Broad Street is pianist, arranger and composer Tony Marino's fourth self-release. The varied Brazilian and Hispanic material that inspired it is respectfully treated, with energy levels revealing both commitment towards and understanding of their respective sensual and lively natures. It features seven Latinized offerings from Marino and one each from Paquito D' Rivera and Claudio Roditi -who are key personal and intellectual influences.
The quality of the recording, however, is average and Marino himself apparently assembled it in its entirety. His compositions are block-chord dated but there's a clear willingness to engage the inspiring material as honestly and succinctly as possible. The results, on the other hand, can be canned and clichéd -as in "South Philly Samba" upon which the melody of "Moliendo Café" is masked under an Afro Cuban left hand guajeo with rushed right handed fingered notes and an annoying percussive repetitive break over a Brazilian rhythmic base. The reinterpretation of the remaining two tunes offers little, if any, enlightening views.
Given the quality available in improvised music today, your attention would best be invested somewhere else. Do, however, give it a listen at the leader's website . Anything else would be uncivilized.
