Hendrik Meurkens - Manhattan Samba

Styles: Brazilian Jazz, Harmonica Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:36
Size: 96,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:44) 1. Clear of Clouds
(6:24) 2. Manhattan Samba
(5:19) 3. One for Manfredo
(6:47) 4. Dona Palmeira
(5:04) 5. The Fropple
(4:43) 6. Bonita
(2:21) 7. Frenzelosa (Choro No. 2)
(5:11) 8. Aquelas Coisas Todas

Composer, virtuoso on both the vibraphone and harmonica, German-born New York-based Hendrik Meurkens presents yet another colorful and tantalizing taste of Brazilian music on the exquisite Manhattan Samba. A proponent of the samba and bossa nova styles of music after a full immersion while living in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1980s, Meurkens continues documenting his passion for the music, this time offering new compositions, includes previously recorded tunes and features the music of Brazilian/jazz masters Ivan Lins, Toninho Horta and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Recognized as perhaps the most important harmonica voice since Toots Thielmans, for this album, Meurkens performs only on the harmonica and surrounds himself with a core quartet featuring Brazilian pianist Helio Alves, Brazilian bassist Gustavo Amarante and Brazilian percussionist/drummer Portinho. Argentinian bassist Fernando Huergo also participates on three tracks.

Recorded in Augsburg, Germany in 2020, the eight-piece collection of Brazilian jazz begins with the samba-tinged "Clear of Clouds," followed by the fast-tempo title track highlighting the leader on many solo moments throughout. Offering a lighter side of the music on the tribute for the late pianist Manfredo Fest, "One for Manfredo" showcases the talents of pianist Alves along with powerful drumming from Portinho.

The Lins classic "Dona Palmeira" is the first of a couple of very soft and beautiful tunes performed on this album. Speaking of classics, the Jobim staple "Bonita" is the closest to a tender ballad you will encounter here, striking and warm in every way, performed as duet between Meurkens and Alves. The brief choro-styled "Frenzelosa (Choro No. 2)" is a spicy, fast-played, shoulder-moving, Carnival-styled number sure to energize anyone.

Closing out the session is another wonderful genre staple from the great Brazilian guitarist Toninho Horta, "Aquelas Coisas Todas," as the harmonica master and distinguished band mates put a cap on one of the finest musical experiences of Brazilian/jazz on the 2021 jazz landscape.By Edward Blanco
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/manhattan-samba-hendrik-meurkens-self-produced

Personnel: Hendrik Meurkens: harmonica; Helio Alves: piano; Fernando Huergo: bass; Portinho: drums; Gustavo Amarante: bass

Manhattan Samba

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Fernando Huergo - Jazz Argentino: Live At The Regattabar

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 74:11
Size: 169.8 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[11:26] 1. Chacarera Para El Diego
[ 7:25] 2. Che
[12:02] 3. Lucero
[ 9:18] 4. Esperanza
[ 8:24] 5. Serrana
[ 8:44] 6. El Tren De Las Nubes
[ 7:05] 7. Elusive Happiness
[ 9:44] 8. Espejos

For his sophomore release, bassist Fernando Huergo enlists Chris Cheek on soprano and tenor saxes, Bruce Barth on piano, Jeff Ballard on drums, and Franco Pinna on percussion. The steady personnel makes for a more focused session, a sign of growth since Huergo's 1998 debut, Living These Times. Huergo seeks to incorporate a full range of Argentinean idioms -- not just the tango sounds associated with urban areas, but also the folkloric, rural styles of the north. Again, he plays mainly electric bass, switching to acoustic for "Adán Buensayres" and "Che" (both of which involve tricky tempo and mood transitions), as well as the somewhat ominous and relatively brief "Chicos De Malvinas." (It's interesting that the acoustic bass tracks are, for the most part, also the tracks on which Cheek plays tenor rather than soprano.) Compositionally, Huergo is at his best on "Truco," a snaky tango line with a dramatic B section, paving the way for fiery piano-soprano sax exchanges and a drum-percussion breakdown. There's a mournful quality to much of the music, although the improvisational skills of these players brighten even the darkest moments. A fine piece of work from one of South America's most significant jazz exports. ~ David R. Adler Fernando Huergo was born in Cordoba, Argentina in 1968. Has recorded over 60 albums, including 3 as a leader and 4 as co-leader. Fernando has toured in North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. He has given clinics in Argentina, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Portugal, England, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, Japan and in many cities in the United States.

Fernando graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992, where he is a Faculty Member in the Bass Department since 1996, with the position of Assistant Professor. He also teaches at Tufts University since 2001.

Jazz Argentino: Live At The Regattabar

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