Eddie Palmieri Shines with Strong Latin Jazz Group
Eddie Palmieri has not lost a beat regarding knowing how to put on a good Latin music show for the audience to enjoy.
Mr. Palmieri, a 9-time Grammy Award winner, has a solid group of star musicians that help him sizzle the stage with vibrant notes and infectious harmony.
The Jazz Alley is a magnificent venue to watch any show, and Eddie Palmieri shined with his Latin Jazz group of starts. Veteran trumpet player and Grammy Award winner Brian Lynch is joined in metals by Cuban sensation Yosvany Terry in alto saxophone. Both Brian Lynch and Yosvany Terry’s solos were simply mesmerizing.
Their ability to go up and down the scale in perfect harmony and exquisite musicality stands them apart. Brian Lynch demonstrated why he got a Grammy for his Latin Jazz release “Simpatico”, in which he invited maestro Palmieri to collaborate in a reversal of bandleader roles and which gave Mr. Palmieri his 9th Grammy.
You can get more information on Brian Lynch’s work at his site HERE. Yosvany Terry left no doubt why he’s one of the hottest young talents these days. He can go toe-to-toe on the alto sax with anyone I’ve heard, including fellow Cuban Paquito D’Rivera and the late Latin music great Dominican Mario Rivera.
The percussion section is anchored by veteran master “conguero” Vincent “Little Johnny” Rivero, known for being part of the glory years of the Sonora Ponceña, where he played for 16 years, and is now in his 9th with maestro Palmieri.
Little Johnny’s tumbao is deeply rooted in the Cuban rhythms used in Salsa and Latin music. Papo Lucca likes to exploit this in his Sonora Ponceña. But Little Johnny has continued to mature as a percussionist and kept lifting the band with his 3-conga drums. He continuously injected savvy cuts in top of the “tumbao”, and captivated the audience with solos which showcased his mastery of the instrument.
Jose Claussell did well in holding his turf on timbales, and along with bongo player Orlando Vega, the percussion section sounded as one solid unit. They displayed the type of “afinque” (joint sound – I guess is the best way to translate the term) these master musicians have achieved by playing together for several years. The band is rounded by the young and very talented Luques Curtis on bass. Luques performed some impressive solos and held the rhythm with great mastery.
In conversations with both Eddie Palmieri and with his son, who manages the business aspect of the group, they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to keep busy showcasing their art around the world. Palmieri did share the concern that we need to attract the younger audience, as they have new genres to compete for their music preference. There weren’t that many young faces in the audience for the show I attended.