[JPL] According to Downbeat Giovanni: RISING star on percussion

[Arturo]

The latest issue of Downbeat has their annual Critic's Choices for best of
and rising talents lists, 111 critics chose Poncho as the best percussionist
but what is bizzare is that they list Giovanni Hidalgo the already legendary
Mañenguito as the 2nd most rising star after ranking 5th in the best of
list. Gio has been a most risen and bright star for many years now,
something is wrong with the choices. Hamid Drake was runner up to Poncho
followed by Airto and Zakir, another weird choice for the past year is NEA
Jazz Master Ray Barretto, we all love Ray but he didn't have any work over
the past year. Susie Ibarra was the lead rising star, after that John Santos
was 3rd followed by Hamid Drake. There are not as many oddites and omissions
in the other categories as they are in the percussion category which is no
surprise to me.

Arturo