Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz: 20th Anniversary

155

Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz: 20th Anniversary

By

Sign in to view read count
Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz: 20th Anniversary
A collector's edition is only as good as the source material. In the case of Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz, the source is an eclectic representation of their work.

Brun, a native of the Bronx born to Puerto Rican parents, plays congas and a variety of other percussion instruments. His career includes an international tour with the U.S. Air Force band, Tops in Blue, and work with Maynard Ferguson, Bob Hope and Lucille Ball. He formed the Latin Playerz in 1989, an ensemble that mixes Latin, rhythm and blues, swing and straight-ahead jazz.

20th Anniversary is a mix of old and new—songs recorded as far back as 1992, combined with some previously unreleased material. Scattered among some American pop standards, that have been covered by numerous jazz artists, are a handful of Latin tunes.

"Stirring My Emotions" is a pop ballad, featuring vocalist and percussionist Judi DeLeon, who co-wrote it with Brun and sings like a hybrid of Gloria Estefan and any of several R&B singers. Tenor saxophonist Gabe Pintor contributes some fills and a solo in the middle, while Billy Satterwhite's bass line gives the piece a smooth groove.

Phillippe Vieux plays flute on an enchanting arrangement of "Besame Mucho," where DeLeon's lead vocal add an ethereal quality. The piano, bass and percussion are clean, as DeLeon and Vieux blend beautifully.

Prominently featuring the horns, the sassy "Get It While You Can" spotlights co-arranger Adrian Ruiz occasionally grinding trumpet solo, while Satterwhite also enjoys an extended solo. Pianist Travis Davis follows with a lengthy exchange with the percussionists.

20th Anniversary is a more appropriate title than "Greatest Hits" would be. Rather than suggest that all of these songs are "great" or even "hits," Brun and co-producer DeLeon have assembled a diverse sampling of the band's work. A few of the songs were recorded in 2010, but even some of the older selections are previously unreleased.

Track Listing

Un Poquito; Linus N' Lucy; Ruma De San Anton; Stirring My Emotions; Lullaby of Birdland; Besame Mucho; Upper Manhattan Medical Group; Lover Man; Get It While You Can; Naked; Bye Bye Blackbird; I Say a Little Prayer for You; Jugo De Pina; Pursuit; Senor Grinch.

Personnel

Henry Brun: congas, bongo, timbale, clave, cowbell, guiro, maracas, vibra slap, percussion effects; Judi Deleon: vocals, percussion; Adrian Ruiz: trumpet, flugelhorn; Gabe Pintor: tenor saxophone; Mike Koenning: drums, percussion; Travis Davis: piano; Billy Satterwhite: baby bass; Rene Gonzalez: congas; Ed Sherry: trumpet, flugelhorn; Phillippe Vieux: baritone saxophone, flute.

Album information

Title: 20th Anniversary | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Richport Enterprises Recordings

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.