Home » Jazz Articles » Luis Mario Ochoa Quintet: Momentos Cubanos

Luis Mario Ochoa Quintet: Momentos Cubanos

By Jerry D'Souza
June 20, 2008
Sign in to view read count

Luis Mario Ochoa Quintet: Momentos Cubanos

Guitarist/vocalist Luis Mario Ochoa showcases his new acoustic quintet on his fourth recording. It's a departure from Cimarron, the nine-piece ensemble he calls a Cuban dance band with a jazz sound. Ochoa continues to find the groove as a composer and arranger as he mines Cuban and Peruvian music with all their attributes for thoroughly enjoyable listening.

Ochoa sets the mood with the sparkling "Simbiosis." The melody is catchy and Ochoa rides it on the guitar with round, juicy round notes. His parlaying of the melody is vivid and he lends it that extra dimension with emphatic voicing and short, fleet runs. But where would the music be without the congas? Jorge Luis Torres "Papiosco" (congas) keeps the beat singing. With Hilario Duran illuminating the song on the piano, this is quite irresistible.

"Perla Marina" is a beautiful song composed by Sindo Garay, one of Cuba's leading songwriters. The title translates to "Marine Pearl" and is a fine showcase for Ochoa's singing. He is a passionate singer, his enunciation and phrasing strong and packed with emotional power. He is also the troubadour who adds to the soul with his guitar. David Virelles completes the lure through the eloquence of his harmony and phrases on the piano.

"Momentos Cubanos" is another joyful paean to Cuban music; a wonderfully happy and frisky tune. Ochoa gives it a traditional Cuban flavor adding son and changui rhythms. It is a mark of his skills as a composer as he weaves the rhythms into a seamless fabric.

Ochoa once again convincingly takes Cuban music, embellishes it with his imagination and comes up with an album that is difficult to ignore.

Track Listing

Simbiosis; Un Habanero en Brasil; El Carbonero; Momentos Cubanos; Canto Siboney; Y Deja; Si La Rumba Va A Empezar; Perla Marina; Flor De La Canela.

Personnel

Luis Mario Ochoa: vocals, guitar; Hilario Duran: piano; Paco Luviano: bass, background vocals; Luis Orbegoso: drums, timbale, background vocals; Jorge Luis Torres

Album information

Title: Momentos Cubanos | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Cuban Music Productions

Post a comment about this album

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.

WE NEED YOUR 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.