|
SEVEN STOPS TO HEAVEN
|
|
CD 297
£
10.00 inc VAT
|
Add to Shopping Basket
|
"SEVEN STOPS TO HEAVEN" SLAMCD 297.
BARCODE 5028386029724
Robin Jones LATIN UNDERGROUND.
Robin Jones percussion, Gavin Broom trumpet, Nick Walker saxophone, Chris Kibble piano, Jonny Gee bass, Marc Cecil percussion.
VOTED "BEST OF 2014 LATIN RELEASE", NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD.
Robin writes:
"Seven Stops to Heaven" is the third album by "Latin Underground", formerly known as "The Robin Jones Latin Jazz Sextet". The object of the band has always been to fuse Latin, Jazz and some Funk, using original Latin and Jazz standards. We have always tried to have a very high standard of Jazz solos. I am proud to say that many of the best Jazz players around (many of whom have become Bandleaders in their own right) have graced the ranks of the band. We were recorded by a brilliant new engineer Nick Cecil. The originals, all by sax virtuoso Nick Walker, are of the usual high standard. The rhythms are original Latin, with some licence in the direction of the Jazz. We hope you like it.
Also available through all digital outlets, including:
|
Details
Reviews
|
CD Title Seven Stops to Heaven
Catalogue number SLAMCD 297
Artists Robin Jones' LATIN UNDERGROUND.
Musicians Robin Jones percussion, Gavin Broom trumpet, Nick Walker saxophone, Chris Kibble piano, Jonny Gee bass, Marc Cecil percussion.
Tracks
1 Night in Tunisia Gillespie/Paperelli 6:07
2 Passion Fruit Cuber 7:55
3 Laura Mercer/Raskin 5:44
4 Sputnikin Walker 4:48
5 Mambo Inn Bouza/Sampson/Woodlen 5:19
6 Song for Melissa Walker 5:22
7 No Text Please, we're British Walker 7:36
8 Which is Broom? Walker 5:47
9 Seven Steps to Heaven Feldman/Davis 4:02
Date and place of recording: BUCHS Recording Studio, Brentwood, England.
March 2011.
Recorded and mixed by Nick Cecil
As an amateur and solitary bongo player I leap on every new Lat –Am disc that comes my way to assess its play along potential. This release by Robin Jones’ brilliant ensemble is an ideal candidate but much too good to be overlaid and obscured by my feeble pattering, any attempts to emulate being summarily disarmed and blown away by virtuosity of such power and eloquence that one’s attention is immediately riveted.
One hardly knows whom to lavish praise upon first but in the opening number, an incandescent version of `Night in Tunisia`, Gavin Broom asserts his authority by soaring through the famous break into a solo that lifts the familiar piece to new heights of expressive fervour whilst Nick Walker on baritone combines the heft of Ronnie Cuber with the excoriating attack of Pepper Adams in an earthmoving synthesis that drives all before it.
In this context, of course, rhythm is king and vibrancy of the horns is elevated on a percussive swell created by the close knit yet flexible combination of kit and congas through which a powerful electric bass line weaves like a coiled serpent; add to this mix the punchy block chords of Kibble’s keyboard and you have a potent brew in which to ferment an intoxicating and exotic elixir.
Of the programme, four tracks, including the above mentioned `Tunisia` are standards and the remainder are originals by Walker with one by Ronnie Cuber, his alter ego. This is a gently swaying samba like tune called `Passion Flower` and it immediately precedes the saxophonist’s principle solo feature, the ballad `Laura` to which his rich timbre imparts a satisfying warmth. All the tunes are graced with highly melodic solo content and unflagging rhythmic commitment making for one of the most rewarding recitals of this type that I’ve enjoyed since Hilton Ruiz’s `El Camino`, a disc that I’ve long prized and alongside which this British manifestation of the Latin American genre deserves to be placed.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon Jazz Views,
http://www.jazzviews.net/robin-jonesrsquo-latin-underground---seven-stops-to-heaven.html
Kicking off, suitably ambitiously, with a fine, Latino-fired version of ‘A Night in Tunisia’, this third disc from the underrated British bandleader and conguero Robin Jones and his re-named Latin Underground (formerly Latin Jazz Sextet) is a solid effort that continues a mission to rework original Latin and jazz standards with a fusion of Latin, jazz and funk. It’s also a disc that rewards repeated listening. The multi-talented septuagenarian should be no stranger to readers of these pages; Jones has worked with everyone from Al Jarreau and Barney Kessel to drummers including Philly Joe Jones, and here his talented long-time crew of drummer Mark Cecil, pianist Chris Kibble and Saxophonist Nick Walker are joined by trumpeter Gavid Broom and electric bassist Johnny Gee on the likes of ‘Mambo Inn’ and Ronnie Cuber’s ‘Passion Fruit’. The four Walker originals scattered through the track listing work well, no small thanks perhaps to engineer Marc Cecil.
Jane Corrnwell Jazzwise September 2014
Ormai la musica latina ha conquistato il mondo ed è eseguita da musicisti che non sono proprio di origine sudamericana con lo stesso calore che ci si aspetta da chi è nato sotto il sole dei Caraibi. Questo gruppo inglese è guidato dal percussionista Robin Jones , fantastico ai tipici strumenti di questa tradizione: congas e bongos. Insieme a luialtri connazionali, un sestetto con le giovane star Gavin Broom alla tromba e Johnny Gee al basso elettrico. E poi il sax baritono di Nick Walker, Chris Kibble al pianoforte e Marc Cecil alla batteria. Quello che ci fanno ascoltare è un latin jazz di altissimo livello, come anni fa ce lo aveva proposto in Italia ad esempio un Ray Mantilla. Accanto a classici del genere come il famosissimo Night in Tunisia scritto dal fondatore del genere, e cioè Dizzy Gillespie, ci sono diversi brani originali scritti da Nick Walter, che è anche l´arrangiatore del gruppo, ed un paio di standard che non possono mancare in ogni disco di jazz. Accanto alla spumeggiante miscela di ritmi che invita a ballare ci sono delle ballad, come la famosa Laura di Mercer/Raskin, in cui Nick Walter si esibisce da solo prima che entri il gruppo con il tema e Gavin Broom prenda un assolo alla tromba molto lirico, ricco di quel calore che ci si aspetta in brani di questo tipo. Il mondo latino di Robin Jones pur arrivando dalla Londra di oggi funziona perfettamente, come se venisse dai posti in cui questa musica ha le sue origini. I musicisti interpretano i brani con grande calore, esperti sia a ridare l´aspetto swingante del jazz, vedasi il bravo pianista Chris Kibble e la sezione ritmica, che quello più caliente del latin jazz fatto dai corifei del genere. Tra assoli del leader Robin Jones e degli altri del gruppo il disco scorre veloce, una perfetta colonna sonora per l´estate.
Vittorio lo Conte http://www.musiczoom.it/?p=20635
TRANSLATION Now the Latin music has conquered the world and is performed by musicians who are not just of South American origin with the same heat that is expected of those who are born under the Caribbean sun. This English group is led by percussionist Robin Jones , El fantastico . Typical instruments of this tradition: congas and bongos. With him other fellow, a sextet with the young star to Gavin Broom Johnny Gee trumpet and electric bass. And then the baritone sax of Nick Walker, Chris Kibble on piano and Marc Cecil on drums. that make us listen is a latin jazz at the highest level, as years ago we had proposed in Italy as Ray Mantilla. next to classics of the genre like the famous Night in Tunisia written by the founder of the genre, namely Dizzy Gillespie, there are several original songs written by Nick Walter, who is also the arranger of the group, and a pair of standard that can not miss in each disk jazz. Next to the foamy mixture of rhythms that invites us to dance are ballads, such as the famous Laura Mercer / Raskin, in which Nick Walter performs alone before it enters the group with the theme and Gavin Broom takes a solo on the trumpet very lyrical, rich the warmth that one would expect in this kind of songs. The Latin world Robin Jones but arrived from London today works perfectly, as if it came from places where this music has its origins. The musicians interpret songs with great warmth, both experts to give the appearance of swinging jazz, see the talented pianist Chris Kibble and the rhythm section, that one of the most caliente latin jazz made by the Princes of the genre. Between solos leader Robin Jones and the other group the hard rush, a perfect column Sound for the summer.
Vittorio lo Conte http://www.musiczoom.it/?p=20635
Latin percussionist Robin Jones releases a wonderful nine-track CD the joyfulness of which is there for all to hear. Strong covers of Night in Tunisia, Passion Fruit and Mambo Inn vie with new material like Sputnikin to grab the listener. Try the following No Text Please .. We're British: the sextet swings and swings hard. Brilliant.
Laurence Prangell Echoes August 2014
Conga master Robin Jones puts together a swinging salsa team of Nick Walker/bari-fl, Gavin Broom/tp, Chris Kibble/p, Jonny Gee/b and Marc Cecil/perc for a mix of jazz standards and originals. He, together with Cecil and Gee lay down a sizzling foundation that serves as a catapult for the soloists. Broom's trumpet is Lee Morgan-piercing on an exciting take of "Night In Tunisia" while Walker's baritone sax opens up bel canto before the rhythm comes in for a grandiose take of "Laura." Kibble's piano does a wonderful dance with Gee in "Passion Fruit" before changing partners and dips and dives with Jones to close the song. Trumpet and flute float over a lovely "Song for Melissa" while the percussion saunters over "Which is Broom?" before the congas take over on a sizzling reading of the title track. Latin lovers will flock to this one. George W. Harris�September 11, 2014 http://www.jazzweekly.com/2014/09/robin-jones-latin-underground-seven-steps-to-heaven/
|
|