Search - Gilbert Castellanos :: Underground

The finest living Jazz trumpeter

Peachy Honduras | 07/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Underground is a truly inspired collection of music. The sound is very reminiscent of Lee Morgan (he even covers a Morgan song) and early 1960's Bluenote. Though I think the most remarkable aspects of this CD are the original compositions. "Marlo" in my opinion is a classic. It stands up to anything ever written by the hard bop greats. There are very few great jazz musicians who are technically gifted and at the same time recognize the importance of great tone, Gilbert Castellanos is one of them."

Monstrous Effort By a Young Lion

J.D. Grayson | Portland, OR United States | 07/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Castellanos' second effort as a leader. The general comparison to early 60's Blue Note is apt, as is the more specific comparison to Lee Morgan; however, Castellanos infuses his jazz with not only soul, but a Latin flavor, too. Castellanos' work also recalls Clifford Brown with his dexterity and Freddie Hubbard with his swing. His arrangements have a "big" sound, perhaps shaped by his work with the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. These original compositions are top-notch; I especially liked "High Febvre." This album is as good as straight ahead jazz gets and his sidemen (including celebrated guitarist Anthony Wilson and Kevin Kanner, a drummer with big time hard bop chops) are more than up to the task in this session."