Bill O'Connell Latin Jazz Project - Black Sand - 2001

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Bill O'Connell Latin Jazz Project - Black Sand - 2001

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Product Description: Pianist Bill O'Connell presents the debut of his Latin Jazz Project, which mainly features bassists Andy Gonzalez and Charles Fambrough, drummer Steve Berrios, and percussionist Milton Cardona. Alto and soprano saxophonist Joe Ford appears on four tracks and is quite marvelous on "Trepidation"; other notable guests include trumpeter Randy Brecker (on "Black Sand" and "Kidz") and flutist Dave Valentin (on "Blue Brazil"). O'Connell's tunes are richly melodic and harmonically involved, not to mention beautifully recorded. The bouncy, knotty complexity of his piano playing sometimes brings Chick Corea to mind. Only with the finale, a funky reading of Cole Porter's "It's Alright With Me," does O'Connell depart from original material. While the program grows a bit repetitive at times, there are a number of remarkable cuts, such as the opening, hard-swinging "Latin Jazz," the vocal chant-based "Obakoso" (co-written with Cardona), the stripped-down piano/chekere piece "Fire Dance," and the perversely off-kilter "Son of a Montuno." (It would seem that "Iguana," with its title and its familiar funk vamp, is a knowing nod to Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon.")
~ David R. Adler, AMG

Recorded at Rockland Records, Orangeberg, New York on January 15-16 and February 5 & 11, 2001. Includes liner notes by Mark Holston.

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Bill O'Connell Latin Jazz Project - Black Sand - 2001

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Review: A strong set of Latin grooves, extended jazz solos and intricate, varied compositions. Black Sand is a well-programmed and wide-ranging showcase for the many talents of pianist Bill O'Connell. Bill is equally comfortable in the Latin and jazz worlds. This record intertwines Latin and jazz elements with disarming ease. Throughout Bill makes thoughtful use of an exemplary cast of guest star musicians to add flavor to his well-constructed tunes. There is the sensuous blues tinge of "Blue Brazil," featuring lovely flute by Dave Valentin, the cookin' hardbop with Latin accents of the title tune featuring Randy Brecker, the statement-of-purpose Coltrane-inflected "Latin Jazz" that includes stretched out improvisations by saxophonist Joe Ford and Bill. Perhaps most impressive, "Fire Dance" is an extensive and original meditation featuring only Bill's piano and Steve Berrios on chakeres. Bill really digs deep on this track. Another original variation on Latin themes is contained in the humorously titled "Son of a Montuno." On most of these tunes, Bill is accompanied by several members of the estimable Fort Apache Band, with whom he frequently plays. Fort Apache is one of the seminal Latin jazz aggregations and fans of that group will undoubtedly enjoy this set. Bill has a distinguished set of credentials. He's worked with everyone from Sonny Rollins to Chet Baker to Mongo Santamaria to Gato Barbieri, Dave Valentin and the Fort Apache Band. All that experience is abundantly evident on Black Sand. ~ Amazon customer

Note: Credit to "dreadbull", the original uploader.

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Bill O'Connell Latin Jazz Project - Black Sand - 2001

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Bill O'Connell Latin Jazz Project - Black Sand - 2001

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