MP3 Papa Mambo - Crooked Cha

Their latest project has something for everyone; balancing experimental jazz intellect, accessible jazz and infectious Latin styling. Percussionist band-leader, Rodrigo Munoz, unifies the diverse group of songs together with his smoking rhythms.

9 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Latin Jazz, LATIN: Latin Jazz



Details:
THE LATEST RELEASE FROM WINNIPEG'S PAPA MAMBO is true-to-form, using the magic formula that made their 2004 debut- recording Amanecer that was so hot is front and centre again: let that rhythm genie out of the bottle!

Papa Mambo made its bones with rhythm, and it succeeds again on Crooked Cha.

Thereâs dancinâ boogaloo on the opening radio-friendly, organ-driven âBugALouâ, Colombian Shande on âBlue Barronâ, Chilean cueca on âTornadoâ, songo and son on âSundogsâ, romantic bolero on âAmor Incondicionalâ, a blast of reggaeton on âNew Dirtâ, and true to the roots of one of the most popular dance bands from the âPeg, salsa on âConvidameâ, and cha cha on âGoneâ and the title track (as always, the band throws a slider at you on this one, playing in 7 in the A section, and 4/4 in the B section).

But thereâs more than just latching on to these great Latin grooves at work on Crooked Cha. The original material, contributed by just about every one in the band, sounds more ârealizedâ; thereâs a sense of completeness to the work on this recording, like you might
expect from a band that stays together and keeps honing its material.

And thatâs what youâll get that from excellent players who dig what theyâre doing. Theyâre the âla crème de la crèmeâ in Winnipeg, as players and writers. All conversant with many different styles of music, they bring great âearsâ and an openness to their projects. Even the guest performances from talents like vocalist Mira Black and former-German-former Winnipegger-now-Brooklynite vibist Stefan Bauer fit seamlessly into the Papa Mambo groove.

Members of Papa Mambo are the leader Rodrigo Munoz on
percussion, Jeff Presslaff on trombone and electric keys,
Ken Gold on saxophones, David Lawton on trumpet, Will Bonness on piano and organ, Gilles Fournier on bass, Jaimie Carasco on drums and Victor Lopez on Cuban tres and percussion and Jordan Friesen on percussion. The singers are Hyalmar Gonzalez and Marcello Hinojosa.

If you want to dance to this music, you can and you will; if you want to sit back and groove to great solos and tight ensemble playing, you can do that too. Crooked Cha has it goinâ on!


REVIEW
Nick McMahon The Manitoban July 18, 2007

â¥â¥â¥â¥ Drawing from Winnipegâs enormous jazz talent pool, Papa Mambo features some of the best jazz musicians that our city has to offer. Their latest project, Crooked Cha, has something for everyone; balancing experimental jazz intellect, accessible jazz and infectious Latin styling, percussionist band-leader, Rodrigo Munoz, unifies the diverse group of songs together with his smoking rhythms. He beats his congas and bongos with energetic precision like a shaman entering a trance, adjusting the groove to suit the song. The opening track, Blue Barron, kicks off with some of Munozâs most electrifying drumming, while displaying the exceptional compositional skills of trombonist/pianist Jeff Presslaff. Dave Lawton (trumpet and fugelhorn) and Ken Gold (saxophones) complete the horn section, providing tight, dynamic melodies and complex harmony throughout the album. âCrooked Chaâ and âConvidameâ force listeners to loosen their hips and commence salsa dancing, as lead vocalist Hyalmar Gonzales belts out catchy Spanish lyrics.