Blue Mambo: Blue Mambo

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2008 by Rudy Mangual

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BLUE MAMBO

Blue Mambo

(Blue Mambo)

Led by guitarist/composer Charles Alletto (who also enjoys a successful career asa professional chef) and drummer/percussionist/composer Victor Rendón (who currently conducts the Latin Jazz Ensemble at Lehman College and is the author of the instructional book "The Art of Playing Timbales'), Blue Mambo is a New York City-based Latin jazz ensemble housing a group of veteran players from all walks of music. This debut indie CD includes original scores by the two co-leaders, as well as the contributions and arrangements provided by the remaining bandmembers. Blue Mambo's swinging selections range from Latin jazz to mambo, to samba, to R&B, to calypso, to other musical idioms. Rounding out Blue Mambo are Guido González (trumpet/flugelhorn), Al Acosta (sax/flute), Joe Mannozzi (piano/arranger), Solo Rodríguez (bass), and Yasuyo Kimura (congas). The selections Gabriella, Nova Blue, Necesitas Tu, and Junction Boulevard highlight this recording.