynch, Giovanni Hidalgo and others. Since 2002 he has been touring worldwide with Michel Camilo.

Music critics everywhere have praised Michel Camilo's piano playing and recognized his talent as a composer and arranger, and he says: "Perhaps I don't have as many records as some of my colleagues, but I try to take my time in making them because I'm a perfectionist."

Michel Camilo is the architect who has translated the piano jazz trio into two idioms: straight-ahead jazz and Latin jazz. There is no loss in the translation and pure jazz fans as well as Latin music lovers get the full message.