Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Estrellas Caim:

Estrellas Caim:

Rating: 0
Author: Javier AQ Ortiz

By Javier AQ Ortiz
May 1, 2002
View read count

When recordings label themselves as star-studded events, they better be! Such nomenclature should be meaningful. The Estrellas Caimán, or Caiman All Star series, nevertheless, does not belittle such a naming. All of their recordings are rare enjoyable meetings of legends, bandleaders, producers, arrangers, composers, and stars. Always digging into whatever amount of fun they can manage within their allotted studio time-space continuum, although it could be argued that these jams could be deeper, freer, and more extensive. A live in studio recording by them honoring Al Santiago, à la Alegre All Stars, would be memorable, although such masturbatory fantasies of mine might belong somewhere else. Either way, this album is worth your time, your attention, and its price.

Hard-edged sounds, sentient apt tumbaos, venerable singing, manifold genres, a bed of strings and improvisation keep you on top of the beat during this record. The psyche of Descarga Brava is New York’s jamming atmosphere. I know of no audience of this type of music in world that would not have a great time shaking their behinds to this music. The mix in “Bombonchara,” however, puts a cowbell and the clave on such an annoying high level that the rest of the percussion is obscured.

FOLLOW Javier AQ Ortiz and get notified whenever a new article published.
JAQO's bohemian life eventually led to jazz...

Track Listing

1. El Verdadero Son 2. Mi Gallo 3. Tumbao Caim

Personnel

Estrellas Caiman

Backup vocals-Ada Chabrier, Milton Cardona, Hector Casanova, Jos

Album information

Title: | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Caiman Records

About Estrellas Caiman

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Branford & Ellis Marsalis: The Dawn ...
< Previous

Paradise Is Awfully Nice
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.