Latin Lounge
Technoprimal, 2020
8/10
A veteran percussionist who has played with Manhattan Transfer, Aretha Franklin and Tania Maria, on Latin Lounge the esteemed Frank Colon brings some of Brazil’s best instrumentalists for 10 very diverse originals.
“Emerald Coast” starts the listen with a laid back delivery of soothing melodies and cultured instrumentation, and “Easy Does It” follows and isn’t short on grooves in the stylish setting of superb musicianship.
Elsewhere, “Samba Gitano” finds a playful place to reside amid a danceable atmosphere, while “Spanish Heart” puts Flamenco guitars front and center with much skill in the timeless delivery. “Wishful Thinking”, one of the best tracks, then finds the listen entering funk territory with a cautious yet frisky execution.
At the end, “Tango Lucumi” recruits accordions in the world music fun, and “The Whales Of Bahia” exits the listen key friendly and bass focused with intricate and flowing percussion from Colon.
Colon says this album will ‘move your body, touch your heart and soothe your soul’, and it’s hard to disagree with that. Certainly one of the most accomplished records in the area of Latin Jazz in recent history, Colon and company blend diverse musical backgrounds here seamlessly.
Travels well with: Roger Kellaway- The Many Open Minds Of Roger Kellaway; Guillaume Muller- Sketches Of Sound