6 Guararé
7 Duermete
8 Raices Al Cielo
9 Mi Niña
10 Para Que Niegas
THE JOHN SANTOS QUINTET - PAPA MAMBO (2007)
World class Latin jazz for the dancers, listeners, and fans
John Santos - percussions
Orestes Vilatò - timabales John Calloway - flute Saul Sierra - bass Marco Diaz - Piano and special guests Jerry Medina Ray Vega Maria Marquez David Belove Murray Low Paul Van Wageningen Orlando Torriente Harold Muñiz Anthony Blea Javier Navarrette Jose Luis Gomez Ismael Rodriguez Barbara Valladares Beatriz Godinez Muñiz Reynalda Nuñez Iluminado Maldonado Carol Steele Taina Rodriguez Maiti Rodriguez Elena Pinderhughes
more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
review by Bruce Polin - courtesy www.descarga.com
Percussionist, composer and band-leader John Santos has led many orchestras including, but not limited to, the acclaimed Machete Orchestra and the folkloric ensemble El Coro Folklórico Kindembo. This CD is the debut release of The John Santos Quintet, and it's a beautiful palette of Afro-Latin jazz, mambo, descarga, and even a bolero-rumba, "Para Que Niegas," dedicated to Los Papines. With healthy amounts of improvisation and spirited sabor, the CD opens with the title track, "Papa Mambo," and it's a gorgeous and fitting tribute to the patriarch of mambo, Israel López "Cachao." The core quintet features Santos on percussion, the legendary timbalero Orestes Vilato, flautest John Calloway, bassist Saul Sierra and Marco Diaz on piano. The ensemble, joined by many guests including Jerry Medina, Ray Vega, Anthony Blea and Paul Van Wageningen, is a tight unit of musicians that clearly know, not only the repertoire, but the music's rich history and traditions. Nuance, restraint and clarity of vision, are the instruments of choice here. In staying the road, Santos creates pockets of polished gems. When these musicians talk, they have something real to say: listen as Vilato makes his timbales sing on "Raices al Cielo." Papa Mambo is Santo's finest work to date, and Very Highly Recommended. (BP, 2007-08-02)
