[JPL] Some background on Valera & Fonseca

[Arturo]

It pleases me to see the great reaction to Valera and Fonseca's latest
releases as I have known about them and their music for years....

While still in MIami and WDNA, I used to hang out with Manuel Valera Sr, a
fine saxophonist and former member of Gonzalo Rubalcaba Quartet with Horacio
El Negro Hernández, see Ruba's Messidor recordings. Manuel senior used to
rave about his teenage son and gave me his first recording which made me a
fan and I realized that Manolito would be quite a force on piano in the very
near future, time has proven my hunch correct. Don't forget to listen to his
work with the Waverly Seven ensemble's tribute to Bobby Darrin.

Also, while still living in Miami I became aquainted with Roberto Fonseca's
work through his first 2 albums which were retro 70s funk n fusion projects,
as he is a big fan of that period in music, an era before he was born. He
thorughly impressed me for breaking out of the box of the typical Cuban jazz
sound yet still maintaining his roots. Most younger Cuban musicians tend to
over play, throwing down too many notes, too fast, it's the macho thing
trying to show everyone how much training they have had and how well versed
they are in a variety of styles, Roberto like Manuel doesn't follow that
pattern-thank you!

Arturo








A couple of new releases I'm really diggin':

Manuel Valera's "Vientos":  An early candidate for "Record of the Year",
IMHO (well, I know the Michael Brecker is going to get a lot of love for
this consideration, and rightly so, too) - I dig this guy's
compositions, energy, and sound.  Great production. Love his Rhodes
work.  This is Latin influenced jazz that everyone should be able to
relate to - very contemporary while maintaining continuity with the Jazz
and Latin idioms of the past.

Roberto Fonseca's "Zamazu":  If ever there is going to be a jazz album
or song that "crosses over" to be a big hit again, a la "Take Five", it
will come from a album like this: memorable melodies, great hooks,
catchy vamps.  Compositions that non-jazz fans might find compelling,
without being trite.  Another album with strong Latin roots that should
be enjoyable, and enjoyed, by all.