Patato, the history-making pioneer of the modern Latin three-conga style, is the most melodic and the most African of all the Cuban congueros I’ve heard. You’ll never hear the gorgeous attack and resonance of his congas better than here. We put him front-and-center, accompanied by a quintet of Latin horns. Bound For Sound drooled over this one: “…another crazy, zany, free-flow musical expression…Just your basic eclectic combination of Latin percussion, South American rhythms, jazz brass and funk baritone sax…Wonderfully rhythmic and infectious…so sonically superior it’s scary…Recording of Merit.” (#04632)

Enrique Fernandez, flute/alto & tenor sax
John Purcell, saxello/alto flute/English horn
Siraj, flute/soprano & alto sax
Hamiet Bluiett, contrabass clarinet
Patato Valdez, congas/maracas/guiro

TRACK LISTING:

REVIEWS:

Bound For Sound:
reviewed by Marty

Recording of Merit. Yes, this is another crazy, zany, free flow musical expression from recording genius Pierre Sprey. And to be quite honest, it's getting tiresome telling everyone that the latest Mapleshade recording may have the finest recorded sound ever put to tape, but Pierre's done it again. This recording is so sonically superior it's scary; and the music ain't bad either! No old standards here to recognize. Just your basic eclectic combination of Latin percussion, South American rhythms, jazz brass and funk baritone sax. Nothing unusual about that is there? But it's all very listenable stuff, and not of the "we didn't rehearse until we sat down" variety at all. And even if the above description doesn't sound like your ordinary 19th century classical music composition, give this recording a chance to grow on you, because it will. Wonderfully rhythmic and infectious, the acoustic colors bounce with energy without ever saturating your ability to digest it all. Add to that one of the most sonically realistic portrayals of an unplugged sextet ever made, and one goes for the repeat button.

May 1997

Cadence:
reviewed by David Lewis

In contrast, seventy year old Cuban conga master Patato Valdez never had a more vibrant showcase than with The Enriquillo Winds under the direction of Dominican multi-reed player Enrique Fernandez who composed most of the program. Melodia Para Congas: Jungle and the Saxophone (Mapleshade 04632) is an inspired addition to Hamiet Bluiett's Mapleshade Explorations series. Recorded center stage on five congas, the resonance of Patato's drumming is reproduced in warm detail during vibrant dialogues with Pablo Calogero's baritone sax in Monko, Falling From Grace and the spicy lyricism and lively exchanges of his three duos with Fernandez (Viaje A Punto Fijo/ Son De Patato/ Dat Guloya Swing). The solo tunig of skins is documented on this CD's concluding performance Afinando Los Cueros. While I'm not a big Latin music enthusiast, this session is a very special showcase for some wonderful, inventive music. Highly recommended.

November 1997