Search - Gato Barbieri :: Chapter Four: Alive in New York (Reis)

This album will put you in a good mood

Rinaldo | Durham, NC | 02/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is another satisfying release in Verve's series of reissues of out-of-print LPs. Gato is heard live from the Bottom Line in New York City in 1975. The band sounds like they really knew one another's playing, although Howard Johnson (who plays tuba, flugelhorn and bass clarinet) doesn't really add that much to the music--he mainly plays background and accompanying lines.

Most of the solos are by Gato (playing his trademark sound on tenor sax--heavy, rich and growly) with Eddie Martinez getting in a couple on electric piano. Starting off slow and free, and then moving into a tight Latin jazz groove, "Baihia" (running at about 11 minutes) is the highlight for me.

For fans of Barbieri, this album is a very good dose of his 1970s blend of Latin jazz, soul/funk and Argentinian elements. For those not familiar with Barbieri--try this album out, or better yet get "Bolivia/Under Fire" first (two LP albums on 1 CD!)."