Ray Vega Latin jazz sextet: Pa' Lante - Reseña

Latin Beat Magazine, May, 2002 by Jesse Varela

Pa' Lante (Palmetto)

Since trumpeter Ray Vega emerged on the national jazz scene in the late 1980s with Mongo Santamaría, he has become a force to be reckoned with. Stints with Ray Barretto and the Tito Puente Orchestra didn't hurt and of course his albums with The Bronx Horns as well as his own Concord dates demonstrated superb talent. On Pa'Lante, his debut outing for Palmetto Records, he exhibits further maturity that with frontline partner Bobby Porcelli on alto sax defines what combo-driven Latin jazz is all about.

A rhythm section cooks with non-stick manteca--Igor Atalita (piano), Boris Kozlov (bass), Willie Martínez (drums), Wilson "Chembo" Corniel (congas)--the sparks fly and create compelling interplay and nuance without ever losing its swing. A technical marvel with clean crisp notes and the soulful imprint of hero Kenny Dorham, Vega wastes no notes riffing with unbridled inspiration and ample strength. The conversational quality to his solos tells stories that pull your interest. Duke Jordan's Flight to Jordan opens and unfolds ten well-sequenced and recorded pieces. Four are Vega originals with Descarga a sure fire hit for its upbeat Afro-Cuban flavor. Melani's Dream, written for his daughter, is a beautiful serene melody with a nice medium-slow bossa/bolero feel that lets his flugelhorn resound with feeling. Throughout, Porcelli prevails with exceptional playing. Martínez, who also performs with Norman Hedman's Tropique, does an exceptional job balancing both timbales and traps. Chembo holds his own with firmly delivered conga beats and Atalita and Kozlov are great discoveries with groove plus and a comfortable in-the-pocket vibe. A Love Supreme (Acknowledgement) closes an album that from start to finish defines Ray Vega as a major voice of the new millennium jazz age.