Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Chris Washburne & The SYOTOS Band: Low Ridin'

6

Chris Washburne & The SYOTOS Band: Low Ridin'

By

Sign in to view read count
Chris Washburne & The SYOTOS Band: Low Ridin'
Originals, Latin classics, and the occasional standard appear on this outfit's five previous albums, all of which were released on the Jazzheads imprint. But a new day has dawned with Low Ridin', as venerable trombonist Chris Washburne and his smoking Latin ensemble arrive at a new label—Zoho Roots—and take a new tack, delivering a program of Latin-ized Classic Rock songs.

Almost all of the material presented here, save for saxophonist Ole Mathisen's "SYOTOMON," should be familiar to anybody who hasn't been living under a rock for the past forty years. The music of Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and the other individuals and groups covered here imprinted on many who came of age during the '60s, '70s, and beyond. That same music happened to be the soundtrack of Washburne's youth, so it's not really such a stretch for him to bring it into his orbit. Here, with the help of his longstanding band, he merges psychedelic sounds and Latin ideals, creating a hybridized style dubbed "Acid Mambo" in the doing.

In nearly every case, Washburne and company manage to resurface and retrofit these songs to suit their style while still retaining the essence of the originals. "Feelin' Alright" may take on mambo characteristics, "Get Up, Stand Up" might blend reggae and Cuban son, and "Walk On The Wild Side" may be grafted onto guaguanco rhythms, but all feel natural as can be since they still speak to their true selves. That's even the case on a song like "Kashmir," cleverly arranged with overlaid odd meters, and on "Stairway To Heaven/Heaven," a marriage of Led Zed Zeppelin's immortal hit and Duke Ellington's sacred music.

While the numbers skew toward the rhythm side here, with a drummer, a bassist, a guitarist, a pianist, and three percussionists, the three horn players—Washburne, Mathisen, and trumpeter John Walsh—more than make up for that imbalance. With interlocking rhythms, unison passages, and crisscrossing riffs, they create scintillating sonic strata above the percolating rhythmic layer(s). Nothing overstays its welcome here, as Washburne knows exactly what he can and can't get out of each song, and everything is built with good vibes and energy. There's never really a lull here, as Chris Washburne and The SYOTOS Band ride high from start to finish.

Track Listing

Feelin' Alright; Low Rider; Get Up, Stand Up; Stairway To Heaven/Heaven; Manic Depression; Ohio; Walk On The Wild Side; Break On Through (To The Other Side); Kashmir; Sugar Mountain; SYOTOMON.

Personnel

Chris Washburne: trombone; John Walsh: trumpet; Ole Mathisen: saxophone; Yeissonn Villamar: piano, keyboards; Leo Traversa: bass; Vince Cherico: drums; Oreste Abrantes: percussion; Roberto Quintero: percussion; Isa Washburne: percussion; August Washburne: percussion.

Album information

Title: Low Ridin' | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Zoho Roots

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter 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.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.