Big Band Urban Folktales (Jazzheads)
Bobby Sanabria
Released June 5, 2007
Grammy Nominee for Best Latin Jazz Album 2008
YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kw8ozawVvNNGhxt21ii79QA1OPmGzRAzs
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/72JX38ENUHPAilKYuUuKap?si=KY5nIhVyRGG3UpqnukXqMw
About:
Bobby Sanabria continues the tradition of creating exciting Latin jazz in a big-band setting with this outstanding release. Long after daring to ask to sit in with the legendary Tito Puente (while only a teenager), the veteran percussionist put together a memorable session by recruiting outstanding musicians and encouraging them to write for the band, along with adding a few compelling charts of his own. One can immediately feel the energy as trumpeter Michael Philip Mossman and the leader make their presence felt in the brassy opener, “57th St. Mambo,” written by Mossman. Bass trombonist Chris Washburne wrote the slinky “Pink,” which fuses several styles and suggests young men strutting their stuff down South Beach in Miami Beach. The band also successfully delves into a pair of Hermeto Pascoal’s works (the dreamy “O Som do Sol” and the moody ballad “Obrigado Mestre”) and a very fresh take of the often pedestrian “Besame Mucho,” featuring an effective vocal by Hiram “El Pavo” Remon. But the big surprise is a driving Afro-Cuban arrangement of rocker Frank Zappa’s big-band piece “The Grand Wazoo,” which retains enough elements of the original while adding plenty of Latin spice.
Track Listing:
1. 57th St. Mambo 6:34
2. Pink (Chris Washburne) 5:40
3. Since I Fell for You (Buddy Johnson) 7:14
4. D Train (Jeremy Fletcher) 6:56
5. El Lider (Ricardo S. Pons) 7:17
6. El Aché de Sanabria en Moderación (Gene Marlow) 7:47
7. Bésame Mucho (Consuelo Velázquez) 6:03
8. The Crab (Joe Fiedler) 5:57
9. O Som do Sol (Hermeto Pascoal) 8:45
10. Blues for Booty Shakers (Bobby Sanabria) 3:33
11. The Grand Wazoo (Frank Zappa) 6:37
12. Obrigado Mestre (Hermeto Pascoal) 3:00
Personnel:
Bobby Sanabria: drums, marimba, background vocals, handclapping, vibraphone, screams, caja, shouts
Peter Brainin: kazoo, soprano saxophone
Kevin Bryan: trumpet, kazoo
Justin Davis: trumpet, kazoo
Joe Fiedler: trombone, kazoo
Alex Hernandez: kazoo, vocals, bass
Gene Jefferson: chorus
Ricardo S. Pons: flute, kazoo, baritone saxophone, background vocals, chorus, handclapping, prayers
Christian A. Rivera: conga, kazoo, vocals
Tim Sessions: trombone, kazoo
Charenoe Wade: vocals, scat
Chris Washburne: kazoo, bass trombone
Recorded January 7 – 8, 2007, at Avatar Studios (Studio A), New York, NY
Producer: Bobby Sanabria
Engineer: Jim Gately
Assistant Engineer: Anthony Ruotolo
Mixed by Bobby Sanabria and Jim Gately
Mastered by Gene Paul
Review:
Big Band Urban Folktales swings as hard as one could want, yet offers music that will excite dancers skilled enough to keep up with the often driving polyrhythms. Add to that some strong soloists and you have a powerful combination.
Sanabria, drums, percussion, vibraphone, marimba, etc., has assembled first-rate players for the tight, mostly fiery ensembles, as well as soloists that consistently add fuel. With the exception of two vocal tracks, “Since I Fell for You,” featuring Charenee Wade, and “Besame Mucho,” spotlighting 76-year-old Hiram Remon, the band smokes its way through a variety of material by numerous composers.
“57th St. Mambo,” written by Michael Phillip Mossman and holding his high-octane trumpet solo, gets things started with a distilled Dizzy Gillespie essence, followed by Chris Washburne’s “Pink,” with the composer offering a more than solid bass trombone solo. Also noteworthy on the track is tenor saxophonist Jeff Lederer. “D Train” spotlights solos by trombonist Tim Sessions, trumpeter Andrew Neesley and Lederer. “El Lider” kicks it up a bit and features solo outings by Washburne and the tune’s composer, baritone saxophonist Ricardo Pons.
The session’s most serious work is Eugene Marlow’s “El Ache de Sanabria en Moderacion,” an ever-shifting effort that often seems a bit too busy, yet has its moments. The forceful “The Crab” features solos by composer Joe Fiedler on trombone, tenor saxophonist Peter Bainin and pianist Yeissonn Villamar. Hermeto Pascoal’s “O Som do Sol” lightens things a little, then Sanabria’s “Blues for Booty Shakers” brings in a bit of funk. Frank Zappa’s “The Grand Wazoo” continues the varied direction without losing the Latin touch. “Obrigado Mestre,” another Pascoal work, closes the album with solos by Lederer, Neesley and David de Jesus, alto sax.
Will Smith (JazzTimes)
