Jose Rizo©Glenn A. Mitchell

Jose Rizo and his Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars is an all-star group of the best musicians – top studio and great jazz musicians and popular band leaders playing Latin jazz at its highest level.  The band is presented at Steamers every so often.  They were started originally as a tenth-year celebration for Jose Rizo’s radio show on KKJZ, Jazz on the Latin Side, at B.B. King’s at Universal City.  That performance went so well it was continued as Rizo’s signature group. 

Personnel for the March 2nd performance were:  Sean Billings, Luis Eric Gonzalez (trumpets); Justo Almario, Robert Incelli, Scott Martin (saxes); Eric Jorgensen, Mike Daigeau  (trombones); Oscar Hernandez (piano); Rene Camacho (bass); Marvin Smitty Smith (drums); Jimmy Branley  (timbales); Alfredo Ortiz (bongos);  Kevin Ricard (congas); Nando  Perez  (vocals); Adonis Puentes  (guest vocals); Danilo Lozano (flute/Musical Director). Musical Director Lozano introduced the entire band and mentioned a little about each.   

Lee Morgan’s “Caramba,” (arranged by David Torres) got an instantaneous groove working!   This ensemble is cohesive and works like a well-oiled machine.  Swinging solos from Gonzalez on trumpet, Martin on bari sax and Daigeau on t-bone started the fun.  The place was packed and the audience got into the music early on.  Most of the material performed was from the band’s two CDs: Tambolero (2007) and The Last Bullfighter (2005) on Saungu Records.  Both CDs have done well and, as can be expected, have received a lot of air play, especially on our own KKJZ 88.1 FM. 

Of the tunes presented, there were many great highlights.  “The Last Bullfighter” featured winning solos from Daigeau’s t-bone, Incelli’s alto sax and Gonzalez’s trumpet high notes.  Especially convincing was Branley’s timbale work. In Wayne Shorter’s well-conceived “Yes and No,” the band played in an up-tempo fashion and with Latin styled accentuations as back-up for Almario’s grand tenor sax explorations.  Smith followed with a huge drum solo, followed by the excellent Ricard (congas), Branley (timbales), Camacho (bass) and Ortiz  (bongos) for a magnificent ending!

Vocalist Nando Perez sang wonderfully on the Poncho Sanchez gem, “Baile Me Gente.”  The audience loved it!  The band sang back-up while Lozano played an incredible flute solo.  Trombonist Francisco Torres wrote and arranged “Justo’s Trane Ride,” honoring Almario’s fantastic tenor work, reminiscent of John Coltrane, not only by Almario, but additionally with Hernandez’s brilliant piano playing.  Once again, Smith provided a humongous drumming exhibition.   

Second set numbers were “Amanecer” (by Rizo and Torres) from Tambelero, which had smooth flute work from Lozano in this beautifully swinging cha-cha. Guest vocalist Adonis Puentes was invited to join Perez on “Granizo,” backed by the entire band for a soulful rendition.  A special piece, “Descarga Cachao,” was dedicated to the famed Latin bassist Cachao and his brother (who invented the mambo).  It featured Incelli’s hot alto sax and Oscar Hernandez’s hypnotic piano style.  Hernandez was a special visitor this night and works on other Latin gigs, both nationally and internationally. One of the last tunes of the evening was “Danilo en la Flauta.” Almario gave us stirring music from his clarinet.  The band’s tight breaks in this number were perfect and precise.  See their website: www.jazzonthelatinsideallstars.com.                                                                                                                                      

Reprinted with permission from the April 2008 issue of LA Jazz Scene.