Search - Ramsey Lewis :: Goin' Latin

South American Magic!

Alain Brouillaud | Helsinki, FINLAND | 03/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're a BIG Ramsey Lewis fan you must buy this CD. I was lucky enough to find it in London, all you have to do is "click" on line.There are the standard "soul jazz" cuts like "Hey Mrs. Jones" and "1 - 2 - 3". I love Ramsey's feel for latin music on "Summer Samba", "Blue Bongo" & "Spanish Grease".This CD is one I would have if I were stranded on a desert island - I couldn't live without it!"

Good Hokey "Latin" Fun

Andy | PA, USA | 07/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I just spent an hour dumping this lp into my computer. It's a fun record, and I'm a moderate fan of Ramsey Lewis, and a big fan of big arranged fifties sixties and seventies pop. A few gems here are "Hey, Mrs. Jones", "Function At the Junction", and "One, Two, Three." But before spending $30 on this CD, check out, for example, Willie Bobo's "Finest Hour" CD. His "Spanish Grease" and "One, Two, Three" are genuinely "latin" in feel (it being Willie's native musical language helps), and the whole record is incredible. There are a few tunes on the Ramsey Lewis where the feel isn't any different than it ever has been, but they just throw a guiro on "Lara's Theme" or some cungas on "Down By the Riverside." It is goofy sixties fun, and its "second gear" songs, like "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" are nice enough, but the whole record never shifts into third."