Cuarteto Sonando: 7 Steps To 850

Latin Beat Magazine, Oct, 2002 by Jesse Varela

(Sonando Productions)

Started a couple of years ago at the Cigar Bar at 850 Montgomery St. in San Francisco, the Bay Area Latin jazz band Cuarteto Sonando is made up of Bill Friedman (piano), Patricio Angulo (congas), Steve Senft-Herrera (double-bass) and Phil Thompson (trap drums). As they reveal on this self-produced debut album, they've worked up a repertoire of standards and originals that serve as improvisational vehicles for their significant musical talents. With a groove aesthetic that allows for the drums to get equal footing with the piano and bass as soloists, the group has an upbeat energy with imaginative interplay. On the jazz side they add Afro-Cuban beats to Seven Steps to Heaven, Giant Steps, My Favorite Things, Beautiful Love, Samba Yanta and The Beatles' Blackbird. The spark of originality shines on the adaptation of the traditional Cuban prayer Iyesá Por Ochún, performed in a songo style, and Se Fue, written by Angulo and featuring percussionist Michael Spiro. Seasoned players who have graced resident bands for years are now stepping out as leaders with a suave lets-jam descarga attitude.