Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ray Barretto And New World Spirit: Contact!

Ray Barretto And New World Spirit: Contact!

By Paula Edelstein
June 1, 1999
Sign in to view read count

Internationally renowned bandleader, conguero, and percussionist, Ray Barretto and his ensemble New World Spirit continue their tradition of jazz excellence on Contact!. Released in 1997 on Blue Note/EMI, their fifth CD is a conscious break from the dance-oriented Ray Barretto Orchestra many of his fans may remember in that Contact! explores the deeply personal musical relationships throughout the phases of Barretto's career. Songs masterfully syncretized and utilizing Barretto's unique musical vocabulary — including call-and-response, cubop rhythms and 4/4 swing — the 10-track - CD ignites a sensual fire on "Dance of Denial,"a melodic, mid-tempo piece that showcases brilliant solos by Michael Philip Mossman on trumpet, Adam Kolker on saxophone, and John Di Martino on piano. The incomparable Barretto adds finality to the piece with a polyrhythmic statement that represents the conguero at his finest. As deep and enjoyable as each piece is, what gives the CD its impact is the vehement delivery by Barretto which portrays the profound impressions left by his musical mentors and his revolutionary development as a result of their influence. He introduces a facet of this influence on "La Bendicion" and "Liberated Spirit," both original compositions by Barretto that focus the listener on the dynamic forces surrounding his imagination. Jazz definitely receives the respect it deserves at the hands of this jazz linguist. Let there be no doubt that Ray Barretto is a master that fully comprehends his craft and is strongly deserving of the critical and popular acclaim he is receiving.

TRACK LISTINGS:Moss Code, Caravan, Serenata, Dance Of Denial, Poinciana, Point Of Contact/Punto De Contacto, La Bendicion, Liberated Spirit, The Summer Knows, Sister Sadie

PERSONNEL:RAY BARRETTO, congas, percussion; ADAM KOLKER, tenor, soprano saxophones; MICHAEL PHILIP MOSSMAN, trumpet, trombone; JOHN DI MARTINO, piano; JAIRO MORENO, bass; HANS GLAWISHNIG, bass (on 3& 5); VINCE CHERICO, drums; RAY VEGA, percussion.

Personnel

Ray Barretto

congas

Album information

Title: Contact! | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Blue Note Records

< Previous
Interview with Tom Varner

Next >
Mnemosyne

Comments

About Ray Barretto

Instrument: Congas

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.