Personnel:
Chris Cheek (ts, ss), Ed Simon (p), Abraham Rodríguez (congas, voice), Avishai Cohen (b), Raul Jaurena (bandoneón)
Reference: FSWJ 005 CD
Bar code: 8 427328 425056
Tracklisting:
1. Libertango (A.Piazzolla)
2. Clara (D.Urcola)
3. Dancing In The Closet (D.Urcola)
4. Buenos Aires (D.Urcola)
5. Super Mario (D.Urcola)
6. El día que me quieras (Gardel-LePera)
7. Samba para Claudio (D.Urcola)
8. Pekin (W. González)
9. Cuarenta que son uno (J.Cuba)
Comments / Reviews:
"In the spring of 1993, I was in a jam, because a long tour in Europe was coming up and even though I had a wonderful rhythm section, for the first time in many years my trumpet player Claudio Roditti was not available to join me in the "front line" of my quintet. The formidable trumpet player from Brazil was, for obvious reason, more and more in demand and his absence created a dramatic musical and emotional vacuum. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy to find another trumpet player able to combine jazz concepts with the rhythmic elements of Latin-Amercian music, so I decided to call guitarist Fareed Haque, who worked with me on various occasions but he couldn't make it either.
"...Don't worry 'papa', call Victor Mendoza, he knows about an Argentinean who might be the solution to your problem. You know how good that Mexican is at picking up good musicians..." - that was Danilo Perez' message on my answering machine. "...and not only is he a good player but he's also a very nice guy, like Claudio; believe you me you won't regret it Paquito..." Vicot assured me when I called him in Boston in order to get the phone number of this 'argentinito' that everybody was recommening to me so earenestly.
Making a long story short, six years have passed since that first European tour and many more have brought us from Mexico to Australia, doinfg recordings, jazz clubs, festivals, universities and syphonic concerts in places like Uruguay, Turkey, Japan, Brazil and Slovenia and not only have I never once regretted it but I have thanked many times the people who recommended Diego to me, the opportunity they gave me to witness almost daily the artistic development of the exceptional young man.
We have been insisting for a long time that Diego should make a solo album where he can show more extensively his qualities as a soloist and composer, today we see with joy how this long-awaited project is finally a reality.
With the exception of the talented saxophonist Chris Cheek and the versatile percussionist Abraham Rodríguez, which work I only heard for the first time on this recording, all other participants: Adam, Raul, Ed and Avishai have worked with me before and i can say that what all of them have in common is the inmensurable love for music and the wonderful spirit of camaraderie and good taste that shows in the final product of this extraordinary CD.
Bravo Diego!!!!...,we want more.
By Paquito D'Rivera (taken from the linernotes)
