CD Review: San Juan Collective

Musicians:
Norberto Ortiz, Gabriel Rodriguez, Raúl Maldonado

Review:
Even though the members of San Juan Collective are young musicians, they play with the maturity and music knowledge of veteran Jazz players. One can tell their jazz vocabulary comes from years of listening and studying all the legends of jazz and other music styles.

They also have the experience of playing and recording with Puerto Rican master trumpet player, Charlie Sepulveda on both of his grammy nominated albums.

All that music knowledge and experience are fused perfectly to create the sound of San Juan Collective, a jazz trio with three of the best jazz musicians from Puerto Rico. Norberto Ortiz with his inventive improvisations on the tenor sax, reminiscent of other great sax players from Puerto Rico like Miguel Zenón and David Sanchez, Gabriel Rodriguez flawless melodic solos on bass and Raúl Maldonado energetic rhythms on drums.

The music of San Juan Collective is challenging, full of surprises and always interesting with tempo changes and creative, both melodically and harmonically.

In their music you’ll find diverse influences. The lullaby like intro of Child’s Play, before changing into a classic Bebop tempo. The Funk/fusion style of A mis maestros with virtuosic bass runs and a powerful drum solo. The ballads Melisa, Beauty Bar and Esperanza, the last one reminiscent of jazz classics like In a Sentimental Mood. The Bossa bass chords on Cycles. And of course the contagious Bomba and Plena rhythms of Sueño Despierto and Calle 6, showing the great fusion possibilities of native Puerto Rico rhythms with Jazz.

Tracks: The Beautiful, Child’s Play, A mis Maestros, Esperanza, Sueño Despierto, Cycles, Calle 6, Beauty Bar, El Tata, Melisa, El Hobito

Artist's Website: http://sanjuancollective.com/

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD review: Loren Daniels & Reggie Pittman - Point A to Point A

Point A to Point A is a Classic Jazz style collaboration between trumpet player Reggie Pittman and pianist Loren Daniels. The album start with On the B.T. a bebop piece dedicated to composer Bobby Timmons.

Clarion Call is an odd but interesting composition with the always powerful trumpet playing of Reggie Pittman and a superb swinging groove by the rhythm section, Loren Daniels, bassist Bill Moringand Tim Horner on drums.

The beautiful melodies of the ballad Fall, brings images of the change of season. The next track is a funky, cool version of the Charlie Parker classic, Ornithology, that changes back and forth between funk and bebop. Shaw is Woody, is a fast bebop piece in homage to the great trumpet player Woody Shaw.

Loren explained on the promo notes that the structure of Point A to Point, ABACA, is a Rondo and the reason for the title. On Waterwind percussive sounds gives way to the trumpet melodies of Reggie Pittman over a slow latin rhythm. The album ends with It's all Thelonious a fun tribute to genious Theloniuos Monk, this one includes Loren Daniels on vocals.

On th B.T., Clarion Call, Fall, Ornithology, Shaw is Woody, Reflection, Point A to Point A, Waterwind, Prose and Consequence, It's all Thelonious

Reggie Pittman (trumpet, flugelhorn), Loren Daniels (piano, vocals), Bill Moring (bass), Tim Horner (drums, percussion)

CD Review: Fernandez & Wright - Unsung

Musicians:
Vanessa Fernandez (vocals), Steve Wright (guitar), Sam Keevers (piano), Ben Robertson (bass), Dave Beck (drums), Alex Pertout (percussion), Chong Lim (Hammond)

Review:
Unsung is a music collaboration between vocalist Vanessa Fernandez and guitarist Steve Wright. Wright sound have influences of smooth jazz guitar players like George Benson. Vanessa’s voice sounds at time like singer Sade especially on songs like Thinkin it lately, an interesting composition with African percussive rhythms of Steve Wright on guitar and If Only with Bossa influences.

In the first track I’ve been there too there is definitely an influence of the rock group The Police and his legendary singer Sting. The music reminds me, melodically of the song It’s probably me, but with funkier rhythms. That funk influence is also present in the song New Knack, starting in a Bossa style and changing into funky rhythms halfway through the song.

But is on the blues songs that Vanessa’s voice and feeling really shines. Ain’t love cruel, Leave it to me with the organ sounds adding a spiritual feel and Why is it always, a classic rock/blues reminiscent of Bonnie Rait.

I’ve been there too, Fairy dust, Thinkin it lately, If only, Ain’t ove cruel, Seasons, New Knack, Leave with me, Why is it always, New years Day

Vanessa Fernandez (vocals), Steve Wright (guitar), Sam Keevers (piano), Ben Robertson (bass), Dave Beck (drums), Alex Pertout (percussion), Chong Lim (Hammond)

Tracks: I’ve been there too, Fairy dust, Thinkin it lately, If only, Ain’t love cruel, Seasons, New Knack, Leave with me, Why is it always, New years Day

Artist's Website: http://www.fernandezandwright.com.au

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre