Label: Mama Records
Source: Allaboutjazz - Jack Bowers
Back Home, the debut recording by composer / arranger /
musicologist Socrates Garcia's Latin Jazz Orchestra, combines the best
of two worlds: ardent Latin jazz that never forswears its roots, and
emphatic American-designed big-band swing that provides a solid
framework for Garcia's picturesque Latin / American excursions. Garcia,
who was born in the Dominican Republic, is director of Music Technology
at the University of Northern Colorado, and Back Home, it
seems, represents more a state of mind than any physical locale, even
though there are brief stops at "Calle el Conde" and "From Across the
Street" in Garcia's native land, the last a part of the three-movement
"Dominican Suite for Jazz Orchestra."
Garcia's compositions (he wrote and arranged every number on the album) are lively and effervescent, easily bridging whatever gap, real or imagined, that may exist between American jazz and the music of his homeland. While Latin rhythms predominate, the more well-known samba, bossa and tango are supplanted by Dominican cadences such as the bachata and merengue. As for Garcia's sidemen, most of whom call Colorado home, their mastery of his blueprint is such that they might easily be misread as emigres from Garcia's birthplace. An exception is the all-Dominican rhythm section, comprised of pianist Manuel Tejada, bassist Pengbian Sang and drummer Helen De La Rosa (with an assist from percussionists Felix "Abuelo" Garcia, Rafael Almengod, Josue Reynoso and Otoniel Nicolas). Guitarist Steve Kovalchek is added on "Celebration of the Butterflies," and Garcia plays guitar on "Back Home."
The album's centerpiece and inspiration is the colorful "Dominican Suite," which opens with a sharply drawn "Tribute to Tavito" (identified by Garcia as saxophonist Tavito Vasquez, known as "the Charlie Parker of the Caribbean"). As SuperSax did for Parker, Garcia has embedded one of Vasquez's solos as part of the composition. The second movement, "Bachata for Two," akin to a Latin waltz, was written for Garcia's wife, Wanda, while the third, "From Across the Street," recalls folk music—called Palos or Atabales—performed by a woman who lived across the street from Garcia's home in the Dominican Republic and is the only track on the album with vocals (by a suitably well-spoken quartet). The opening number, "Vantage Point," is a bracing merengue whose charming melody and addictive rhythms give way to canny solos by Tejada and baritone saxophonist Ryan Middagh. The vivacious "Calle el Conde a Las 8:00," whose bright solos are by soprano Wil Swindler and trumpeter Jordan Skomal, precedes the earnest "Celebration of the Butterflies," Garcia's homage to the three Mirabel sisters who were assassinated by dictator Rafael Trujillo's government for their opposition to his regime. Tenor Kenyon Brenner is showcased on "Butterflies," as he is on "Back Home." Another splendid soloist, trumpeter Brad Goode, is front and center on "Bachata for Two" and shares the spotlight with Tejada on "Homage to Tavito."
Not only is Back Home a near-perfect blend of Dominican and American music, it stands tall on its own as a superlative example of big-band jazz at its best. Well done, Socrates.
Garcia's compositions (he wrote and arranged every number on the album) are lively and effervescent, easily bridging whatever gap, real or imagined, that may exist between American jazz and the music of his homeland. While Latin rhythms predominate, the more well-known samba, bossa and tango are supplanted by Dominican cadences such as the bachata and merengue. As for Garcia's sidemen, most of whom call Colorado home, their mastery of his blueprint is such that they might easily be misread as emigres from Garcia's birthplace. An exception is the all-Dominican rhythm section, comprised of pianist Manuel Tejada, bassist Pengbian Sang and drummer Helen De La Rosa (with an assist from percussionists Felix "Abuelo" Garcia, Rafael Almengod, Josue Reynoso and Otoniel Nicolas). Guitarist Steve Kovalchek is added on "Celebration of the Butterflies," and Garcia plays guitar on "Back Home."
The album's centerpiece and inspiration is the colorful "Dominican Suite," which opens with a sharply drawn "Tribute to Tavito" (identified by Garcia as saxophonist Tavito Vasquez, known as "the Charlie Parker of the Caribbean"). As SuperSax did for Parker, Garcia has embedded one of Vasquez's solos as part of the composition. The second movement, "Bachata for Two," akin to a Latin waltz, was written for Garcia's wife, Wanda, while the third, "From Across the Street," recalls folk music—called Palos or Atabales—performed by a woman who lived across the street from Garcia's home in the Dominican Republic and is the only track on the album with vocals (by a suitably well-spoken quartet). The opening number, "Vantage Point," is a bracing merengue whose charming melody and addictive rhythms give way to canny solos by Tejada and baritone saxophonist Ryan Middagh. The vivacious "Calle el Conde a Las 8:00," whose bright solos are by soprano Wil Swindler and trumpeter Jordan Skomal, precedes the earnest "Celebration of the Butterflies," Garcia's homage to the three Mirabel sisters who were assassinated by dictator Rafael Trujillo's government for their opposition to his regime. Tenor Kenyon Brenner is showcased on "Butterflies," as he is on "Back Home." Another splendid soloist, trumpeter Brad Goode, is front and center on "Bachata for Two" and shares the spotlight with Tejada on "Homage to Tavito."
Not only is Back Home a near-perfect blend of Dominican and American music, it stands tall on its own as a superlative example of big-band jazz at its best. Well done, Socrates.
Vantage Point
Calle el Conde a Las 8:00
Celebration of the
Butterflies
Back Home
Dominican Jazz Suite for Orchestra:
Homage to
Tavito
Bachata for Two
From Across the Street
Socrates Garcia: composer, arranger, conductor, guitar
(4)
Brad Goode: trumpet, flugelhorn
Dave Rajewski: trumpet,
flugelhorn
Jordan Skomal: trumpet, flugelhorn
Miles Roth: trumpet,
flugelhorn
Wil Swindler: alto, soprano sax, flute
Briana Harris: alto
sax, flute
Kenyon Brenner: tenor sax, flute, clarinet
Joel Harris:
tenor sax, clarinet
Ryan Middagh: baritone sax, bass clarinet
Brielle
Frost: flute
Joe Chisholm: trombone
Frank Cook: trombone
Jonathan
Zimmy: trombone
Guillermo Rivera: trombone
Gary Mayne: bass trombone
Manuel Tejada: piano
Steve Kovalchek: guitar (3)
Pengbian Sang: bass
Helen De Rosa: drums
Felix “Abuelo” Garcia: tambura, congas, atabales,
vocal (7)
Rafael Almengod: atabales, tambu, vocal (7)
Josue Reynoso:
guira
Otoniel Nicolas: timbal
Hovernys Garcia: vocal (7)
Lia Nova:
vocal (7)
