Agua De Cuba
Latin-jazz fans have another treat coming in the form of percussionist Francisco Aguabella. A native of the Matanzas region of Cuba, an area steeped in African tradition, Aquabella emigrated to the U.S. in 1957 and became an essential ingredient in the evolution of Latin jazz, influencing everyone fromMongo SantamariatoPoncho Sanchez.Agua de Cubamakes it easy to see why Aguabella's been so influential, with a handful of cover tunes, ranging fromHerbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" toMiles Davis's "Milestones" to a ballad rendition of theBeatles' "Here, There and Everywhere." Collectively, these songs sound like they could be the imaginary result ofGrant Green,John Patton, orLou Donaldsonjourneying to Havana in around 1968 or so. The real fire, though, comes on Aguabella's own more distinctly Afro-Cuban originals like the title cut, "Dajomy Blue," and "Salsa Latina," where syncopated Cubanmontunosmesh with intricately woven congas and percussion for an exhilarating and irresistible result.--Ezra Gale