1. Spring Samba
2. Alfitude
3. Piccolo Blues
4. Slow Fire
5. How Intensitive
6. A Dream for Kristen
7. Alberto and Daisy
8. Blues for Ronni
9. Slammin'
10. Waltz for Joana
11. Vida Nova
12. Winter Dreams
Claudio Roditi - Trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, vocals
Romero Lubambo - Guitar
Michael Dease - Trombone
Helio Alves - Piano
John Lee - Electric bass
Duduka da Fonseca - Drums
Claudio Roditi was born in Brazil but moved to the USA in 1970. So his playing embraces Latin music as well as jazz. There are plenty of fiery Latin- American trumpeters around - and Claudio can rival them if he chooses, but it makes a change to hear a trumpeter with a pleasantly modest, furry tone. Claudio has a brilliant technique but he doesn't show it off for its own sake: he uses it in the interests of the music. He improvises with tuneful subtlety.
I am sometmes wary of albums which consist entirely of original compositions, as it can help the listener to assess an artist's real merits if you hear him play at least one jazz standard. All the tunes on this album are originals by Claudio Roditi, but they are the sort of things you can readily understand and even find yourself humming after one hearing. And most tracks are comparatively concise (only one lasts longer than six minutes), which makes them easily accessible. In fact the longest track - Slow Fire - is an odd-one-out, with a lush orchestral arrangement by Kuno Schmid which makes it sound more like romantic film music than jazz.
Claudio Roditi is well-served by his band members: particularly guitarist Romero Lubambo and pianist Helio Alves. Trombonist Michael Dease often blends radiantly with Roditi, and bassist John Lee ensures a helpfully full-bodied foundation for the group. My only reservations would be with drummer Duduka da Fonseca, who is rather too fond of using rimshot clicks, which we are all used to in bossa novas but which begin to sound repetitive. There are lots of other ways of suggesting Latin rhythms - for example, discreet use of the tomtoms. Perhaps the band should have added an extra percussionist.
As most tracks are equally good, it is difficult to select outstanding items. Michael Dease's trombone solo on Spring Samba is suitably spring-footed. Alfitude (named for Brazilian musician Johnny Alf) and Alberto and Daisy are simple but catchy tunes which could well become standards. Piccolo Blues is another memorable composition, with Claudio playing the unusual piccolo trumpet. A Dream for Kristen (a tribute to Roditi's wife) shows off Claudio's lyrical side. Blues for Ronni exhibits the group's abilities with straightforward four-in-a-bar swing.
Roditi is not a great singer but his understated vocal on Waltz for Joana is as ingratiating as his muted trumpet solo. The propulsive Vida Nova opens effectively with just flugelhorn and guitar, followed by a glittering piano solo from Helio Alves. The closing Winter Dreams starts with a good solo by Duduka da Fonseca on the tomtoms, followed by a twinkling piano solo and a typically melodious trumpet solo.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Resonance HCD 2008
