Music

Casa Versailles

“Once again, WEMU hosts and listeners realized the depth and mastery of our regional musicians by awarding the Latin jazz band, Tumbao Bravo, the coveted number one spot on the “Sweet 16″. This marks the fourth week in a row that theirs was the most played CD on 89.1. This disc deserves the distinction not just because it is music from local performers, but because it is totally original, beautifully produced and recorded with the highest audio quality. “Casa Versailles” by Tumbao Bravo deserved national accolades and WEMU is leading the way.” – Linda Yohn, WEMU

1. Mogagua
2. Morganic
3. Coaba Y Ron
4. Los Moros
5. La Esperanza
6. You Are All I Long For
7. Casa Versailles
8. One for Jamerson

Montuno Salad

The following was taken from Descarga.com

Editor’s Pick:

With a relaxed, groove-driven approach — a sensibility that reminds me a bit of classic west-coast Latin jazz bands like Cal Tjader’s, this debut release from the Michigan-based ensemble Tumbao! blends jazz and tasty Latin rhythms. Seasoned by Paul VornHagen’s inviting flute, piccolo and sax, the momentum of these thirteen tracks is carried with flair by the well done percussion work of Alberto Nacif and Javier Barrios. Listen also to Sven Anderson’s piano on “Montuno Salad,” Mr. VornHagen’s swinging composition, and John Barron’s funky basslines on his own composition “One For Vince.” Mostly original numbers, but with a few well chosen covers like Orlando “Maraca” Valle’s “Celine’s Groove.”
Recommended.

1. Spring Watch
2. Groove Chick
3. When You Sleep, Do You Speak?
4. Olivia
5. Montuna Salad
6. El Chico
7. Los Maestros
8. Sir Tyner
9. Celines Groove
10. One For Vince
11. Sabor a Mi
12. Memories
13. Marinero

Amigos: From our Hands

The following was taken from Descarga.com

Editor’s Pick:

What’s that? You want Latin jazz with swing? The Detroit based ensemble Tumbao Bravo hears you — and delivers the goods. Their latest release entitled Amigos: From Our Hands is a gem of a release that features all original compositions that would work equally well on the dancefloor or through the headphones. I especially liked “50 y 33″ – a collaborative composition by Alberto Nacif and keyboardist Sven Anderson. It’s a fiery number that lets Nacif and Javier Barrios stretch on percussion. But some of the best material on Amigos has an intelligence to it that is able to create a warm, mellow feel without turning saccharine — something not easy to pull off. Cal Tjader was able to do it. Listen to Paul Vornhagen’s piece called “La Noche.” And Anderson’s “Oneiros” featuring flute, trumpet and piano solos. It’s all good, totally enjoyable stuff. Also with bassists John Barron and Jacob Chimara, drummer Alex Trajano, and trumpeter Bob Mojica.
Highly Recommended.

1. Tres Gracias
2. Amigos
3. Lena Maya
4. 50 Y 33
5. La Noche
6. Jana
7. EP
8. Cumbia Del Cura
9. John’s Big Shoes
10. Oneiros
11. Relentless
12. Sol Y Son
13. Clavier And The Doctor
14. Riding With Sveng
15. El Baile

“Un systema para todo”

The following was taken from Descarga.com

Editor’s Pick:
Nice warm instrumental mambo and Latin jazz, all original compositions, no filler or jazz lite, gracias. If you have not heard these Michigan-based cats before, this is as good a place to start as any. As has been pointed out before, you can dance to what these bravos are laying down, or just sit back and listen to the groove. Real acoustic piano, smoking flute, plenty of solos all around, crisp ritmos and tumbaos – all the ingredients for your summer BBQ or for the dance floor when you are tired of the vocals. Personal faves are “Sayulita,” the Russian mambo “Pushkin, My Friend,” and the band’s intense call and response theme song, “Ritmo Bravo.” For the mellower side, there is the enchanting funky danzón/cha “Victoria,” and for the more straight up jazz lovers, there is “Mojicarrific.” These guys know what they are doing, and you should too.

Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias, 2008-06-23)

1. Sayulita
2. Un Systema Para Todo
3. Victoria
4. Mojicariffic
5. Habla
6. Serenata
7. Schiphol
8. Pushkin, My Friend
9. Caminos
10. Sharonesque
11. Ritmo Bravo