Search - Jerry Gonzalez & Fort Apache Band :: Fire Dance

Authentic Jazz latino

Harold Fuentes | Chicago, IL United States | 12/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent peformance from one of the greatest modern latin jazz bands of our time. The style is a real nice blend of latin and post-bop jazz styles, not just your typical jazz riffs with the usual 2/3 conga and timbale accompaniment. Jerry places equal emphasis on melody and rhythm. The music is obvious in its influences from Monk, Miles Davis, and Joh Coltrane. There are 6 tracks, and the mood of the music is genrally dark, melancholic, but beautiful. One of the tracks is appropriately titled "Ugly Beauty." Half of the tracks are ballads, with one track just horn and piano, one of my favorites. 2 tracks feature more uptempo music with the Fort Apache signature arrangements, which are very unique afro-cuban rhythm sections while horn, sax, and piano solos take place. Jerry Gonzalez switches from horn to congas. One of the more unique aspects of the rhythm section is the drumming of Steve Berrios: his switching from typical jazz drumming on the snare and ride cymbal to the cowbell and hi-hat are incredibly innovative and infectious. You will fall in love with this band right away if you get this album, and, IMO, their very best. Track 5 is one of the greatest 15 minutes of music I have ever heard, execllent solos from everyone and includes a great bass solo from reknowned bass player Andy Gonzalez (Jerry's brother), and followed by a hard core African conga solo from Jerry. This is grade A stuff, you wont be disappointed. Just dont expect it to sound like salsa music without the singing, so if you wanna dance to something, this is not for you."