Search - David Sanchez :: Street Scenes

Jazz with a Latin flavour!

Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 05/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tenor & soprano saxophonist David Sanchez blew my socks off with this 1996 CD when I first heard it. His blend of funky jazz tunes, incredibly mature phrasing and sexy Latin beats was as mesmerising then as it remains today. His tenor sound on the opening two songs, "Caras Negras" and "Street Scenes" make me feel alive, make me feel happy and make me think of party atmospheres. It's almost as if I can hear Sanchez saying: Come on! Get up and dance! Or at least, nod your head along to the beat.



When he turns to soprano sax for "Dee Like The Breeze" and is joined by Cassandra Wilson on vocals, it's a few moments for serenity then it's right back to the tenor sax and the Latin dance. The percussion (by Milton Cardona and Richie Flores) on the duet between Sanchez and Kenny Garrett, "Los Cronopios", is pure Puerto Rico.



Or so I imagine, as I've never actually been there.



On the Monk tune "Four In One", there's an interesting dialogue between Sanchez and the piano player, Danilo Perez. "Carmina" is another soothing ballad with Sanchez once again (and for the last time) on soprano sax. "The Soul Of El Barrio" is exactly as its name suggests and "Street Scenes "Downtown"" is a slower, funkier version of the title tune. The CD closes with "The Elements", another very lively duet between Sanchez and Kenny Garrett.



I think Sanchez is awesome. His timing is awesome and his phrasing implies experience and maturity one would expect from someone much older. The album also stars Larry Grenadier on bass, John Benitez on bass and clave, Charnett Moffett on bass, Clarence Penn on drums, and Horacio El Negro Hernandez on drums. Except for the Monk tune, the entire album is written by Sanchez and produced by Sanchez, Billy Banks & Charles Fishman.



I've bought two other Sanchez CDs since this one; 2000's Melaza and 2001's Travesía and while I admit they're both excellent pieces of work, neither of them moves me the way this one does. Highly recommended.

"

Brilliant

Prat the 'Gunslingin fish face Shar | Woodbury, MN USA | 07/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my second David Sanchez Album, and I have to say that I am a better man now for owning it. The work on it is exquisite, and like all music, it allows us to glimpse into the unique perspective of a person like David Sanchez; that is, listening to Street Scenes brings out an image that resembles a melding of Afro-Carribean Jazz, and the beats of New York-almost like the 'barrio' of your own city (provided that you live in the US), mixed with the flavours of a typical American life.



All other things aside, his talent is prodigious, and this album shows it off quite well."