Santiago Brooklyn Santiago
Zoho, 2023
8/10
Listen to Santiago Brooklyn Santiago
Marcos Fernández and Arturo O’Farrill bring their pianos to The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and The Santiago Big Band’s diverse skills for these 12 rich tracks.
“Piano Prelude” opens the listen with Fernández and O’Farrill’s firm and rumbling keys setting the tone for the record, and “Cha” follows with the dense trombones and eloquent saxophones complementing the animated percussion.
In the middle, the lively and rhythmic “Bilongo” uses the lush brass strategically, where a solo D flute solo from Ivac Acosta won’t go unnoticed, while “Pitbull Mambo” emits plenty of worldly melodies thanks to cultured drumming and textured horns.
Further along, “Dialogo” spotlights O’Farrill’s trumpet prowess that helps make this dynamic and flowing piece the album’s best, and “El Manicero” exits with Alain Dragoni’s trumpet and Rafi Malkiel’s trombone guiding the timeless Big Band flavor.
A unique assembly of some of the best in the area of Afro Latin Jazz, O’Farrill and Fernández’s keys are superb, and the excellent band and orchestra certainly help instill the diversity that parallels the wide range of identities populating Brooklyn.
Travels well with: Arturo O’Farrill- Virtual Birdland; Negroni’s Trio- Acustico