Latin Crossroads 2
Ovation, 2025
8/10
The always impressive arranger Gino Amato enlists some excellent guests for both standards and a classical selection, where much imagination is present and the setting becomes Latin-ized.
“Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” opens with Itai Kriss’ bright flute and Arnold McCuller and Matt Cusson’s animated vocals in the cultured fun, and “I Only Have Eyes For You” follows with Chris Rogers’ muted trumpet that suits Kandace Springs’ soulful pipes.
In the middle, “Tangerine” blends Amato’s warm keys and Lou Marini’s fluid sax amid the playful scatting, while “I Love Paris” recruits Veronica Swift’s inimitable pipes alongside Mitch Frohman’s firm sax and Oscar Hernández’s’ strategic Rhodes for the lively album highlight.
Near the end, “Windmills Of Your Mind” benefits from Alex Norris’rich flugelhorn that coincides with Cusson’s smooth pipes via the flowing melodies, and “Scheherazade” exits with Randy Brecker’s unmistakable trumpet that aligns with graceful and cinematic musicianship.
Some of these songs might be familiar to you, but Amato dresses them up with grooves, jazz festivities and worldly rhythms that are energetic and breathes new life into them.
Travels well with: Gino Amato- Latin Crossroad; Andy Nevala- El Rumbón (The Party)