Artist: Omara Portuondo and Chucho Valdés
Title: Omara & Chucho
Label: World Village France
Cat. #: 479062
Genre: Cuban music/World
Artist: Hadar Noiberg
Title: Journey Back Home
Label: self produced
Genre: Jazz/nu Israel music
Reviewed by Matthew Rentz
For her solo album Journey Back Home the NYC based Israeli artist Hadar Noiberg draws from an eclectic array of influences. Her masterful flute work weaves a path that beckons the listener for a glimpse of her native land. Backed by the remarkably solid rhythm section of Omer Avital (double bass) and Ziv Ravitz (drums/ percussion), Noiberg is free to explore her diverse roots. Journey Back Home is a wonderful jazz album that offers the listener an excursion from the melting pot of New York to the rich tradition of Israel.
CD reviews by William Harvey
Artist: Willie Martinez/La Famillia Sextet
Title: After Winter, Spring
Label: Cuch Be Witcha Productions
Genre: Latin Jazz
After Winter, Spring is drummer/percussionist Willie Martinez’s second album as a leader. This album features many of Martinez’s own originals and arrangements. His band La Familia Sextet is tight and hard grooving as they venture through various latin jazz styles. On this recording Martinez lets his band shine as he plays mostly a supporting role in the rhythm section; a sign of a mature veteran who as a leader choses to place emphasis on melody and groove.
In addition to his strong instrumental chops Martinez is featured as a vocalist singing in both English and Spanish. Musical influences heard range from Ray Baretto, Max Roach, Ray Romero, Cachao, to Hilton Ruìz as mentioned in the liner notes of After Winter, Spring. Additionally, pianist Misha Tsiganov wrote “Anthony” as a dedication to the late Tony Williams , which ends with a nice drum solo. After Winter, Spring has and will continue to captivate Latin jazz and Afro-Carribean music fans alike.
Date: May, 2011
Venue: Death By Audio (NY)
Text by Jim Hoey
What should be known about this guitar drums duo is that they are former/current members of Afrirampo and Acid Mothers Temple, 2 hard hitting punk/psychedelic rock bands from Japan. Also to be know is that they are in the middle of a one month tour of the US, and if you find yourself on the east coast or somewhere between NYC and southern California, you might be close enough to road trip over to one of their gigs soon.
