CD REVIEW
“JAZZAMBIA”
http://www.jazziz.com/independent_culture/2009/06/07/paoli-mejias/
Master
percussionist Paoli Mejías has performed with Latin jazz
giants such as Tito Puente, Dave Valentín and Paquito
d'Rivera, and earned worldwide notice as a longtime sideman
with Eddie Palmieri. Quite naturally, the lightning-fingered
conguero from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, not only gained
invaluable experience, but accrued an enviable group of
musician pals on whom to call for his own projects.
Associates such as saxophonists Miguel Zenón and Jaleel
Shaw, pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Hans Glawischnig and
drummer
Antonio
Sanchez - among New York City's Latin jazz elite -
apparently had so much fun on Mejías' 2006 recording
Transcend that they
reupped for another go 'round on the new
Jazzambia (independent
release). The group burns from the drop on Zenón's
"Diaspora", which moves swiftly along a molten river of bass
and percussion, and features blazing solos from Zenón and
Perdomo. The title also relates to Mejias' stated goal: to
bring attention to the African
roots of Latin jazz.
