Hi,
a new review for last Edsel's CD on air on radiovinilemania in Italy

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

Ciao ciao P

courtesy: http://www.allaboutjazz.com


By Ernest Barteldes

Puerto Rican pianist Edsel Gomez lived in Brazil for ten years, and
that country's influence is evident in his playing. His Caribbean
roots have not been lost, however, and a blend of those different
tendencies is evident on Gomez's debut as a leader.
One of the first tracks that stands out on Cubist Music is "Lady
Bug," a blend of Latin and bebop with horns (played by Don Byron,
David Sanchez, Miguel Zenon, Steve Wilson and Greg Tardy) coming
together for a fiery intro that moves quickly into a Cuban-esque
groove. At Jazz Standard last month, the Latin influence of the
piece was kept clear by the piano, but the rest of the live band
(James Zollar, Wilson, Peter Brainin, Kenny Davis, Henry Cole) took
the song elsewhere.

"Juan Tizol" is a blues-inspired tune which is so subtle that any
distraction might disrupt one's concentration. When played live,
conversations taking place came to a halt, the audience quickly
becoming entranced. On another bluesy tune, "The Minetta Triangle,"
Gomez clearly borrows from Vince Guaraldi, and both David Sanchez
and Don Byron have fun performing a call-and-response improvisation
around the theme.

"Coqui Serenade" makes evident Gomez's debt to Antonio Carlos Jobim—
there is a clear bossa nova element here, especially in Bruce Cox's
drumming and the soft touch on the piano. The rest of the band also
plays very softly, bringing to mind a remark by Frank Sinatra's
trombonist during the making of the Jobim-Sinatra album in 1967: "If
I blow any softer, it'll come out of the back of my head!"

Although the album is comprised mostly of Gomez originals, he also
plays compositions by other writers in live performance. At Jazz
Standard, he took on Chico Buarque's "Samba de Orly" with a markedly
different approach from the original, yet preserved its samba feel
(which meant that Cole had to keep the beat steady while the others
played more freely). The sextet showed great skill and took
advantage of magnificent opportunities to showcase individual talent—
Buarque would be proud.

Visit Edsel Gomez on the web.


Track listing: NYC Taxi Ride; To The Lord; Wolfville; Lady Bug; Juan
Tizol; The Minetta Triangle; Coqui Serenade; Empty House; The
Adoracion Variations; Harmolodic Collage; W 54th Street Theme; The 3-
3 Clave; Molly.

Personnel: Edsel Gomez: piano; Don Byron: clarinet; David Sanchez:
tenor saxophone; Miguel Zenon: alto sax; Steve Wilson: alto
saxophone, flute; Greg Tardy: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute;
Drew Gress: acoustic bass; Bruce Cox: drums.

Style: Latin/World