CD Review: Afro Bop Alliance's 'Angel Eyes'

Afro Bop Alliance
Angel Eyes
Zoho 

The Afro Bop Alliance is a Washington, DC-area band that showcases a wide-range of Latin jazz, salsa, bossa nova, and South American-inspired tunes on their latest release, Angel Eyes. The seductive album cover art draws in listeners by way of visual cues, but the visual quickly leads to the aural, as the sounds emanate from the album with such vivacity. The tracks are littered with infectious tunes and instruments, including the steel pan, bass, piano, drums, congas, sax, trumpet, cello, clarinet, and violin. The group enlists numerous jazz lines and Latin fusions that take on a lively life of their own. There are eleven tunes, but only two tracks include vocals: "Nature Boy" and "Minor Details." The Afro-Cuban elements are evident throughout. However, anyone with an interest in classic, Latin jazz music will love Afro Bop Alliance's Angel Eyes. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Ali Bello's Venezuela Tunings On 'Connection Caracas-New York'

Ali Bello
Connection Caracas-New York
Zoho

Venezuelan-born and New York-based, Ali Bello is a talented violinist with youthful vigor and jazzy undertones. The Latin-themed recording is rich with jazz elements and Latin American percussion. The violin displays are on par with Ruben Blades' Panamanian ensembles. The mix of classical, folk, jazz, roots, and Latin genres are very compelling and enthralling. However, vocals are not present on this album. The nine tracks contain piano, guitars, violins, sax, bass, drums, maracas, percussion, and other instruments, which make the album shine with Latin delight. One need not venture too far from Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Venezuelan roots here. Anyone with an interest in violin music with added percussion and world fusion elements will find a connection with Ali Bello's latest release from Zoho Music. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Pablo Ziegler & Metropole Orkest's 'Amsterdam Meets New Tango'

Pablo Ziegler & Metropole Orkest
Amsterdam Meets New Tango
Zoho

A contemporary in the world of Argentinian music, Pablo Ziegler melds tango music, classical, and folk traditions with music from The Netherlands--thanks to Metropole Orkest. Pablo is a talented pianist that includes luminaries, such as Quique Sinesi on guitar, Walther Castro on bandoneon, and percussionist, Quintino Cinalli. The instrumental ensemble is backed with the talented orchestrations and classical-themed medleys of Metropole Orkest. There are nine long tracks that shimmer with fiery jazz-lines, cinematic washes of symphonic beauty, and edgy melodies that inspire and entertain. There are slower jazz melodies and rhythms, along with more energetic displays of musicianship that is anything but boring. The lively bandoneon and emotive strings are classic, yet modern. Anyone looking for new tango music with a jazzy, classical, and symphonic edge, then Amsterdam Meets New Tango is highly recommended. ~ Matthew Forss