Espresso Jazz  provides this page for jazz commentary.

CD Review: Jane Bunnett & The Spirits Of Havana-  Ritmo & Soul

Label: Bluenote
Personnel: Jane Bunnett - soprano sax, flute, Larry Cramer- trumpet, Hilario Duran- piano, Roberto Occhipinti -acoustic bass, Njacko Backo-kalimba, voice, Ernest "El Gato" Gatell-batas and voice, Dean Bowman-voice, Dafnis Prieto-drums, Lucumi-batas and congas, Pancho Quinto-batas, cajone & congas

Nearly 15 years before Ry Cooder embarked on his now-famous Buena Vista Social Club project, flutist / soprano saxophonist, Jane Bunnett was quietly immersing herself in a study of the Cuban musical idiom. Over the years her quest has resulted in collaborations with the island’s noted conservatory pianists, folkloric groups, vocal choirs, bateria’s, and a project for four flutes plus rhythm called the Havana Flute Summit. While most of her projects have consisted of improvising within proscribed ethnic contexts, the latest Spirits of Havana is a departure into her original compositions as informed by various Cuban traditions.

Ritmo + Soul employs a sort of role reversal for Bunnett and her husband, the trumpeter and producer Larry Cramer, in that they have created here a vehicle for the rest of the band to stretch beyond the limits of genre and to improvise over newly created forms. The result is a satisfyingly rich aggregation that includes African American gospel, Cubano hip-hop, a piece for African kalimba in combination with bata drumming and much more.

If there’s a common thread that runs through all this musical variety it is jazz improvisation. With this recording Spirits of Havana take their place in the ranks of improvising Latin jazz bands such as Ray Barretto’s New World Spirit, Jerry Gonzales’ Fort Apache Band, and John Santos’ Machete’ Ensemble.

 - Richard Mayer

Return to  Mayer Archives

This site and all its content is
Copyright © 2007 Espresso Jazz Network
All Rights Reserved Worldwide