Island Eyes

Latin Beat Magazine, March, 1997 by Raúl Rico

HILTON RUIZ

(Tropijazz)

Pianist Hilton Ruiz once again struts his stuff with his latest, Island Eyes. The uptempo Intrepid Fox opens the disc and features John Stubblefield on tenor sax, Jon Faddis on trumpet, Ruiz on piano and Tito Puente on timbales. The swinging bomba Island Eyes features Dave Valentín on flute and an unidentified trombonist (maybe Papo Vásquez?). The Girl's In Love grooves like a '6Os R&B tuna and again features Valentín on flute, Puente on vibes and Ruiz on the Hammond B-3 organ. Nice! Stubblefield introduces and is featured on the blues tuna Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You with Ruiz again on the B-3. The Ben E. King classic, Stand By Me is reinterpreted wondeffully and features Bernd Schoenhart on guitar, Ruiz on piano and Faddis on trumpet. On Unit Seven, the melody is played in a straight-ahead jazz style and the bridge in Latin. Ruiz and John Benitez on acoustic bass are featured along with drummer Ignacio Berroa and conguero Richie Flores. The classic ballad Body and Soul features Ruiz accompanied by conguero Flores. My only comment and criticism is the congas were way too loud in the mix. An unaccompanied Ruiz plays the gorgeous Mal Waldron ballad, Soul Eyes. Straight-ahead jazz, Blues, R&B and Latin influences along with Ruiz's excellent playing permeate throughout this thoroughly enjoyable effort.