Latin All Stars

Amazon.com

Fresh from a world tour, McCoy Tyner's Latin All Stars headed straight to the studio to preserve the memory. The nine-member powerhouse includes Steve Turre on trombone and shells, Gary Bartz on alto and soprano, Avery Sharpe on bass, Ignacio Berroa on drums, Giovanni Hidalgo on percussion, Johnny Alemendra on timbales, Claudio Rodito on trumpet and flügelhorn, Dave Valentin on flute, and the maestro on piano. The opener, "Festival in Bahia," is a great showcase, complete with a vamp tailor-made for solo stretches of improvisatory machismo. Tyner's rendition of "Poinciana" (a tune so immortalized by Ahmad Jamal that almost no one else courts it) is done sans horns and sounds fresh. Unfortunately, the direct-to-two-track mode of recording does not do justice to such a capacious ensemble: the percussion loses much of its depth, the trombone sounds by turns strident and muddy, the clarity of the sax is inconsistent, and the shells fare even worse. Even this lamentable circumstance does not rob the album of its momentum: Kenny Dorham's classic "Blue Bossa" is taken at a tempo that would burn a dancer to dust, and Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue" is mined for all it's worth. The pianist is, of course, the crowning glory: singularly thrilling in approach and execution, he remains inimitable. --Karen Bennett

Product description

CD - EAN 089408346224

Review

Pianist McCoy Tyner & The Latin All-Stars come on like a band of Latino musical marauders. Running the gamut of grooves in a state-of-the-art fashion, Tyner's nonet proves exemplary at distilling the deep connections betwen Latin music and jazz. For example, Kenny Dorham's jam-session favorite, "Blue Bossa" is presented as an uptempo samba with alternate changes - far removed from its relaxed original form. "La Habana Sol" - one of three Tyner originals - is a blistering line woven through a slightly veiled merengue beat. Excellent arrangements of "Poinciana" and "Afro Blue" round out the more recognizable fare.
The soloing is heavy-duty. tyner is heard sounding much more aggressive than of late. Trombonist Steve Turre breaks out his conch shells for several inspired solos. While Gary Bartz's gutsy alto and soprano are firmly grounded in latter-day Coltrane, Claudio Roditi's trumpet conjures the fluidity of a Clifford Brown.
The Latin All-Stars' horn section spews tight passages like an open fire hydrant on a stifling summer day in the Bronx. The crisp rhythm section, based around drummer Ignacio Berroa, clearly understands how to work the fundamental clave. All the while, Tyner stokes a fire beneath his hot band, spurring impulsive soloists to reach beyond their technical facilities toward the realm of free association.
--- James Rozzi, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. -- From Jazziz, ISBN13: B00000IFTM ISBN10: B00000IFTM Material Type: audioCD