Little Johnny Rivero Music In Me

Little Johnny Rivero

Music In Me
Truth Revolution Recordings

Veteran Latin percussionist Little Johnny Rivera has his second effort as a leader titled, “Music in Me.” 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. Growing up he was exposed to a wide range of music "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."

On "Music in Me" he has assembled a band featuring trumpeter Brian Lynch, alto saxophonist Louis Fouché, pianist Zaccai Curtis and bass player Luques Curtis. Special guests on this program of nine compositions include trombonist Conrad Herwig, trumpeter Jonathan Powell, violinist Alfredo de la Fé, percussionists Anthony Carrillo and Luisito Quintero, vocalists Manny Mieles and Edwin Ramos and Giovanni Almonte (spoken word).

The opening selection, "Mr. LP," dedicated to Marty Cohen the founder of Latin Percussion, establishes the tenor of the recording with its Afro-Cuban danceable grooves. Anthony Carrillo's percussion added here with pianist Curtis laying down his sound along with Herwig's robust contribution followed by a percussion interlude before Herwig and Lynch add some brass fireworks. Pianist Curtis and Rivera composed the title track, a hot jazz rumba with some terrific trumpet from Lynch, one of today's most brilliant trumpeters whether playing Latin jazz as here or hard bop (like when he was with the late Phil Woods). Fouché also solos with authority here. Zaccai Curtis' "Let's Do It Again" is built on a nice hard bop line but transformed into a smoking Afro-Cuban groove with Afonso at the fore. Andy Guzman contributed what Rivera describes as a Latin jazz mambo, "Little Giants," with Jonathan Powell playing the hot trumpet and guest Anthony Carrillo smoking on the bongos.

The cha-cha-cha "Palmieri, Much Respect" was composed by pianist Curtis and dedicated to the great Eddie Palmieri with the leader on timbales and Curtis wonderful with his spicy melodic invention. A celebration of Africa, the home of all drumming is Brian Lynch's "African, My Land" with a recitation of a poem by Giovanni Almonte and strong saxophone from Fouché. and Rivera and Manny Mieles chanting over the percussion near the end. After the explosive, percussive "Bombazúl," there is the funky "Afro Rykan Thoughts," with its jamming feel and blazing playing from Lynch and Fouché, along with Curtis' memorable piano.

"Alambique," named after a beach in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, sports a timbales solo by Luisito Quintero and a violin solo from Alfredo de la Fe (both stellar), and is the final performance on a terrific Latin Jazz recording full of excellent ensemble work, intriguing arrangements and hot, driving dance grooves. Little Johnny Rivera has put out a recording with some very big sounds.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the November-December 2016 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 369) to which I have made minor corrections. Here is a video of Little Johnny Rivero in performance.