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Caribbean Jazz Project: Paraiso
by Dave Hughes
This is possibly the most intricate, intellectual, and compositionally advanced Latin jazz that's been made to date. Certainly the tri-leaders of the group - vibraphonist Dave Samuels, flautist Dave Valentin, and guitarist Steve Khan - are in the top echelon of performers on their respective instruments, and all have played in a unusually broad range of musical settings throughout their performing careers, and they bring all these resources to this release. The three principals contribute well-thought-out, technically advanced jazz solos ...
Continue ReadingCaribbean Jazz Project: New Horizons
by Dave Hughes
These are new horizons, indeed, as this is a whole new band, save for Dave Samuels. Former frontliners Paquito D'Rivera and Andy Narell, as well as their rhythmmates, have departed for other projects, and Samuels has replenished the line-up with equally impressive talent in flautist Dave Valentin and guitarist Steve Khan. The change in instrumentation, as well as musical personalities, pushes the band in a whole new direction. In addition, rather than the usual drum set, Samuels ...
Continue ReadingCaribbean Jazz Project: New Horizons
by Ed Kopp
Reedman Paquito D’Rivera and steel drummer Andy Narell recently quit the Caribbean Jazz Project, but founder Dave Samuels (vibes) didn't abandon his concept. Samuels convinced flutist Dave Valentin and guitarist Steve Khan to form a new Project. The revamped lineup just released its first album, and it's a very nice outing. New Horizons conjures images of pristine beaches, tropical breezes and swaying palms.Samuels was wise to switch instrumentation when D’Rivera and Narell split the band. No way he ...
Continue ReadingDave Samuels: Tjader-ized: A Cal Tjader Tribute
by Douglas Payne
Following Poncho Sanchez's 1995 tribute, Soul Sauce (Concord Picante), this is the second Latin jazz tribute to the undersung vibraphonist Cal Tjader (1925-82). Tjader began playing drums for George Shearing in the 40s then later for Dave Brubeck. He switched to vibes and began exploring his love of Latin music on a series of successful records for Fantasy. In the early 60s, Verve recorded him with orchestras in rather unusual contexts (bossa nova, eastern jazz and finally pop rock). He ...
Continue ReadingDave Samuels: Tjaderized
by AAJ Staff
Dave Samuels is no stranger to Latin music. During his years with Spyro Gyra, the group always had some Latino members whose influence permeated the group's sound. Samuels' previous solo efforts, especially his last, Del Sol , also displayed sunny Caribbean textures. As a member of the Caribbean Jazz Project with Andy Narell and Paquito D'Rivera, he dove deeper into the Latin groove; on his latest release, a tribute to vibes great Cal Tjader, he's immersed more deeply into Latin ...
Continue ReadingCaribbean Jazz Project: Island Stories
by Dave Hughes
Paquito D'Rivera on soprano and alto saxophones and clarinet, longtime Spyro Gyra contributor Dave Samuels on vibes and marimba, and steel pan master Andy Narell. Each of these players are leaders in their own right, with impressive discographies of solo and group work, but when they come together in this band, magic happens. While Cuban ex-patriate D-Rivera is the only actual Latino among the leaders, Samuels and Narell have cultivated sufficient experience in and love for Caribbean music that they ...
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