BLUE MAMBO - BLUE MAMBO (2008)

A driving two horn Latin-Jazz group with a commercial sound lead by guitarist Charles Alletto and drummer Victor Rendón. The ensemble brings a group of veteran musicians with a wide variety of experience in the field.

Charles Alletto Co-leader, guitar
Victor Rendon Co-leader, drums, timbales, temple blocks, quijada, handbell, clave, triangle, bata drums
Guido Gonzalez Trumpet, flugelhorn
Al Acosta Tenor sax, flute, soprano sax
Joe Manozzi Keyboard
Solo Rodriguez Bass
Yasuyo Kimura Congas, shaker, agogo bell, shekere, guiro

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Review by Paul J. Youngman - KJA Advocate for WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET

Blue Mambo is a new release by Charles Alletto, guitarist and Victor Rendon, drummer and percussionist. A Latin jazz fusion that burns with intensity, the co-leaders are joined by a group of five talented musicians who deliver heart and soul on the leaders original compositions. A great recording for Latin dance enthusiasts, as the name suggests it’s all about Mambo, with some Salsa, Rumba and Cha Cha patterns mixed in providing an exciting dance floor experience. The diversity of the music continues with a groove happy feel that at times leans towards funk, blues and jazz. The funk, especially on guitar and bass fills, jazz on the horn fills, with a constant Latin percussive drive, care of the powerful rhythm section.

Rendon is an experienced drummer and percussionist having co-led his previous band the Latin Jazz Orchestra through two releases Juarez (Tortilla Flat 1993) and Havana Blues (Palmetto Records 1998) as well as appearing as a guest artist on numerous recordings. He has worked with such legendary musicians as Mongo Santamaria, Chico O’Farrill and Carlos “Patato” Valdés. Victor Rendon is also an educator and an author.

Charles Alletto is an accomplished Guitarist, composer and arranger; he has performed as a sideman with some of the biggest Latin Jazz names over the past 30 years. He is also a member of the Latin, Jazz septet Mambo Negro and is a member of the Lehman College Latin Jazz Big Band.

Blue Mambo opens with a bass guitar intro by Solo Rodriguez, a slide along the neck of the bass to land on a solid down beat and a bass heavy driving rhythm that immediately kick starts the groove. A happy groove it is, “Café Sin Leche” a fast paced Latin swing number that has the feel of a big band, with an excellent trumpet solo by Guido Gonzalez, this song puts you in the festive mood right off the hop.

Through ten original compositions, co-written and arranged by Alletto and Rendon the energy level, the excitement, the rich, full sounding Latin pulse never lets up. There are different levels of excitement, the strong fast paced rhythm continues on the song “Gabriella” with dynamic bridges leading to solos of the smooth jazz variety with trumpet by Gonzalez and flute by Al Acosta.  

The playing on the song “Get It While You Can” is the most removed from the Latin feel, although the drums and percussion maintain the backdrop of Latin beats while the piano player Joe Manozzi and bassist Rodriguez lay down a boogie woogie feel that makes for a great backdrop to Gonzalez’s flugelhorn solo. The response by Alletto is in a bluesy style with country twang and a rockin-roll strum, guitar licks that are fluid and funky. Al Acosta on tenor saxophone also plays along but takes the path of a jazz stylist and produces some mellow toned, counter harmony that makes for a great listen.    

The solid percussion section is for the most part handled by Yasuyo Kimura, working the congas, shaker, agogo bell, shekere and guiro. The rest of the percussion section, drum kit, timbales, temple blocks, clave and bata drum are by co-leader Victor Rendon.

The primary focus of Blue Mambo is on the heavy bass and percussion section, the pulse of the music, the drive, the Latin Mambo dance feel, are all care of this solid clave producing team. The part that allows it to be a great listen as well, is care of the dynamic and spirited lead instrumentalists, keys, guitar, trumpet and sax all working in harmony to produce a delightful recording. 

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