Various Artists: Jazz On The Latin Side All Stars

I could listen to this album in my sleep. And sometimes I do. José Rizo hosts a Friday night radio program over FM radio station KLON in Long Beach, California. I never miss it. What a wonderful way to unwind from the rigors of a workweek crammed full of "do this" and "do that" because "it has to be done ASAP!" Rizo always has guests and tributes to Latin jazz artists from around the world. It’s a great way to learn. I’ve never been able to keep my feet still while listening to Jazz On The Latin Side.

To celebrate ten years of his weekly radio show, Rizo organized an all-star concert of Southern California Latin jazz artists earlier this year. Most of the session jams over compositions that Rizo has written. Each tune seems to express a theme derived from hard bop. KLON has a web site that employs RealAudio and webradio.com to allow access to their 24-hour jazz programming, so anyone, regardless of how far they live from the Los Angeles area, can listen. Jazz On The Latin Side airs every Friday from 7 to 11 p.m., Pacific Standard Time. No smooth jazz here. Rizo likes to provide recordings by a variety of artists. Examples range from Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Cal Tjader, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chucho Valdes, Hilario Duran and Poncho Sanchez to Stan Kenton, Dizzy Gillespie or Freddie Hubbard.

The Jazz On The Latin Side All-Stars get into the same mood that Rizo provides Friday nights. Justo Almario is in his best element alongside Art Velasco’s expressive trombone and Susie Hansen’s powerfully rhythmic violin. Sal Cracchiolo’s majestic trumpet soars high and strong. The singing of Freddie Crespo, Asdru Sierra and Poncho Sanchez adds more flavor. Highly recommended, this all-star album from the Los Angeles Latin Jazz scene echoes what could be happening today all over the world. I can’t wait to hear volume 2.