Search - Jerry Gonzalez :: Obatala

Viva a mamãe harmonia, viva a Mamãe Africa!

Peppino | 03/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am surprised to see this release both "out of print", unreviewed, and a used copy for SO much $$!



Jerry Gonzalez, brother Andy and Milton Cardona came up from New York's Puerto Rican barrio, working from the traditional and folcloric ritmos of the islands, and that healty dose of New York City post- bop jazz.



From early days with Manny Oquendo or the now legendary "Grupo Folclorico Y Experimental Nuevayorquino" absorbing and blending bomba,rumba, bolero y bolero-son, guaguanco, Afro-Latin animist devotional ritmicas, combine modal Miles Davis/Monk inspired jazz harmony (Another Fort Apache release features the "Latinization" of Thelonius Monk Compositions), this is the rule with the Fort Apache band!



I cannot believe this music was recorded in 1988 (ao vivo em Zurich!), it seems just yesterday I enjoyed the breathtaking groove of the musics within, mixing masterfully in the set, jazz standards as Evidence and "Jackie-ing"(Monk), Nefertiti(the lovely Wayne Shorter composition), Miles (actually Ron Carter's )"81", rendered in a progressive, non 'dance hall'(but certainly danceable!!) manner , to call it "Latin Jazz" would be to trivialize the vitality of this musical concept as the frase has become quite generic through the years, and misused!



The other "side" of the set, the polyritmos , the chants of Santeria, but loving respectful , not a grand standing or flaunting of a cultural treasure to "wow" the uninitiated (pun intended).



Latin and jazz pedigree musicians accompany Jerry Gonzalez .(tpt, flugle and congas) and Andy Gonzalez (bass), notable;



~~Larry Willis (piano), underrated, underexposed and a true friend of both jazz and Latin musics. A "monster" player, both as improvisor and accompanist.



~~Papo Vasquez (t'bone) young exciting innovator, a melody maker, par exellance.



~~John Stubblefield (tenor sassofone), dearly missed, his generation was passed up when jazz was "dead",and the Wynton crew later took center stage. A prodigious improvisor and weaver of melodies, he can burn, or caress a melody, and tone to spare!



~~Edgardo Miranda (guitarra/quatro) his manic improvs on traditional jazz guitar great enough, his quatro work a delight, a real melodista! Fun to listen to..



The drum , well this capable handling of traps is Steven Berrios, he also a composer too.

Nicky Marrero is the timbalero, while Mestre Cardona and 'Flaco' Hernandez make the santeria , (frase as said once about Miles Davis ) "run the vudu down"! (chekere, bata drum, conga and chorus).



I am usually not a fan of live recording, this cd a delightful exception.



100000000 stars, as are ALL the Fort Apache recordings.



viva o ar puro do som !"