Calle Loíza Jazz Project There Will Never Be Another You

Calle Loíza Jazz Project
There Will Never Be Another You
Self-Produced

Calle Loíza is a famous street in Santurce, Puerto Rico, that has a long history as a center of cultural activity. Starting in the late 1970s, with a renowned jazz club, Mini's, it became a center of jazz activity. Years later, in 1990, a club opened, the Apple Jazz Club, where pianist Mark Monts de Oca, drummer Johnny Rivera, bassist Freddy Gumbs, and leader Héctor Veneros formed a quartet that became well known throughout Puerto Rico. They appeared at the Heineken Jazz Festival, and it was there that bassist Tone Batista and guitarist André Avelino would start playing with members of the quartet. The passing of a beloved friend led the core quartet to make a recording to honor legendary Puerto Rican musicians such as musicians Juancito Torres, Dave Valentin, Mongo Santamaria, Carlos "Patato" Torres, and Jerry Gonzalez.

The core quartet of musicians on this recording is de Oca, Batista, Rivera, and Avelino. They are joined by Javier Oquendo on congas, Melvin Jones on trumpet, Gordon Vernick on trumpet, Xavier Barreto on flute, Cándido Reyes on güiro, Daniel López on Brazilian percussion, and Iván pelvis on percussion. This group of musicians tackles eight classics of the jazz canon: "Seven Steps To Heaven," "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Stolen Moments," 'Dolphin Dance," "Old Folks," "In Your Own Sweet Way," "Well, You Needn't," and the title track.

There is some wonderful Latin jazz played on this recording, which starts with two songs associated with Miles Davis. Jones shows himself to be quite a fiery trumpeter on the opening "Seven Steps To Heaven," although the heavy percussion was distracting. Pianist de Oca is outstanding here as well, and the interplay by Jones and Barreto is sterling. There are nice touches in the arrangements such "Someday My Prince Will Come," which opens with Jones delivering muted trumpet in the manner of Miles, before the band engages in a light Latin groove with a terrific solo from guitarist Avelino. Both Jones and Vernick solo on trumpet both employing mutes.

The other Latin jazz performances are equally engaging with plenty of noteworthy highlights such as solos from flutist Barreto and guitarist Avelino on "Stolen Moments." as well as Jones' muted trumpet and de Oca on "Dolphin Dance." Drummer Rivera and bassist Batista provide a reliable rhythmic foundation throughout this marvelous recording that offers fresh, captivating performances on some classic jazz numbers.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the March-April 2020 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 389). Here is "Stolen Moments" from this recording.