Album of the Week: Ven Baila Conmigo (Come Dance With Me), The Latin Giants of Jazz

February 6, 2009 by chip
Filed under: Jazz, Latin Jazz, Podcasts, Soul/R&B, SoulSites, SoulTrackin' 

Ven Baila Conmigo (Come Dance With Me)
The Latin Giants of Jazz
Gigante Records
Creativity, inherent ability, and highly developed technique all add intoxicating elements to a musical experience, but as artist expressions develop, there is no substitute for the power of experience. The ability to anticipate musical situations, make informed artistic decisions, and build upon a rock solid foundation of stylistic knowledge allows an artist to walk into new and exciting scenarios. When a musician with extensive experience joins a group, then the possibility exists for all the band members to learn from that individual, draw upon their background, and blossom into wise artists. Young musicians can make this progress on their own, but it’s a long path that can be made shorter with a role model. When a couple of experienced musicians join forces, a new level of trust emerges, they can push each other artistically, and a high level of professionalism and artistry reaches the world. The shared knowledge that experienced musicians hold can be an incredible starting point; there’s no need to step back into those beginning phases, it’s full steam ahead immediately. When a large group of experienced musicians come together into a collaborative situation, they gather an incomparable amount of knowledge, insight, and ability. They can simply focus upon their passions, create their product, and when the process is finished, the result can most often be described as “the best the world has to offer.” Large collectives of experience and passion don’t arrive often, so when they do, it’s important to recognize and respect the work being done. The Latin Giants of Jazz gather their collective years of experience into a classic representation of the Palladium-era big band mambo sound on Ven Baila Conmigo (Come Dance With Me) with an astoundingly powerful group of dance tracks and Latin Jazz instrumentals.

Putting Salsa Into The Big Band Mambo Sound
Several tracks apply the group’s dynamic big band sound to a traditional salsa dance format. The brass and saxes burst into an exciting exchange on “Lo Que Triago Es Salsa,” leading into an energetic coro that establishes the song’s contagious vibe. Vocalist Frankie Vazquez confidently sings through the cuerpo, riding over a foundation that moves between cumbia and salsa rhythms. As the band moves into the coro-pregon section, Vazquez demonstrates commanding improvisational skills and trumpet player Kevin Bryan growls through a short solo with a plunger mute. After a short introduction, Vazquez breezes through a short but catchy melody on “Ven Baila Conmigo” until a short mambo transitions directly into the coro-pregon section. The band makes a strong connection to their palladium roots with a swinging mambo that rides on exchanges between the saxes and brass leading directly into an opportunity for Vazquez to improvise over a charging sax guajeo. The trombone section draws upon the group’s jazz roots with a blaring series of traded ideas between Reynaldo Jorge, Sam Burtis, Noah Bless, and Lewis Kahn. An intricate series of winding horn lines lead into a bold vocal supported by big intertwining melodies and sharp band hits on “Tengo Que Conformarme.” After a series of pregones from Vazquez, Mitch Frohman plays a rhythmically propulsive flute solo filled with tipico lines, followed by a jazz tinged improvisation by pianist Sonny Bravo, accented by polyrhythmic attacks. Bravo storms into an assertive montuno while Frohman and timbalero Jose Madera emphasize distinctive rhythmic figure, pushing the band into a powerful mambo that pulls together the best of the palladium and 1970s Fania sound. A swinging sax guajeo serves as a foundation for flowing melodies from the trumpets and trombones on “Si El Mar Se Volviera Ron,” setting the stage for a strong vocal from Vazquez, complimented by band accents. Two ingenious mambos frame Vazquez’s clever pregon work, serving as a tribute to Jose Madera’s brilliant arranging. Trumpet player John Walsh captures the momentum started by Vazquez and charges forward with an energetic solo over driving saxes and screaming brass lines. These tracks capture all the energy and excitement of salsa and put it in the context of a mambo big band, creating an addictive sound that will thrill both dancers and jazz fans.

Focusing Upon Instrumental Jazz Mambos
The group holds onto the jazz heritage with two classic instrumental jazz mambos that bring their top-notch soloists into the spotlight. Bold and syncopated band hits over a rock solid son montuno groove send the band soaring into a richly harmonized melody on “Cannonology,” conjuring memories of classic big band Latin Jazz from the 1950s. Much of the tune serves as a feature for alto saxophonist Bobby Porcelli, who grabs the spotlight with a high-energy solo that burns through the changes with unmatchable bebop intensity. Porcelli pushes the band into a frenzy playing over thickly arranged background lines, until the group suddenly shrinks to percussion for a short virtuosic display from bongocero John Rodriguez. The sax section vamps on a repeated melody over the brass on Ray Santos’ “Cookin’ The Mambo” until they fly into a long twisting melody with bop inflection. Santos reveals his classic touch on this tune with pumping mambos, interesting chord changes, inspiring background lines, and a rhythmic propulsion that pushes the song into an unstoppable momentum. The song opens for solos as tenor saxophonists Frohman and Peter Brainen engage in a jazz duel that brings a combination of hard bop lines, modern melodic construction, and rhythmic consciousness to the forefront. These tracks show The Latin Giants in their element, creating jazz tracks that pulse with the sound of the classic Palladium era but maintain a fresh and modern outlook.

Including Interesting Twists Upon Dance Music
Several songs place interesting twists on the the band’s dance music format while still maintaining the rich big band sound. An understated series of long melodies and hits introduce “Ahora Mismo” before breaking and revealing a vocalist change with Cita Rodriguez taking the lead. She handles the cuerpo with power and authority before moving into the coro-pregon, displaying a strong improvisational voice that adds a distinctive flavor to the band. A huge mambo introduces guest soloist Jimmy Bosch who cuts through the band with his brash tone, impeccable phrasing, and melodic sensibility. A huge baritone sax riff drives the brass players through a quick introduction on “I Still Love You” before Vazquez enters with an English language lyric. Integrating English into a salsa context can be a precarious journey, but Vazquez handles the trip with skill, integrity, and style, delivering an accessible and driving dance tune. Brainen adds the icing to the cake with a jazz fueled improvisation that assertively soars over the band’s huge rhythmic sound. The wind players make a dramatic introduction, but quickly disappear, leaving only the percussionists playing a smoldering rumba on “Gua Cha Rumba.” The rhythm section smoothly moves between rumba and cha cha cha while Vazquez vocalizes with comfort and ease and the wind players add quick comments between phrases. As Vazquez improvises, the foundation slowly moves towards a total cha cha cha groove, making room for a tasteful solo from Frohman and a stylistically solid mambo. A furious tempo and driving horn lines introduce “Cuando Suenan Los Cueros” until Vazquez kicks the song into high gear with his powerful vocals. The band’s massive percussion section takes the front seat here though, as Madera, Rodriguez, and conguero George Delgado takes turns showing the taste, style, and musical knowledge that has made them Latin Jazz legends. The drummers slam the group into a frantic momentum as Bosch returns with a high-powered statement that compliments the song’s percussive focus and turns the track into an all-out descarga. The band boldly stretches the salsa format here, drawing upon their experience and musicality to shape the band’s sounds around their ideas and give their listeners some exciting variety.

An Experience That Has To Be Heard
The Latin Giants of Jazz prove that their experience and musical insight reign supreme in the world of big band mambo on Ven Baila Conmigo (Come Dance With Me), delivering dance tracks that sizzle with excitement and jazz moments that would thrill any fan. Many members of the group spent decades performing with Tito Puente, and the influence shows in many ways. They do display the hard driving New York edge that defined Puente, but more than that, the group shines with his sense of professionalism, integrity, and pride in music. Madera applies his clearly defined approach to several of the album’s arrangements, and the results are magical, recreating the Palladium era while pushing the band into the modern age of New York dance music. He wisely draws upon his experience with Puente and his time with the Fania label, integrating both influences but never letting one side dominate the sound. The rhythm section drives the band with power and authority, providing able support while pushing the band forward incessantly. Madera, Rodriguez, Delgado, and Bravo all have proven track records as Latin Jazz performers, and it shows here; every song crackles with excitement, energy, and an unparalleled professionalism. Vazquez shines as the perfect front man for this group, with a strong and appealing voice as well as the ability to spin long streams of creative improvised pregones. Frohman, Porcelli, and Brainen jump out of the recording with their distinct personalities, providing solos that ride off the band’s energy and then push it to the next level. There’s an extensive amount of depth that keeps the album engaging from beginning to end as these proven musicians display their craft at the highest level. With their combined years in the music business, The Latin Giants of Jazz give us an unbeatable collection of jazz and dance music on Ven Baila Conmigo (Come Dance With Me) that stands as one experience that needs to be in everyone’s life.

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Check Out These Related Posts:
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Album of the Week: Live At The 1977 Monterey Jazz Festival, Tito Puente and his Orchestra
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