The emergence of a major talent in the Latin jazz field
Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 06/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dafnis Prieto is no stranger to Latin Jazz. Long associated with that marvelous Canadian honorary Latinista, Jane Bunnett, and anchor to such notable outfits as The Caribbean Jazz Project, The Columna B Group, The Edward Simon Trio, The Michel Camilo Trio, and The Chucho Valdez Quartet, the hard-swinging drummer and percussionist here steps out with a smokin' first disc as leader.
What initially strikes the listener is the breadth, power, and scope of the soundscape. It helps, of course, to have a killer band to lead: the altogether fabulous Yosvany Terry (leader of the group Columna B) on soprano, alto, and tenor sax; hard bopper Bryan Lynch on trumpet and flugelhorn; Hans Glawischnig on bass; and the fast-rising Latin star Louis Perdomo on piano. But the major responsibility for the thrumming engine driving this music rests squarely on the man occupying the drums chair and leading this session.
And Dafnis Prieto has certainly learned his lessons from the masters who've employed him. Indeed, he's pretty much surpassed them on his initial release: There's, simply, such a deeply delved, hard swinging vibe on display here as to subdue all but the most hortatory of the Latin jazz masters.
Signaling the arrival of a new generation of Latin jazz masters, About the Monks will surely go down as a landmark achievement from one of the music's brightest rising stars"
Very cool
MedDOc | CA | 06/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Had the chance to see Dafnis Prieto perform with Michel Camilo(an excellent pianist btw) at the Blue Note in NYC, and I was blown aways by his drumming. Dafnis definitely deserves all the accolades he has been receiving. This album is worth every penny!"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1