Rumba Club: Espiritista

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,632 total)

Published: December 1, 1999

Produced by bassist, percussionist Andy Gonzalez of the renowned “Fort Apache Band”, “Rumba Club” fuses Latin and Afro-Caribbean rhythms with a straight up, front line horn section amid heterogeneous rhythmic structures on Espiritista ! The proceedings commence with a spunky version of Wayne Shorter’s “Children of the Night” featuring crystalline phrasing by alto saxophonist Paul Hannah along with balanced yet at times turbulent rhythms and a harmonious, cordial horn arrangement. Trumpeter, Alexander Pope Norris displays a crafty pen on his composition titled, “Delta”. Here, “Rumba Club” churn out wide-open horn charts boasting a – bold and brawny sound without sacrificing the endearing melody line. This piece moves along like a locomotive building up steam offset by some clever and appropriate embellishments by pianist Tim Murphy. The band render an animated and quite assertive version of Cedar Walton’s beloved, “Mosaic” while delving into the sublime on Wayne Shorter’s classic “Infant Eyes”.. The horn section trade some penetrating fours on the final piece, Duke Ellington’s, “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be” which serves as an appropriate finale to this attractive outing. * * *

Rumba Club: Sam “Seguito” Turner; Percussion: Josh Schwartzman; Bass: Alexander Pope Norris; Trumpet, Flugelhorn: Tim Murphy; Piano: Rudy “Ramon’ Morales; Percussion: Paul Hannah; Alto Saxophone: Jim Hannah; Percussion: Andy Gonzalez; Bass: Orlando Cotto; Percussion: Craig Considine; Trombone

Palmetto website: www.palmetto-records.com

Record Label: Palmetto Records
Style: Latin/World