George Haslam's Cuban Meltdown & Bobby Carcasses
Release Date: 10 July 2013
Label: SLAM Productions
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5028386051527
Genres: Jazz Latin Music
Description
George Haslam's "Cuban Meltdown" recorded in Havana and England with a great array of Cuban and British musicians including trumpeters Bobby Carcassés, Steve Waterman, Julito Padron and Yasek Manzano, percussionist Robin Jones, trombonist Paul Rutherford, vocalist Maria Cecilia Colon, pianist Richard Leigh Harris, and bassist Steve Kershaw.
Press:
"Hear the astonishing Rutherford playing in the way of a true Habanero on Villancico's Blues or Haslam's throaty, sucking undertow on A Perfect Love. Carcasses sings appealingly on his unity opus, Havanabingdon, and plays some rich and mellow flugelhorn followed by some moving choruses from Haslam and Rutherford, creating a praise-song to internationalism. The last four tracks are Cuban-born and recorded in Havana, two of them with Carcasses's outstanding home-based octet. Bobby's son Roberto is featured on piano to compelling effect. Haslam and Carcasses renew old friendship on the final two tracks, recorded in 2007, with Blues for Benny More a particular jewel. Carcasses sings and plays a nimble, blues-laden piano before switching to flugelhorn, and Haslam finds his Caribbean element, completing a unique and powerfully engaging album." - Chris Searle, Morning Star
"These ensembles light creative fires while riding upon an Afro-Cuban Jazz tradition based on rhythm and roots...Passion oozes from every phrase as improvisation takes over...With an eclectic mix of musical backgrounds focused on making the combination seamless, this British recording session stands out for its exiting thrills...Together, these artists from England and Cuba create an excellent multi-cultural impression." - Jim Santella, Cadence
"In the mid 1980s baritone sax specialist Haslam became possibly the first British jazzer to take a group to Cuba. There he met scatting vocalist/flugelhornist Carcassès who appears here alongside a wide range of improvising musicians on an enjoyably earthy-sounding session." - Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise
"This music has a joyous, uplifting Cuban groove that makes me want to dance and smile. Even Bobby Carcasses' scat singing makes me feel good and sounds like the late, great Eddie Jefferson. Mr. Haslam's "A Perfect Love" features some robust bari sax and trombone playing some great harmonies together. The blend of the bari sax, trombone, piano and Bobby's swell scatting is infectious and enchanting...pianist, Roberto Carcasses, Jr. and alto saxist, Roberto Martinez, are both monster musicians and I hope this band gets a chance to record their own disc. The ever ambitious George Haslam is a great cultural ambassador who does a fine job of combining cultures and musicians that would rarely get a chance to work together. Let's hear it for George, we need more musicians like him!" - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Tracklisting
David Bitelli & Ollie Usiskin
Paul Dunmall & Kevin Figes
Kevin Figes & Julie Tippetts
Toni Germani Quartet
Howard Riley, Art Themen, Mario Castronari & Trevor Tomkins
HackOut!
Lol Coxhill
George Haslam & Friends
Cal Tjader
Los Originarios del Plan
Manteca
Tito Puente
Various Artists
Alfredo Linares Y Su Salsa Star/Fruko Y Sus Tesos
Trio Mocoto
Abelardo Carbono
