Esta Plena
Jazz
| Dec 2009
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2010-01-17
Reviewed 2010-01-17
MIGUEL ZENÓN: Esta Plena
Marsalis Music, 2009
MODERN/LATIN JAZZ – Acclaimed saxophonist Miguel Zenón digs deep into la plena, the street music of his native Puerto Rico, then merges the rhythms and cadences of that music with his own modern jazz sensibility. Zenón has an easily recognizable sound on alto: fast, dynamic, and percolating. The music sometimes bounces abruptly from one world to the other, but his quartet (supplemented by three vocalist/percussionists) keeps pace with deceptive ease. Very good!
Miguel Zenón - alto saxophone
Luis Perdomo - piano
Hans Glawischnig - bass
Henry Cole - drums
Héctor "Tito" Matos - lead vocals, percussion
Obanilú Allende, Juan Gutiérrez - vocals & percussion
* * * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
1. 7:05 – hot drums, swirling sax wails away, taking simple melody to the sky
2. 7:48 – vocal refrain, deep rhythm, dramatic instrumental middle section
3. 6:16 – nice vocal tune, relaxed and chant-like; sax explores its edges
4. 4:53 – quick-paced and twisty instrumental; sounds damned difficult to play
5. 8:25 – tender, soulful vocal; glides softly & reaches high with emotion
6. 4:38 – solo bass intro; bittersweet piano/sax melody moans, calls out
7. 8:59 – great sound here: brooding start, but light bursts through the clouds
8. 8:01 – excellent! uptempo vocal, surging band, dramatic and very strong
9. 9:17 – solo piano intro; calm and deeply moody with some powerful surges
10. 6:50 – “Auld Lang Syne”(!) drifts into speedy, hard-hitting latin-jazz romp
[ Fo ] 01/17/10
Marsalis Music, 2009
MODERN/LATIN JAZZ – Acclaimed saxophonist Miguel Zenón digs deep into la plena, the street music of his native Puerto Rico, then merges the rhythms and cadences of that music with his own modern jazz sensibility. Zenón has an easily recognizable sound on alto: fast, dynamic, and percolating. The music sometimes bounces abruptly from one world to the other, but his quartet (supplemented by three vocalist/percussionists) keeps pace with deceptive ease. Very good!
Miguel Zenón - alto saxophone
Luis Perdomo - piano
Hans Glawischnig - bass
Henry Cole - drums
Héctor "Tito" Matos - lead vocals, percussion
Obanilú Allende, Juan Gutiérrez - vocals & percussion
* * * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
1. 7:05 – hot drums, swirling sax wails away, taking simple melody to the sky
2. 7:48 – vocal refrain, deep rhythm, dramatic instrumental middle section
3. 6:16 – nice vocal tune, relaxed and chant-like; sax explores its edges
4. 4:53 – quick-paced and twisty instrumental; sounds damned difficult to play
5. 8:25 – tender, soulful vocal; glides softly & reaches high with emotion
6. 4:38 – solo bass intro; bittersweet piano/sax melody moans, calls out
7. 8:59 – great sound here: brooding start, but light bursts through the clouds
8. 8:01 – excellent! uptempo vocal, surging band, dramatic and very strong
9. 9:17 – solo piano intro; calm and deeply moody with some powerful surges
10. 6:50 – “Auld Lang Syne”(!) drifts into speedy, hard-hitting latin-jazz romp
[ Fo ] 01/17/10
Recent airplay
Calle Calma
Rebop — Nov 15, 2011
Despedida
No Cover, No Minimum — Oct 07, 2011
Qué Será De Puerto Rico?
No Cover, No Minimum — Jun 10, 2011
Oyelo
No Cover, No Minimum — Sep 05, 2010
Qué Será De Puerto Rico?
No Cover, No Minimum — Mar 12, 2010
Qué Será De Puerto Rico?
Smartie Pop — Mar 09, 2010
Charting
2010-01-17 — 2010-03-21
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Mar 14 | 2 |
| Feb 14 | 1 |
| Feb 7 | 1 |
| Jan 31 | 2 |
| Jan 24 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Villa Palmeras | ||
| 2. | Esta Plena | ||
| 3. | Oyelo | ||
| 4. | Residencial Llorens Torres | ||
| 5. | Pandero Y Pagode | ||
| 6. | Calle Calma | ||
| 7. | Villa Coope | ||
| 8. | Qué Será De Puerto Rico? | ||
| 9. | Progreso | ||
| 10. | Despedida |