That Jazz - Monkey Max Music and File Download

Hilton Ruiz
Ruiz (born 1952) grew up in New York City playing classical music, jazz, and
Latin jazz. As a teen, he played in a Latin soul band; his jazz mentor was
pianist Mary Lou Williams.
Ruiz shows his range on recordings such as Manhattan Mambo (Telarc),
Hands on Percussion (Sony) with timbales king Tito Puente and Heroes
(Telarc) — a collection of jazz tunes by some of his heroes, such as Dizzy
Gillespie’s “Con Alma” and Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage.”
Chucho Valdes
Chapter 9: The Perfect Hybrid: Latin Jazz
Born in Cuba, this bandleader and pianist (born 1941) founded the Cuban
jazz ensemble Irakere in the 1970s, and he also plays wonderful Afro-Cuban–
flavored jazz piano, inspired by jazz pianists Bill Evans, Art Tatum, and McCoy
Tyner. He won a Grammy in 1998 for the album Habana (Polygram) — his collaboration
with trumpeter Roy Hargrove. It’s a prime example of Valdes’ own
take on Latin jazz, distinguished by his blindingly fast improvisations. Today,
Valdes is respected not only as a musician but also as the founder of the
Havana Jazz Festival.
Other Latin musicians worth watching
The list of excellent Latin players can extend for pages, but it’s too large to go
into depth on everyone, so here’s the short list of bands worth checking out,
including a song for your listening pleasure. (The recording company is in
parentheses.) These selections are worth your time:
� Afro-Cuban All-Stars, A Toto Cuba Le Gusta (Nonesuch)
� Francisco Aguabella, Ochimini (Cubop)
� Azymuth, Crazy Rhythm (Milestone)
� Bongo Logic, Tipiqueros (RykoLatino)
� Wilson “Chembo” Corniel, Portrait in Rhythms (Mambo Maniacs)
� Conrad Herwig, The Latin Side of John Coltrane (Astor Place)
� Bobby Matos, Footprints (Ubiquity), also featuring Jerry Gonzalez
� Manny Oquendo and Libre, any of their albums
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