CD Review: Mark Moultrup - Dar Cho

Featured Artist: Mark Moultrup



CD Cover

CD Title: Dar Cho

Year: 2009

Record Label: mark moultrup music

Style: Contemporary Jazz



Musicians: Mark Moultrup (piano, vocals, keyboards, percussion), Rodney Whitaker (bass), George Fludas (drums), John Wojciechowski (saxophone, flute), Kurt Sweitz (arco bass), Ernie Adams (percussion)

Review: Dar Cho is the latest release from pianist, vocalist, composer arranger and educator Mark Moultrup. Dar Cho is a Tibetan word, Dar meaning to increase life, fortune, health and wealth and Cho meaning all sentient beings. Mark is originally from Detroit, now living in Chicago.

On Dar Cho, Mark played with a group of excellent musicians. George Fludas on drums, played with Ray Brown Trio. Bassist Rodney Whitaker played with Wynton Marsalis. And sax player from Detroit, John Wojciechowski.

Wrote by Mark Moultrup, the first tune, When then was now, is a modern jazz composition with interesting changes in tempo and a powerful, and warm sax playing by John Wojciechowski.

A beautiful piano intro takes us to the next track, a wonderful version of Jobim's classic, Corcovado (Quiet Nights). Mark does some nice vocal improvisations and scats at the end.

With lyrics of encouragement to believe in yourself, What about is an original song that increase in tempo to change into a Be bop style for the sax solo. Mark solos on piano showcase his command of the piano.

Ted's Last song is dedicated to a dear Mark's friend. The beautiful classical influenced melodies reflect perfectly that melancholic feeling of missing a friend.

Good will in the wind is one of my favorites on this album. With happy melodies and lovely flute playing by Michael Levin, these musicians really spread good will on this tune.

Mark play keyboards and wrote the funny, gastronomic lyrics on the next track, Avant Garlic, and also adds some cool scats at the end. Waltz is a classical piece that takes the listener to peaceful places and moments. Nice one to relax after a day full of stress. The arpeggios and melodies on Of a dream sounds exactly like music of a dream.

Dedicated to his wife Susie, It has always been you, is a good romantic song reminiscent of the standards of the great american songbook. Mark plays keyboards again on Burger in the Bush, a funky piece that sounds like the fusion jazz of the 70's.

Mark does his best vocal work on the next two songs, Come fly with me and Summer wind. Listening to Mark's rendition of Come fly with me, is obvious that Mark enjoy to sing this classic. The album ends with a swinging original, I know it's only Be bop, with some vocal improvisations and one of the best piano solos by Mark Moultrop.

Tracks: When then was now, Corcovado, What about, Ted's last song, Good will in the wind, Avant Garlic, Waltz, Of a Dream, It has always been you, Burger in the Bush, Come fly with me, Summer wind, I know it's only Be bop

Record Label Website: http://www.markmoultrup.com

Artist's Website: http://www.markmoultrup.com

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Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD Review: Tiempo Libre - Bach in Havana

Featured Artist: Tiempo Libre

CD Cover - Buy CD CD Title: Bach in Havana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMzk_2Traao

Year: 2009

Record Label: Sony

Style: World Music

Musicians: Jorge Gomez (music director, keyboards, vocals), Joaquin Diaz (lead vocals, batá), Leandro Gonzalez (congas, percussion, batá, vocals), Tebelio Fonte (electric bass, chapman stick, vocals), Cristobal Ferrer Garcia(trumpet, trombone, vocals), Hilario Bell (percussion, timbales, batá, vocals) Luis Beltran Castillo ( tenor sax, guiro, vocals)

Review: In the 40's, the fusion of Jazz music with the rhythms from Cuba created Latin Jazz. Jazz music itself is a product of a fusion of all the styles of music (including classical music) present in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, Tiempo Libre new cd, Bach in Havana, connects the rhythms and sensibilities of Afro-Cuban music with the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach.

On Tu Conga, the infectious rhythms of Conga, the music played in Cuba during Carnaval, are mixed with melodies inspired by the Fugue in C minor. The lyrics are an homage to Johann Sebastian Bach.

Fuga is a delightful fusion of Cha-cha-chá rhythms with the Fuga movement of the D minor sonata.

My favorite is Air on a G string, this time played in a Bolero style. The always soulful playing of Paquito D'Rivera on alto sax is reason enough to buy this cd.

The repetitive arpeggios of Prelude in C minor are combined nicely with the guaguancó clave on Clave in C minor. Guaguancó is another traditional dance from Cuba.

Gavotte is based on French Suite No. 5 in G major, played over a Son clave. For those unfamiliar with cuban music, son is a dance music from Cuba, one of the cuban rhythms that influenced musicians (mostly from Puerto Rico) living in New York in the 70's, to create Salsa music.

Mi Orisha starts with a solo by Yosvany Terry on the shekeré, a percussion instrument made from gourd, netting and beads. The melodies on this one are based on the French Suite No. 2 in C minor.

Minuet in G is changed from the traditional 3/4 to 4/4 to meet the guaguancó clave. The lyrics describes the sensual pleasures of dancing guaguancó.

On Olas de Yemayá the melodies are inspired by Preludio in C major beautifully played over Batá drums rhythms. Batá drums are used also on Kyrie, after an opening from Mass in B minor. Batá is the sacred drum used in Santeria to call down the Orishas powerful deities.

Baqueteo con Bajo is a Danzón, one of my favorites Cuban dances. On the second part the montuno enters with yet another brilliant intervention by Paquito D'Rivera this time on the clarinet. Timbach is inspired by the Prelude in D major with a mix of different cuban rhythms.



Tracks: Tu Conga Bach, Fuga, Air On A G String, Clave In C Minor, Gavotte, Mi Orisha, Minuet In G, Olas De Yemayá, Baqueteo Con Bajo, Timbach, Kyria

Record Label Website: http://www.sonymasterworks.com

Artist's Website: http://www.tiempolibremusic.com

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Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre