The Sheller sound of today is humbly described
by its creator as "jazz with a Latin feeling,"
but let me tell you, the jazz is burning and the
Latin is swinging! Marty gives us three original
compositions: Wayne Shorter's Mahjong, the
standard Sweet & Lovely, and the title track
original, written by Bobby Porcelli. The music
breathes freely, with ample space that lets the
intriguing melodic themes and interludes unfold.
It also gives the soloists plenty of room to
improvise.
The cast on board is a seasoned and talented
bunch made up of Oscar Hernández (piano), Rubén
Rodríguez (bass), Steve Berrios (percussion),
Vince Cherico (drums), Bob Franceschini (tenor
sax), Bobby Porcelli (alto sax), Sam Burtis
(trombone), and trumpeters Joe Morganelli and
Chris Rogers, the son of Barry Rogers. Sheller's
The Route 40 Flyer is a real cooker that opens
the album with a bold statement. Cherico drives
the band with big band-style propulsion.
Franceschini grabs the burning tempo and tames
it with an energetic solo on tenor sax.
El
Pavo is a 6/8 piece that has that certain Mongo
stamp on it and is further highlighted by
Magnarelli. But it is Bobby Porcelli, an old
friend and colleague of Marty's, who shines on
several selections on alto sax.
This albura is a must for serious jazz fans who
dig in-the-pocket, straight-ahead jazz-Latin
with virtuosic performances. There is an
intrinsic beauty and style on Why Deny that
reminds the listener of Art Blakey's Jazz
Messengers, Horace Silver, and yes, the Mongo
bands of the 1960s. The musicality is superb and
is a credit to the unsung talent of Marty
Sheller, who proves his place in jazz history as
a master of his artistic craft.