Arturo Sandoval: I Remember Clifford (1992)

I Remember Clifford is a 1992 album by Arturo Sandoval, the second album he made after fleeing from his native Cuba.

The entire album is a tribute to Clifford Brown, who was a great influence on Sandoval; Brown was an influential, highly-rated and much-loved jazz trumpeter who died in an auto accident in 1956, when he was only 25 years old.

The album is named for Clifford Brown who was killed on June 26, 1956 in a car accident which also killed pianist Richie Powell, the younger brother of Bud Powell.

Sandoval's written tribute to Brown in the liner notes for the album ends:

 Everybody that I've spoken to, who knew Brownie, coincided in describing his heart and his simplicity as an artist. Modesty, feelings, dignity and virtuosity; not a bad legacy. ... It is with all my heart and soul that I offer this sincere effort to one of the greatest trumpet players of all time; a man who left his mark as a person and as an artist. It is named after a threnody written by Benny Golson, I Remember Clifford, also written in memory of Brown.

In addition to an especially poignant rendition of the Golson piece (using only a trumpet and piano - a pointed tribute to the two musicians who died together), the album contains a long list of Clifford's best-known standards (some composed by Brown himself). One final inclusion is a new composition, I Left This Space For You, written by Sandoval in tribute, in which Sandoval plays only a restrained melody, leaving "this space for him" (in Sandoval's words). One very unusual feature, heard on five of the tracks, is the use of overdubbing to create a trumpet 'choir' of four harmonized trumpets, all played by Sandoval (a concept credited to Orlando 'Papito' Hernández, who had experience with multiple trumpets from his time playing with Herb Alpert). The 'choir' is used to play arrangements of some of Brown's own brilliant original solos; the different trumpet lines are so closely synchronized it is hard to believe they were not reproduced electronically. Sandoval's own phenomenal playing features in his own solos, especially on "Cherokee", which he takes at a pace a hair faster than Brown's own impossibly-fast original.
The album received two nominations in the 1992 Grammy Awards ('Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Individual or Group', and 'Best Arrangement on an Instrumental', for Cherokee). It was picked by critic Leonard Feather as one of the ten best jazz albums of 1992.

Tracklist:

1 Daahoud 4:57
2 Joy Spring 5:42
3. Parisian Thoroughfare 5:58
4. Cherokee 5:09
5. I Remember Clifford 4:12
6. The Blues Walk 6:47
7. Sandu 5:19
8. I Get A Kick Out Of You 5:13
9. Jordu 8:27
10. Caravan 4:28
11. I Left This Space For You 5:51

Personnel:

Arturo Sandoval, Trumpet
Kenny Kirkland, Piano
Charnett Moffett, Bass
Kenny Washington, drums
Ernie Watts, Tenor Saxophone (tracks 1, 4, 7, 9, 10)
David Sánchez, Tenor saxophone (tracks 3, 6, 8)
Ed Calle, Tenor Saxophone (track 2)
Félix Gómez, Keyboards (track 5)
Gary Lindsay, Arrangements (except on track 9)
Alberto Naranjo, Arrangement on Jordu

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Michel Legrand: Michel Plays Legrand (1993)

Michel Legrand's LaserLight CD boasts quite an all-star band (trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, trombonist Bill Watrous, altoist Bud Shank, Buddy Collette and Hubert Laws on flutes, guitarist John Pisano, bassist Brian Bromberg, drummer Peter Erskine, and the leader/pianist) but is surprisingly (and disappointingly) relaxed. The emphasis is on ballads, Legrand sings two dramatic pieces that are outside of jazz, and none of the solos are all that memorable. Sandoval is overly restrained and, even with some strong moments from Watrous and Laws, this session does not reach the heights one would expect from this cast of musical personalities. - AMG

Tracklist :

01. Summer Me, Winter Me
02. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
03. The Summer Knows
04. This Quiet Room
05. Brian's Song (The Hands Of Time)
06. Watch What Happens
07. You Must Believe In Spring
08. How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
09. One At A Time
10. Little Boy Lost
11. La Valse Des Lilas (Once Upon A Summertime)
12. The Windmills Of Your Mind
Personnel:
Michel Legrand (arranger, composer, piano, vocals)
Arturo Sandoval (flugelhorn, trumpet)
Bud Shank (alto sax)
Bill Watrous (trombone)
Pete Christlieb (tenor sax)
Brian Bromberg (bass)
Buddy Collette, Hubert Laws (flute)
John Pisano (guitar)
Peter Erskine (drums)
Michel Plays Legrand
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Arturo Sandoval & WDR Big Band: Mambo Nights (2011)

Cool, a trumpet and four trombone as a solo instrument in a row on Mongo Santamaria's classic "Sofrito" let go and arrange the whole thing over a pleasurable grooving and precision then sprung big-band sound ... Or Joseph Kosma "Autumn Leaves" - one of the feature equipped with a erratic bongo intro and then a piano-trumpet part, up tempo to start with strong high notes - - pieces by Miles Davis, so a total counter-casting of Miles Davis' proposal - which is just as clever .
So we put in already in the middle of the great cooperation of the WDR Big Band under the direction of the former Tito Puente trumpeter Michael Philip Mossman, with the ex-Irakere trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Refer to both gentlemen on their former positions makes little sense, such a thing is only for quick understanding. Mossman is a brilliant leader and arranger, and has long been a world star Sandoval on trumpet. Both Latin roots can of course not with the cute slogan "Mambo" grasp. The two make is because even with the super-correct mambo-style arrangement of Perez Prado's long-running "Asi Asi" a bit over the corresponding cliché funny, why at this track, the WDR Big Band and almost sounds like a TV Orchestra of 1960s in a Saturday night show with Vico Torriani. But, as I said, meant more parody.
The 11 tracks on the CD offer, all at all, classic Latin jazz in the classic Latin-jazz style, in the spirit of Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Dizzy Gillespie (clear, "Manteca" is also there) and Mario Bauza. Varied shades, and subtle nuances in the most dazzling shades. High Notes from Sandoval (the lower register, he served just as a virtuoso), fetzende guitars by Paul Shigira, creative and precise piano by Frank Chastenier and an almost uncanny grooving rhythm section - John Goldsby (b), Mark Walker (drums), Pernell Saturnino (prec) - define the sound that is less on innovation than on the total playing the opportunities within the 'genre'. And so rather effortlessly arises a world-class, non-traditional and nostalgic at the same time, imaginative Latin-jazz production, which can be heard again and again. And should!

Tracklist:
01. Sofrito
02. Come Candela
03. Asi Asi
04. Manteca
05. A Mayra
06. Autumn Leaves
07. Mambo 9/34
08. Oye Como Va
09. Mambo Sandoval
10. Quiero Ir Contigo
11. Mambo Inn
Personnel:
Arturo Sandoval : Trumpet, flugelhorn
Mattis Cederberg : Bass trombone
Ludwig Nuss : Trombone
Tim Coffman : Trombone
Nils Marquardt, Bernt Laukamp, Mattis Cederberg : Trombone
Oliver Peters : Flute, tenor saxophone
Mark Walker : Drums
Pernel Saturnino : Percussion
Karolina Strassmayer, Heiner Wiberny : Alto saxophone
Paul Heller : Tenor saxophone
Frank Chastenier : Piano
Jens Neufang, Frank Jakobi : Baritone saxophone
Andy Haderer, Rob Bruynen, Wim Both, Hlaus Osterlok, John Marshall : Trumpet
Paul Shigihara : Guitar
John Goldsby : Bass
Mambo Nights
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Arturo Sandoval: Time for Love (2010)

Arturo Sandoval is a true maestro: despite his reputation as a bop-based trumpeter who plays jazz inspired by his native Cuban tradition, he has delved deeply into tango, swing, and electric jazz in his long career. He is also a fine pianist and percussionist. That said, the notion of him recording a collection of classical pieces, standards, and ballads with a trio and a string orchestra as backing is more than a bit of a surprise. Nonetheless, that's what A Time for Love basically is. Sandoval claims that this is the realization of a 20-year dream. He wanted it bad enough to make and release the record himself, but fate stepped in. Pianist Shelly Berg heard the demos and brought him to Concord's Greg Field, who in turn brought in Grammy-winning arranger Jorge Calandrelli. They co-produced while Calandrelli arranged eight of the nine string charts -- Berg arranged the other and brought in his trio to back up Sandoval.

The classical readings include Faure's "Aprés Un Reve" and "Pavane," Ravel's "Pavane Pour une Infante Defunte" (with Chris Botti on second trumpet), and Astor Piazzolla's "Oblivion" (with Monica Mancini on vocals). All reveal the emotional depth of Sandoval's playing, not just his technical acumen. While his fiery jazz playing can emote, it is often overshadowed by his expertise. Here, it is softness and tenderness without sentimentality that speak to the listener. The standards such as "I Loves You Porgy," the shimmering swing in "Speak Low," and the deep romance in the Johnny Mandel-Johnny Mercer classic "Emily" seemingly come from the vocal jazz tradition. Yet in them one can readily hear what Sandoval claims are his two greatest inspirations for this album: trumpeter Bobby Hackett's playing with the Jackie Gleason Orchestra, and the album Clifford Brown with Strings. The musical economy of those influences is reflected in the emotional weight and complex lyrical dimension carried in each note by Sandoval; the arrangements serve to heighten that revelation rather than overtake it. There are two very satisfying bonus tracks included as well, "The Windmills of Your Mind," a stellar duet with Berg, and Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye," with Kenny Barron guesting on piano. It's tempting to call A Time for Love Sandoval's masterpiece, but that is based on the sharp contrast with virtually everything else in his catalog; only time will reveal whether or not it is. For now, what is certain is that it is one of them. ~ Thom Jurek

Tracklist:

01. Apres Un Reve 5:08

02. Emily 4:26

03. Speak Low 4:36

04. Estate 3:58

05. A Time For Love 5:04

06. Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (feat. Chris Botti) 5:12

07. I Loves You Porgy 5:15

08. Oblivion (How To Say Goodbye) 5:24

09. Pavane 4:50

10. Smile 3:59

11. All The Way 4:02

12. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 4:21

13. Windmills Of Your Mind 5:32

14. Every Time We Say Goodbye 5:54

Personnel:

Arturo Sandoval (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn);

Monica Mancini (vocals);

Chris Botti (trumpet);

David Ewart, Songa Lee, Robin Olson, Searmi Park, Tiffany Yi Hu, Phillip Levy, Tamara Hatwan, RazdanKuyumijian, Kevin Connolly, Natalie Leggett, Darius Campo, Liane Mautner, Charlie Bisharat (violin);

Darren McCann, Keith Greene, Harry Shirinian, Alma Fernandez (viola);

Trevor Handy, Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Dennis Karmazin, Christine Ermacoff (cello);

Kenny Barron, Shelly Berg (piano);

Gregg Field (drums, percussion).

Time for Love
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