"My Summertime" is i of the finest achievements of a career that spanned one-half a century in addition to encompassed both the Salsa in addition to Jazz Worlds. When it was released inwards French Republic inwards 1995, it made Ray Barretto a star inwards that nation. It's non hard to encounter why. Barretto took several well-known standards, dearest songs such every bit Autumn Leaves in addition to When You Wish Upon a Star, in addition to made them new, inwards a Latin jazz vein. Some would state inwards an Instrumental Salsa vein, because of the danceability of these versions in addition to their adherence to the clave. But categories don't affair here. What's genuinely of import is that this is soulful, swinging, heartfelt music played past times a swell edition of Barretto's New World Spirit ensemble, which included Hector Martignon on piano, Michael Phillip Mossman on trumpet in addition to Adam Kolker on sax. The gem of the crown, however, is the rails titled "Summertime (Guajira)", inwards which Barretto -who inwards his younger years played congas for jazz luminaries such every bit Red Garland, Gene Ammons, Wes Montgomery, Lou Donaldson in addition to others- genuinely SINGS the lyrics to that tune, in addition to thence adds a few of his own, emphasizing the "strong mutual bond" of guajira in addition to the blues, "the 2 worlds that I love". It's a beautiful, unique functioning that grabs your heart in addition to mind.
To most fans, Ray Barretto is known every bit i of the Fania All Stars, i of the brightest Salsa leaders whose Fania albums are straight off classics. But he also loved jazz, in addition to when "hard salsa" went into a steep reject at the 1980s, he decided to pursue his jazz interests full-time. "My Summertime" was recorded afterward a dyad of albums for Concord Picante in addition to showcases New World Spirit at a really high musical point. Barretto made several skilful albums afterward this i (Contact, Portraits inwards Jazz in addition to Clave, Trancedance, Homage to Art Blakey, Time Was Time Is in addition to Standards Rican-Ditioned) all of which merit unopen inspection. But "My Summertime" was the album that inaugurated the final majestic piece of this dearest musician's life. It deserves a house on every Latin- or Latin jazz-lover's tape collection.
I accept known virtually Ray Barretto since I was a kid. Title cutting 'My Summertime' is a really rhytmic Guajida that wraps some a spoken dialogue virtually the musical form... 'from the people', in addition to makes a comparing of plain workers cutting saccharide cane inwards South America, in addition to the cotton fiber workers inwards the Southern US, amongst really tasty punctuation in addition to back upwardly from pianoforte in addition to percussions. Then the residuum of the musicians are introduced for the existent thing!
Track Listings
1. No Hay Problema (No Problem)
2. In Your Own Sweet Way
3. Brother Ray
4. When You Wish Upon Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Star
5. Autumn Leaves
6. While My Lady Sleeps
7. Off Minor
8. Fait Accompli
9. Summertime-(Guajira)
10. Worlds I Love
Personnel:
Percussion - Ray Barretto
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Jairo Moreno (2)
Congas, Mixed By, Edited By, Mastered By, Sequenced By – Ray Barretto
Drums – Vince Cherico
Guiro – Alfredo «Tito» Gonzalez* (tracks: 3, 9)
Piano – Hector Martignon
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Adam Kolker
Trumpet, Trombone, Flugelhorn – Michael Philip Mossman
Vocals – Ray Barretto (tracks: 9)
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