Jazz Articles

Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge: Off & On The Music of Moacir Santos

by Raul d'Gama Rose
October 13, 2009

If a record could be like a comet streaking across the musical stratosphere, then Mark Levine's Off & On: The Music of Moacir Santos would be just that. Moreover, in personifying this album like comets are given names, this one would be named after comet Kohoutek because it is a rare gem of a record.It's one of the few occasions in recent times that Moacir Santos, the rarer of two modern Brazilian masters, is being honored. Brazilian music ...

Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge: Isla

by Forrest Dylan Bryant
May 15, 2003

Pianist/educator Mark Levine is a master of straight-ahead Latin jazz. The members of his Latin Tinge quartet all share his orientation towards modern bop, enhanced by a remarkable ability to lay down a pretty mean clave beat. On Isla , the group tackles compositions by Cedar Walton and Kenny Garrett as well as standards of both the Latin and popular songbook variety.On Garrett's “Ain't Nothing But the Blues," the tempo is relaxed and the mood keeps cool. Levine's ...

Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge: Hey, It

by Jim Santella
October 1, 2000

Mark Levine’s straight-ahead piano trio adds conguero Michael Shapiro for a Latin tinge. Yes, the quartet’s name comes from Jelly Roll Morton’s historical comment that our earliest jazz included elements from Central and South American cultures. After all, the geography of New Orleans aided in the mixing of many cultures.

So Latin tinge it is. And it’s as obvious here as it is in most jazz circles. Take out the congas and there’s still a Latin beat. Levine includes in ...