Brazos Abiertos

JOHN SANTOS & MACHETE ENSEMBLE – “Brazos Abiertos”
Machete Records, 2003

One of the biggest and best Latin Jazz ensembles in the Bay Area, John Santos’ band continues to deliver strong grooves that span several Latin idioms, starring a virtual who’s who of the local scene. I don't think this is their strongest outing, but it’s a pleasant listen with lots of hip-shaking breaks.

Trombone master Steve Turre and bassist Andy Gonzalez guest on track 1. Don't miss track 10, which is really great.

Fo’s picks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 10

1. 6:59 – long intro; midtempo bomba + rumba rhythms, solos: trombone, perc
2. 6:05 – light guaracha, relaxed vocal by Orlando Torriente; heats up later
3. 5:48 – light-hearted Puerto Rican plena, second half good and loose
4. 7:35 – suite: nature sounds, abstraction, angular groove; bass clarinet lead
5. 4:38 – Afro-Cuban inst., shifting rhythms; solos for tenor sax & timbales
6. 5:29 – sweet “son-chá”, a laid-back Cuban dance number w/a swaying beat
7. 5:10 – midtempo guaracha, airy and flowing: a positive call to action
8. 6:04 – soul-merengue, smooth and upbeat. English vocal, hot in the middle.
9. 6:14 – low-key and a bit mysterious, then fast percussion-based groove
10. 6:52 – wow! a unique mix of Yoruba chant and bluesy gospel vocals (four singers share the lead): slow tempo. Nice flute solo too!

[ Fo ] – 11/30/2004