Bennett Paster & Gregory Ryan – Grupo Yanqui Rides Again – Miles High Records

by | Aug 7, 2008 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Bennett Paster & Gregory Ryan – Grupo Yanqui Rides Again – Miles High Records MHR8605, 57:39 ****:

(Bennett Paster – piano; Gregory Ryan – acoustic & electric bass; Chris Cheek – tenor sax, alto sax; Alex Norris – trumpet, Flugelhorn, clave, chékere; Keith Hall – drums; Gilad – percussion)

This Latin jazz sextet, originated by Paster and Ryan, takes Latin jazz into a more modern style – mixing the usual Afro-Cuban influences with music of Brazil and other Latin countries, plus a heavy dose of contemporary jazz and funk.  The results do sizzle. Chick Corea’s Tones for Joan’s Bones is not the sort of tune one finds on the typical Latin jazz album.  There’s several tunes from members of the sextet, and a great variety of percussion effects are indicated by the band’s trumpet player being also credited for doubling on the clave and chékere.

It’s not all at a breathless pace either – Chelsea Bridge from Billy Strayhorn gets a slowed-down treatment that polishes the great beauty of the tune until it gleams.  Sonics are excellent – the percussion effects crisp and tight.

TrackList: Tones for Joan’s Bones, The Unabonger, The Chick from Panama, I Woody Had Gone Right to the Police…, El Vaquero Numero Chinco, The Kid from Albuquerque, Chelsea Bridge, PoMoAfroMoFoJo

– John Henry

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