Hi,
a new review for last fantastic Hilario's Cd on air on
RADIOVINILEMANIA in Italy

http://www.vinilemania.net/vHILARIODURAN.htm

Ciao ciao P

courtesy: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/

From The Heart
Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band | Alma Records (2006)
By Edward Blanco

One of the premier exponents of Latin jazz, the Cuban-born, Toronto-
based pianist extraordinaire Hilario Duran realizes a lifelong dream
by making his first big band recording, which came, as the title
implies, truly From The Heart. Joined by two other jazz greats from
the island, celebrated saxophonist/clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera and
drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Duran's twenty-piece Latin
Jazz Big Band swings and bounces all around the leader's
rhythmically rich compositions and arrangements.

It would be unfair to categorize this album as a Cuban project,
considering the many non-Cuban musicians that grace it, however the
band does include a good share of Cuban-born players, like
percussionists Joaquin Hidalgo and Rosendo "Chendy" Leon, propelling
the rhythm section, and trumpeter Alexis Baro, leading the horns.
The result is a large dose of some pretty good hip and shoulder-
moving Latin grind music. The album features six original charts,
including "Paq Man," a burner of a number dedicated to the Grammy
Award winning saxophonist D'Rivera, who contributes several blazing
clarinet solos, and the pianist is all over the keys.


Kicking off with a salsa/mambo beat, Duran's version of the Chucho
Valdes piece "Mambo Influenciado" is a head-bopping, raunchy score
with a rousing big band orchestration featuring D'Rivera and Duran
on power solos. The title cut is a bit more subdued, with less of an
obvious Latin-shaded tone, but it does provide space for the leader
to play. The band is prominently featured on daughter Yailen Duran's
original "Habanera in Spain," with fine section work by the group
and notable solos by Alexis Baro (trumpet), Jeff King (tenor), Rob
Piltch (guitar) and Duran.

Adding a softer spin to the theme is one of my favorite numbers: the
Dione Taylor vocals of the slow Matt Denis piece "Angel Eyes,"
recorded in Moscow with the Globalis Orchestra strings. Other
notable tracks include "T'Dot Cha Cha Cha," the very
percussive "Blen Blen Blen," and the breezy "Farewell" finale,
featuring another D'Rivera alto performance and some piano finesse
by Duran.

This album is of particular interest to me, since I happen to share
the same cultural background as the pianist. Though I was born in
the US, my Cuban roots sprouted again when I heard From The Heart.
Duran's blend of traditional big band sounds with hot salsa and
creative Latin jazz melodies produces a sensational Latin-style big
band experience. Duran does one heck of a job providing exciting
charts, arrangements and a stellar performance confirming the praise
from the great pianist Chucho Valdes, who called Duran "one of the
greatest Stone and Spin Cuban pianists of all times."



Track listing: Mambo Influenciado; From The Heart; Habanera In
Spain; Angel Eyes; PAQ Man; T'Dot Cha Cha Cha; Moon Face Again;
Rumba for Chano; Blem Blem Blem; Farewell.

Personnel: Hiario Duran: leader, piano; Horacio "El Negro"
Hernandez: drums; Roberto Occhipinti: bass; Rob Piltch: guitar;
Rosendo "Chendy" Leon: timbales; Joaquin Hidalgo: congas, bongo,
guiro; Alexis Baro, Alex Kundakcioglu, Brian Okane, Jason Logue:
trumpets; Paquito D'Rivera: Alto and clarinet; John Johnson, Luis
Denis, Vern Dorge: alto saxophone; Quinson Nachoff, Jeff King: tenor
saxophone; Perry White, Pol Coussee: baritone saxophone; Alister
Kay, Phil Gray, William Carn, Colin Murray: trombone; Dione Taylor:
vocals.