Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Miami Saxophone Quartet: Midnight Rumba

322

Miami Saxophone Quartet: Midnight Rumba

By

Sign in to view read count
Several things help set the Miami Saxophone Quartet apart from comparable groups: one, the brilliantly textured charts, most of them written by Ed Calle or Gary Lindsay; two, the emphasis on Latin and Hispanic motifs and melodies, epitomized by Calle's three-movement Iberia Suite; and three, the use of percussion on three selections, guest artist Arturo Sandoval on trumpet, flugelhorn and piano, and vocalist Jon Secada on his own composition, "Angel. Midnight Rumba, the third album by the MSQ, celebrates Latin culture and tradition through song, but not exclusively, as there is room as well for Ralph Burns' jazz standard "Early Autumn (featuring Sandoval's flugel), James Taylor's contemporary folk song "Benjamin, and the Gershwin brothers' "My Ship, smartly arranged for the quartet by Pete McGuiness.

The album opens on a fiery note as the MSQ eagerly devours a steaming bowl of Calle's tantalizing, Afro-Cuban-based "Rice and Beans, helped along by percussionists Richard Bravo and Lee Levin. Besides Calle (tenor sax) and Lindsay (alto), the other members of the quartet are Gary Keller (soprano, tenor) and Mike Brignola (baritone). The tempo slows for "Angel, whose lovely melody is enhanced by Sandoval's lithe muted trumpet and impaired by a nearly incomprehensible lyric.

The Iberia Suite, inspired, writes Calle, by "the rich history, beauty and traditions of Spain, begins with "Midnight Rumba, depicting the sultry atmosphere of the streets of Madrid, which come to life at midnight, and continues with the "sonorous serenity of "Siesta before sketching a musical portrait of the city and people of "Pamplona, site of the annual running of the bulls. "I hope, writes Calle, "that the listener will hear conversations among participants and observers, step into a tavern for some 'tapas' and a glass of wine, watch a couple dance flamenco, sense the awesome power of the charging bulls, and feel the exhilaration of a successful run. A tall order, but Calle and the MSQ come close.

The tumult of "Pamplona precedes the lyrical "Benjamin (performed by the quartet alone), "Early Autumn, and two well-known works by Dizzy Gillespie, "A Night in Tunisia, on which Sandoval not only plays trumpet but introduces the piece with an improvised piano solo while the percussionists turn up the heat, and "Con Alma, a feature for Keller's supple tenor, adeptly underlined by bassist Chuck Bergeron. "Autumn is a gem, with the saxophones weaving richly harmonic sound patterns through and around Sandoval's expressive flugel. The graceful "Ship, scored originally for McGuiness's New York Trombone Conspiracy, is ably manned by the quartet alone, as is the late Astor Piazzolla's buoyant tango "Bordel 1900, which neatly seals the package.

Another well-earned triumph for the MSQ, which stares down these formidable charts without uneasiness or pause and handily nails every note. For lovers of the saxophone quartet, a rich and flavorful banquet.

Visit the Miami Saxophone Quartet on the web.

Track Listing

Rice and Beans; Angel; The Iberia Suite (Midnight Rumba / Siesta / Pamplona); Benjamin; Early Autumn; A Night in Tunisia; Con Alma; My Ship; Bordel 1900 (52:16).

Personnel

Gary Keller: soprano, tenor sax; Gary Lindsay: alto sax; Ed Calle: tenor sax; Mike Brignola: baritone sax; Lee Levin: shaker, clave, timbale (1), maracas (8); Richard Bravo: guiro, bongo, conga (1), congas (8); Javier Carrion (8): electric bass; Luis Gonzales (8): bongos; Chuck Bergeron (9): bass. Special guests Arturo Sandoval (2,7,8): trumpet, flugelhorn, piano; Jon Secada (2): composer, vocal.

Album information

Title: Midnight Rumba | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Fourtitude

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.