Ritmo! (Clavo Records)
Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
Released September 11, 2012
Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album 2013
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nwXYEfuvOr1BPFWcyz3OxW3aRZ19Xkd2c
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0fc1DHte5IXLx79lEYEeRV?si=C45J0RYmR5CLM-9ffB2adg
About:
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the writing/arranging partnership between Brent Fischer and versatile pianist, composer, and arranger, the late Dr. Clare Fischer. Their new album ¡Ritmo! is the Fischers’ 52nd release following their 2011 Grammy-nominated album Continuum. “I’ve produced the last five Clare Fischer albums for Clavo Records, with more to come,” says Brent Fischer, director of the Clare Fischer bands.
¡Ritmo! is danceable and all-original material. Tropical music (Afro-Cuban, Brazilian) meets signature Fischer harmonies. Dr. Fischer founded Salsa Picante, his Latin Jazz group, thirty-five years ago. Poncho Sanchez and Alex Acuña were in the band’s ‘78 line up. “Fans know and love these tunes,” says Brent, who organized an impressive group of veteran players for this album. Poncho and Alex appear on San Francisco PM, a mambo arranged by Brent and mixed by 11-time Grammy-winner Rafa Sardina. “Rafa and Matt Brownlie did an outstanding job to help bring our creative vision to life,” says Brent.
¡Ritmo! is the big band version of Salsa Picante with fifteen horns. Stellar musicians also include: Luis Conte, Peter Erskine, Steve Khan, Alan Pasqua, Don Shelton, Carl Saunders, Andy Martin, Ron Stout, Steve Huffsteter, Pete De Siena, Scott Whitfield, Francisco Torres, Bill Reichenbach, Alex Budman, Rob Hardt, and Jeff Driskill.
¡Ritmo! offers nine never-before-released arrangements by the Fischers. The song collection is like a Clare Fischer greatest hits playlist. Here you’ll find big band versions of Fischer classics like Funquiado, Guarabe and Machaca.
Brent Fischer arranged two tracks and penned Rainforest, inspired by nature and Latin rhythms. “It blends our worldwide music influences with the highly idiomatic aspects of Latin rhythms and uses sonic colors to continue awareness of the rainforests that replenish our world in countless ways,” says Brent, who plays electric basses, vibraphone, marimba, and keyboards on the CD. Clare Fischer’s legacy continues through Brent, who has shared music with his father for decades. “I’ve been recording my Dad for a long time to make sure we’ll have his keyboard parts on future releases. Technology makes it possible for us to play together on this and future albums, similar to Natalie Cole’s Unforgettable,” says Brent.
Track Listing:
1. San Francisco P.M. (Clare Fischer) 5:59
2. Funquiado (Clare Fischer) 8:18
3. Canonic Passacaglia, Blues and Vamp ’til Ready (Clare Fischer) 9:58
4. Machaca (Clare Fischer) 8:22
5. Rainforest (Brent Fischer) 7:16
6. Guarabe (Clare Fischer) 9:39
7. The Quiet Side (Clare Fischer) 8:49
8. Pavillon (Clare Fischer) 10:27
9. Vamp ’til Ready [Remix] (Clare Fischer) 2:53
Personnel:
Clare Fischer: all compositions, arrangements, keyboards (except where noted)
Brent Fischer: conductor, composer, arranger (1, 5), electric basses, vibraphone, marimba, auxiliary keyboards, rainstick
Poncho Sánchez: congas (1)
Alex Acuña: drums (1, 5, 7), all percussion (except where noted)
Luis Conte: timbales, maracas, bongos, campana (1)
Peter Erskine: drums (3, 9)
Steve Kahn: electric guitar (1)
Alan Pasqua: synthesizer solo (9)
Quinn Johnson: keyboards (1, 5, 7)
Alan Steinberger: keyboards (3, 9)
Matt Brownlie: electric guitar (9)
Don Shelton: soprano and alto saxophones, clarinet, flute
Rob Hardt: soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, flute
Alex Budman: alto saxophone, clarinet, flute
Jeff Driskill: tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto flute
Sean Franz: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute
Glenn Morrissette: tenor saxophone
Lee Callet: baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto flute
Bob Carr: bass saxophone, contrabass clarinet, flute
John Mitchell: bass saxophone (1)
Rob Schaer: trumpet
Pete de Siena: trumpet
Ron Stout: trumpet
Carl Saunders: trumpet
Steve Huffsteter: trumpet
Jon Lewis: trumpet (5)
James Blackwell: trumpet (1)
Brian Mantz: trumpet (1)
Josh Aguiar: trumpet (1)
Michael Stever: trumpet (3, 9)
Charlie Loper: trombone, tuba
Andy Martin: trombone, tuba
Scott Whitfeld: trombone, tuba
Jacques Voyemant: trombone, tuba
Francisco Torres: trombone, tuba (1)
Mariel Austin: trombone (1)
Charlie Morillas: trombone, tuba (3, 9)
Steve Hughes: bass trombone, tuba
Bill Reichenbach: bass trombone
Jim Self: tuba (7)
Recorded in 2012, by James Farber
Producer: Brent Fischer
Mixed by Rafa Sardina
Mastered by Stephanie Villa
Art Direction: Eddie Iverson
Review:
Here is a truly special compendium of charts that pays homage to the human flow of sound and silence while employing in a most ingenious manner all of the elements, such as accent, meter and tempo—which relate to the forward movement of music—as few other Big Bands can compare in style and substance. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has two interesting explanations or meanings of the word, “rhythm”. The first is this: “an ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in the flow of sound and silence in speech.” The second goes thus: “the aspect of music combining all the elements (as accent, meter and tempo) that relate to forward movement.” There is a reason why both meanings are important in relation to appreciating the glorious sound of ¡Ritmo! the album by The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band (Directed by Brent Fischer) and it is this: Here is a truly special compendium of charts that pays homage to the human flow of sound and silence while employing in a most ingenious manner all of the elements, such as accent, meter and tempo—which relate to the forward movement of music—as few other Big Bands can compare in style and substance. Dr. Fischer’s music carves the air in wide arcs and sublime parabolas, fumbling, as if the musicians were frolicking in some mythical universe, worshiping at the feet of a pantheon of Muses. Trumpets and trombones leap magically from one elevated plane to the next with bronzed inflection; bass and keyboards vamp excitedly when called upon to, egging the melodic instruments on while a myriad of percussion push the music ever forward into stratospheric realms; all combining together to occupy the silence with exquisite sound.
Dr. Fischer learned from the best: Igor Stravinsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, Bela Bartok and Alban Berg; Duke Ellington and Gil Evans; Cal Tjader, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Moacir Santos. But the sound of his music is singular and majestic with a self-expression that knows no boundaries. This is evident from the opening bars of “San Francisco P.M.” a chart that is born of a piano montuno and grows to a great mambo with guitars, keyboards and roistering percussion. Clave pure as crystal is at the heart of the hip and funky chart that is called by the coined name, “Funquiado,” which spins on the heat of the trumpet and all of the other instruments that gambol and frolic at the hypnotic urging of congas, timbales and drums. “Canonic Passacaglia, Blues & Vamp ‘Til Ready” is a true classic, which begins with an authentic quadruple Latin canon and continues through as a triple canon in which instruments—especially brass and woodwinds—are layered with majestic grandeur as the music tumbles through a myriad grooves from raw Latin to the softest of Bossa Nova. “Machaca” comes from the songbook of Dr. Fischer’s older grooving ensemble, Clare Fischer and Salsa Picante. As to “Rainforest,” the chart is reminiscent of the fact that Dr. Fischer was mystically healed in the rhythms of Brazil and the rich elements of harmony in this classic chart pay homage to that part of the musician’s muse. “Guarabe” is another fine example of the gorgeous style with which Clare Fischer employs harmonies as well as how effectively the musician can rock the salsa beat. “The Quiet Side,” once a small ensemble chart is now showcased in a Big Band version and shines with exciting writing and plush arrangements. “Pavilion” is a gathering storm of roaring brass and winds that wind down to whispering near-silences and this can only be described as a monumental chart. After the celebrated music that rises and falls in rhythm moving ever forward, the “Vamp ‘Til Ready (Remix)” can only be described as an exquisite closing to an album that offers an embarrassment of musical riches by one of the iconic musicians of these times. The Clare Fischer has his son and pre-eminent bassist and arranger in his own right, Brent Fischer directing this magnificent musical sojourn is a matter of pure inspiration. The younger Fischer is best qualified to interpret his father’s works and between the two musicians they present a classic album with some of the finest musicians. The percussion artistry is led by the great Peruvian colorist, Alex Acuña, with strategic guest spots occupied by the maestros, Peter Erskine and Poncho Sánchez. Guitarist Steve Khan also shines on “San Francisco P. M.” Alan Pasqua and Quinn Johnson are inspired choices as are the brass-men: Ron Stout, Steve Huffsteter and Bill Reichenbach. It would be remiss if the other members of the ensemble did not receive honourable mention as well, but they are too many to name and have already been given credit in the personnel credit section of this review. Suffice it to say that this album is going to be one of the most celebrated Big Band records for many years to come and it is a combination of great music played by virtuoso musicians that made it all possible. Not the least is the music rearranged by Clare Fischer and directed by Brent Fischer, the man who possibly knows it as well as its creator.
Raul da Gama (Latin Jazz Network)
