CHANO DOMINGUEZ TRIO: Con alma

CHANO DOMINGUEZ
Em 1999 assisti, em Miami, a um concerto, no qual Chano Dominguez fazia a
abertura para o Michel Camilo Trio (com Anthony Jackson no baixo e Ignacio Berroa na
bateria). Acho que Camilo deve ter se arrependido da escolha, porque a performance de Chano empanou o brilho da estrela prinicipal. Depois tocaram a quatro mãos, em dois pianos separados. Foi - como se diz no popular, "briga de cachorro grande", sem vencedor.
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ALBUM REVIEW
This is a rather different Chano from the one who first enthralled me with Hecho a Mano (Hand-made), his blazing flamenco/jazz mix recorded in Madrid in 1996 and released on Sunnyside a few years ago. On Con Alma he's replaced the handclaps and multilayered percussion with a traditional jazz trio, bringing on world-class bandmates George Mraz and Jeff Ballard. But his roots are still very much in evidence from the first track, a dynamic take on a traditional song — my dictionary tells me "La Tatara" means "sound of a trumpet as a signal for action." There's no trumpet here, but there's plenty of action. Dominguez has a lithe, sensitive touch, impeccable time, and terrific sense of spacing; while he has chops to burn, he lets a lot of fresh air into his playing, unlike some of his more bombastic compatriots. "How About You" is bright and playful and his "Dolphin Dance" is a whirl through the clouds rather than a splash in the sea. Dominguez knows how to build excitement, as demonstrated in the title track; "Con Alma," which features one of several fine
solos by Mraz, who is justifiably famous for his lyricism and fat, round sound. Meanwhile, Ballard supplies just the right feel throughout: subtle, intricate, and ever-swinging, he gets to break out on a delightful, sparkling "Speak Low." It's a terrific trio and beautifully in synch. One of my favorite tracks is "It Could Happen to You," which begins with a solo full of flamenco flair, then takes off for an extended joyride. This is followed by an intriguing meditation on Steve Swallow's "Hullo Bolinas" which is both free and structured, highlighting the group's versatility. The inclusion of strong Spanish compositions makes a nice mix with
the familiar standards; Con Alma ia a rich and tasty feast, laced with salsa.
(Dr. Judith Schlesinger -- All About Jazz)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: Chano tem um estilo próprio, muito peculiar, misturando jazz e flamenco, como se pode constatar na faixa "El toro y la luna". Seu primeiro instrumento foi a guitarra flamenca, da qual extrai elementos para compor seu estilo. Neste álbum, com exceção da referida faixa, Chano toca "jazz straight ahead" puríssimo, acompanhado por dois luminares de seus instrumentos: Jeff Ballard (bateria) e George Mraz ( baixo). O trio explora, com lirismo e "pegada" na dose certa, um repertório excelente, onde se alinham "standards", temas de jazz e música espanhola, além do grande bolero "No me platiques mas". Um excelente CD, de um pianista notável, dotado de uma técnica avassaladora, acompanhado por dois "cracaços" em seus instrumentos.
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CHANO DOMINGUEZ TRIO: Con alma

CHANO DOMINGUEZ TRIO
Chano Dominguez (piano)
George Mraz (bass)
Jeff Ballard (drums)

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
01. La Tarara
02. No Me Platiques Mas
03. How About You?
04. Dolphin Dance
05. Con Alma
06. El Toro Y La Luna
07. It Could Happen To You
08. Hullo Bolinas
09. Jure
10. Speak Low
11. Darn That Dream