RAY MANTILLA - GOOD VIBRATIONS (2006)
Ray
Mantilla Percussion/leader
Enrique Fernandez Baritone sax & flute
Edy Martinez Piano
Mike Freeman
Vibes
Cucho Martinez Bass
Bill Elder Drums
Special Guest: Steve Berrios Percussion
Flying Home
5:33
Midnight Sun 6:56
Maria Cervantes
5:57
For Keeps 6:59
Ya No Me Quieres (Bolero For Tito) 4:36
Blues For Queen D
5:11
Camino Al Cielo Too 6:32
Namesake 4:58
Bari Con Bata 6:59
more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
review by Nic Jones - courtesy www.allaboutjazz.com
Politeness has always
been a dubious quality in music. It is, however, one of the most
obvious characteristics of this disc. With the exception of baritone
sax and flute player Enrique Fernandez, not one of the musicians
raises the heat. Instead, a bland uniformity prevails. The
percussionists dovetail without injecting the kind of rhythmic
impetus that would have elevated the material, and the results could
serve well as background music for cocktail parties. They would
certainly be unlikely to get in the way of conversation.
This fare is too buttoned up for its own good. "For Keeps" is
evidence only of rhythmic impetus held in check so as to maintain a
certain veneer, thus denying the ear the chance to home in on
something other than solos that are models of unnecessary discretion.
For all of its inherent melodic beauty, "Ya No Me Quieres (Bolero
For Tito)" has little of the refined melancholy which listeners
might associate with Antonio Carlos Jobim, for
example. Besides, it's handled with such delicacy that the listening
experience is an end in itself. The piece makes no lasting
impression.
In the midst of all this, a rendition of the old warhorse "Flying
Home" stands out beyond description. Fernandez's downright unruly
baritone sax lends some much-needed impetus here, and it's just a
pity that he plays it only on one other track.
If these players took on this music with the goal of not deviating
from the middle of the road, or indeed the upmarket hotel lobby,
then they've succeeded in that aim.
