Chamalongo

by Scott YanowThrough the years, top Canadian soprano saxophonist and flutist Jane Bunnett has been an important force in helping to publicize and document some of the top Cuban jazz and folk musicians whose music had rarely been heard previously in the U.S. This particular CD mixes an Afro-Cuban group (that includes Bennett, trumpeter Larry Cramer, either Hilario Duran or Frank Emilio on piano, a couple of percussionists and singer Merceditas Valdes) with the Cuban Folkloric All-Stars, which are comprised of five singers and five percussionists. Since there is a lot of singing in Spanish on this CD, it may not interest jazz purists all that much, but there are also many fine solos from Bunnett and the musicians. The music is quite spirited, stretches the boundaries of Latin jazz beyond bebop, and is certainly full of life. Well worth exploring.