Offense Of The Drum, The
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2014-05-18
Reviewed 2014-05-18
ARTURO O’FARRILL & THE A.L.J.O.: Offense of the Drum
Motéma, 2014
LATIN JAZZ – A unique set of modern Latin jazz from the 18-piece Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, blending in percussion instruments from all over the planet (the overarching theme here is drums as a unifying force). #1 is led by a harp (and it jams!). #2 brings in turntables and spoken-word poetry. #6 has ultra-modernist Vijay Iyer on piano. #7 has a taiko drummer… See what I mean? Unique. And excellent. Play it.
Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9
1. 9:13 – harp starts a hard groove; gliding trumpet solo, then harp jabs away
2. 7:27 – a history of Puerto Ricans in the US: political spoken word, DJ Logic on turntables, rhythms from bomba to salsa to reggaeton. Damn!
3. 9:46 – orchestral swirl, then a romp across jazz history, ragtime, and latin
4. 6:56 – heavy march based on Colombian music, with Ellingtonian touches
5. 6:29 – dramatic intro, slow moaning Flamenco vocal & accordion, exotic sax
6. 8:27 – modern: relaxed tempo, complex layers, great piano & trumpet work
7. 11:41 – starts as a lament, changes to a percussion-driven stroll with strong sax, then hot drums spar with the horns in the uptempo second half
8. 6:22 – smoldering, danceable piece: a more standard latin big-band sound
9. 7:02 – strutting “Iko Iko” opens up in middle; jolly Donald Harrison vocal/sax
[ Fo ] - 18 May 2014
Motéma, 2014
LATIN JAZZ – A unique set of modern Latin jazz from the 18-piece Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, blending in percussion instruments from all over the planet (the overarching theme here is drums as a unifying force). #1 is led by a harp (and it jams!). #2 brings in turntables and spoken-word poetry. #6 has ultra-modernist Vijay Iyer on piano. #7 has a taiko drummer… See what I mean? Unique. And excellent. Play it.
Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9
1. 9:13 – harp starts a hard groove; gliding trumpet solo, then harp jabs away
2. 7:27 – a history of Puerto Ricans in the US: political spoken word, DJ Logic on turntables, rhythms from bomba to salsa to reggaeton. Damn!
3. 9:46 – orchestral swirl, then a romp across jazz history, ragtime, and latin
4. 6:56 – heavy march based on Colombian music, with Ellingtonian touches
5. 6:29 – dramatic intro, slow moaning Flamenco vocal & accordion, exotic sax
6. 8:27 – modern: relaxed tempo, complex layers, great piano & trumpet work
7. 11:41 – starts as a lament, changes to a percussion-driven stroll with strong sax, then hot drums spar with the horns in the uptempo second half
8. 6:22 – smoldering, danceable piece: a more standard latin big-band sound
9. 7:02 – strutting “Iko Iko” opens up in middle; jolly Donald Harrison vocal/sax
[ Fo ] - 18 May 2014
Recent airplay
On The Corner Of Malecón And Bourbon
Music Casserole — Oct 08, 2022
Iko Iko
Traditions — Mar 01, 2019
The Mad Hatter
No Cover, No Minimum — Sep 28, 2017
They Came
The Sunset Life — Jul 17, 2014
The Mad Hatter
Rebop — Jul 11, 2014
Mercado En Domingo
Music Casserole — Jul 05, 2014
Charting
2014-05-16 — 2014-07-18
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Jul 20 | 1 |
| Jul 13 | 1 |
| Jul 6 | 2 |
| Jun 22 | 2 |
| Jun 15 | 4 |
| Jun 8 | 3 |
| Jun 1 | 2 |
| May 25 | 2 |
Track listing
| 1. | Cuarto De Colores | ||
| 2. | They Came | ||
| 3. | On The Corner Of Malecón And Bourbon | ||
| 4. | Mercado En Domingo | ||
| 5. | Gnossienne 3 (Tientos) | ||
| 6. | The Mad Hatter | ||
| 7. | The Offense Of The Drum | ||
| 8. | Alma Vacía | ||
| 9. | Iko Iko |