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| Little Johnny Rivero "Music In Me"  "Music in Me marks a GIANT STEP for percussionist, composer, leader Little Johnny Rivero."Tomas Peña – Editor and Chief, Jazzdelapena.com With one foot rooted in his native Puerto Rico and the other firmly planted New York City's "El Barrio, " it is only fitting that Little Johnny Rivero's second effort as a leader titled, "Music in Me, " delivers its Latin Jazz groove with underpinnings of traditional Afro-Cuban percussion and rhythms. From the relentless, driving bata voicing in Alambique, to the haunting background chants that color, Africa My Land, to the staccato horn runs peppered throughout the title track, "Music in Me" delivers a unified theme of Latin Jazz, improvisation, and color. "Ever since I was a young boy, I listened to a wide range of music, " says Rivero, "including Tito Puente, Machito, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Tony Bennett, all of which my father had in his record collection. Also, there were always rumba jams. Inside of me is a Latin Jazz Rumba." Music in Me features trumpeter Brian Lynch, alto saxophonist Louis Fouché, pianist Zaccai Curtis and bass player Luques Curtis. Special guests include trombonist Conrad Herwig, trumpeter Jonathan Powell, violinist Alfredo de la Fé, percussionists AnthonyCarrillo and Luisito Quintero, vocalists Manny Mieles and Edwin Ramos and Giovanni Almonte (spoken word). The repertoire runs the gamut … Mr. LP is dedicated to Martin Cohen, the founder of Latin Percussion and an inspiration. Rivero first performed the tune, Let's Do It Again with pianist Zaccai Curtis and bassist Luques Curtis. When he commented on how much he liked the song, Zaccai replied, "Let's Do It Again!" Little Giants is a Latin Jazz Mambo inspired by the words of arranger, Andy Guzman, who said to Rivero, "You're not little Johnny, you're a GIANT." Palmieri, Much Respect is, a smooth cha-cha dedicated to Maestro, mentor Eddie Palmieri. "It makes me think of being on a smooth ride with Palmieri, " says Rivero. Africa My Land emphasizes the debt Afro-Caribbean music owes to the motherland. Giovanni Almonte contributes poetry and song. "Once you hear Bombazúl, which features the original barrill de bombas, you'll feel like you're looking at the simple beauty of clear, blue sky, " says Rivero. Louis Fouché adds just the right amount of color to the tune. Afro Rykan Thoughts brings on the funk! Alambique, is a nod to the beach in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico where rumberos hung out and jammed during the 1980s. The tune features Luisito Quintero and Alfredo de la Fe. To date, Rivero has performed on nearly 100 recordings with La Sonora Ponceña, Eddie Palmieri, Bebo Valdés, Charlie Palmieri, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Paquito D' Rivera, Brian Lynch and Conrad Herwig among others. Also, he has collaborated with such world-renowned percussionists such as Changuito, Giovanni Hidalgo, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, Angel "Cachete" Maldonado and legendary jazz drummers Joe Chambers and Ralph Peterson Jr. Music in Me is sure to please listeners and dancers alike. Join Little Johnny Rivero as he pays homage to his roots, his musical guides and the rumba within. CD RELEASE @ SOUNDS OF BRAZIL, NEW YORK CITY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 write your comments about the article :: © 2016 Jazz News :: home page |