"The relative invisibility of Latin Jazz within the world of jazz is mostly a U.S. problem. In Europe, they are not so close-minded. The media and the critics here often look at Latin Jazz as some sort of ethnic music and they cannot accept the fact that what we are doing is jazz." Claudio Roditi, Jan 2001

Regardless of your opinion about the receptivity of Latin Jazz in Europe, a recent wave of excellent releases indicates that something is happening. One of the wonders of the Internet is that it provides access to music we would not have known about otherwise.

We are living in a smaller world and we are noticing that Latin Jazz can be found anywhere. Nevertheless, it is expensive to have things shipped across the Atlantic. The risk is high since there are CDs by unfamiliar musicians. It is not like going to the local record store. Internet sites where these and other European CDs may be purchased include www.gemm.com and www.discoweb.com

Here are three of our most recent discoveries.

1. DANZA DE LOS ÑAÑIGOS 2. MALAGUEÑA 3. LA COMPARSA 4. ANDALUCIA 5. CORDOBA 6. DANZA NEGRA 7. GITANERIAS 8. LA CONGA DE MEDIANOCHE 9. EN TRES POR CUATRO 10. Y LA NEGRA BAILABA Ramón Valle- piano. Perico Sambeat - alto & soprano saxophone. Carlos Puig - trumpet. Omar Rodríguez - double bass. Horacio "El Negro"Hernández - drums. All compositions by Ernesto Lecuona. Arrangements by Ramón Valle.

Ramón Valle - Danza Negra
Ramón Valle plays Ernesto Lecuona
www.ramonvalle.com
www.moonstruck.nl
ACT Germany 9404-2

Ramón Valle was born in Cuba in 1964 and has lived in Europe (Holland) since 1998. He has a few solo piano CDs but this is the one that will really put him on the map. Doing a Latin jazz tribute to one of Latin America's most important composers is a challenge. Most of the interest in Lecuona has come from classical musicians or from those interested in European forms of Caribbean popular music like the danzón. This is understandable since he is a prominent figure in Cuban classical music. He composed operettas, ballets, and opera. Furthermore, most attempts at jazzing up Lecuona's compositions sound either too classical, old-fashioned, or elegant. What Valle does with Lecuona's compositions is admirable. He plays tribute to Lecuona's melodies by changing the context in which we are used to hearing them. Lecuona is a composer with definite French and Spanish influences typical of the mestizaje that characterizes Latin American culture. In Valle's interpretation these influences are present but so is "swing."

An important virtue of this CD is that the music is not centered on the piano. This is truly a group effort by a group of versatile and mature musicians. Ramón Valle has a delicate, melodic, but rhythmic touch. He has his own style.

Born in Matanzas, Cuba, bass player Omar Rodríguez Calvo studied classical and modern music in Havana until 1995. In Europe, he worked with Cubanismo, Ramón Valle, Julio Barretto, Frank Emilio Flynn, Armando Peraza and others. The Spaniard Perico Sambeat shows, once again, that he is at home in almost any musical context. He and Cuban trumpet player Carlos Puig are solid jazz improvisers and their unisons usually carry the melody. Carlos Puig lives and teaches in Madrid. He also appears on Julio Barretto's CD "Iyabó". Then there is Horacio "El Negro" Hernández but he needs no introduction!

This is a well-crafted CD with lots of group dynamics and precision. Everyone gets the opportunity to show their improvisational skills. Overall, the ethnic flavors are varied even within the same cut. There are some gypsy-flamenco overtones as well as moments of Caribbean waltz (Danzón). "Gitanerias", "En Tres Por Cuatro", and "Córdoba" are outstanding because this superb group really gets to stretch out.

Courtesy of Luis Moreno and Goyo Pappas - 2002