Christos Rafalides Christos Rafalides' Manhattan Vibes - Reseña

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2002 by Luis Tamargo

(Khaeon)

The self-titled debut of this powerful, vibes-based Latin-jazz-funk trio must represent a pleasant surprise for those music lovers who keep expecting the unexpected (meaning an antidote to the formulaic cliches applied ad infinitum in today's music scene).

Therefore, one must applaud this trio's leader/vibraphonist/marimbero/composer/arranger, the one and only Christos Rafalides, for not falling into the aforesaid traps, although it must be no-ted that the protagonist from the land of Socrates and Aristotle was fortunate to count on the logistical support of a couple of equally gifted subjects--drummer/percussionist Steve Hass and electric/acoustic bassist John Benítez--in addition to several talented guests.

The incendiary mix of originals and standards presents a unique message, as confirmed in the following assessment provided by the New York-based vibraphonist Joe Locke: "This is truly world music; an expression of a global reality as felt in the vibes that permeate the streets of this city we love." If you have any doubts, listen to the album's amazing first track, Rafalides' Flamingo Strut or to the amusing Rafalides/Benítez arrangement of Tite Curet Alonso's La Esencia del Guaguancó.