OK. I'm a sucker for this stuff.
Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 08/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What's that, you say? Highly refined, brilliantly executed Latin jazz. And there are few better than the CJP.
I really like the new core band: longtime leader Dave Samuels, vibes and marimba; Alain Mallet, piano and organ; Boris Koslov, a name new to me, acoustic bass; Dafnis Prieto, drums; and Robert Quintero, percussion. This group appears on four of the tracks. On two others, the band is augmented by violinist Christian Howes, a member of Dafnis Prieto's killer group featured on his latest release, Absolute Quintet. The remaining three selections feature original CJP members Paquito D'Rivera (alto sax) and Andy Narell (steel drums).
Dafnis Prieto brings a huge kick in the butt with his burning drum conception, and Quintero jacks the proceedings up a notch with some righteous percussion. Indeed, this slightly thread-worn outfit seems completely revitalized. Even the tracks featuring D'Rivera and Narell cook with unexpected juice, lacking, at least to these ears, in the original band configuration. Narell, especially seems very energized.
If you have even the slightest inclination to music of this type, you should drop everything and acquire this entirely wonderful disc. Absolutely not to be missed."