PATATO VALDÉZ - Masterpiece (1984) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Masterpiece may not quite live up to its name, but it definitely has its moments. A few songs are dominated by group singing/chanting, and both singer Vicentico Valdes ("Reflexionado") and percussionist Patato ("A Los Pianistas") have individual features. In addition, "Cute" and "Coimelon" are straight-ahead showcases for Ronnie Cuber (on soprano and baritone) and pianist Michel Camilo, while fluitst Artie Webb is heard in top form on "Adios Pampa Mia" and Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream." Other key players include the late pianist Jorge Dalto (on his next-to-last recording), Nicky Marrero on timbales, drummer Steve Berrios, bassist Andy Gonzalez, and trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez. An intriguing set of consistently stimulating music. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Adios Pampa Mia 6:34
Francisco Canaro / Ivo Pelay
2     Cute 4:46
Neal Hefti / Stanley Styne
3     Reflexionando 5:59
Jorge Dalto
4     Feliz Navidad 8:32
Orlando Castillo / Carlos "Patato" Valdes
5     Comelon 5:12
Rafael Lay
6     Tonan Che Cabildo a Ochún 5:45
Carlos "Patato" Valdes
7     Nica's Dream 7:48
Horace Silver
8     El Montuno de Patato 3:45
Jorge Dalto
9     A Los Pianistas 7:25
Carlos "Patato" Valdes
Credits :
Bass – Andy Gonzalez
Bongos – Charlie Santiago
Chorus – José Alberto 'El Canario', Nestor Sanchez, Rodrigo Siens, Sabu Martinez
Congas – Carlos "Patato" Valdes
Drums – Ignacio Berroa, Steve Berrios
Flute – Artie Webb, Rolando Briceño
Piano – Jorge Dalto, Michel Camilo
Soprano Saxophone – Ronnie Cuber
Timbales – Nicky Marrero
Trumpet – Jerry Gonzalez
Vocals – Orlando José Castillo, Vicentico Valdés, Wilfredo "Moreno" Tejeda

MICHEL CAMILO & TOMATITO - Spain Again [2006] FLAC

Michel Camilo, the New York-based, Dominican-born pianist, and Tomatito, the Spanish flamenco guitarist, recorded a well-received duets album called Spain in 2000, and this sequel is intended to take the collaboration to the next level. Spain Again does. It's a bravura performance that pushes both men into strange and satisfying new territories and spotlights the abilities of each to find places where they are mutually comfortable and inspired. As on the first pairing, the musicianship is flawless throughout, the two virtuosos dancing around each other's melodies, creating fascinating, harmonious bridges, building upon and toying with structural ideas beyond what each composition calls for. Camilo's complex jazz piano inventions suddenly give way to Tomatito's spellbinding acoustic guitar runs; the two meet someplace in the middle, enjoy the freedom that unfettered exploration allows, and emerge with new entities that only an alliance of equals can bring about. The pace is set quickly with "El Dia Eque Me Quieras," a tribute to tango legend Astor Piazzolla, moves through various originals and standards (a silky, semi-classical "Stella by Starlight" is both graceful and awe-inspiring in its mastery) and eventually finds its way to the only vocal piece on the album, "Amor de Conuco," sung by guest Juan Luis Guerra. Strangely, though the vocal is quite lovely, it's a mood-breaker, diminishing the evocative elegance that Camilo and Tomatito have spent much of the past hour laying out.  by Jeff Tamarkin
Tracklist
1 El Dia Que Me Quieras 5:17
Carlos Gardel
2 Libertango 4:08
Astor Piazzolla
3 Fuga y Misterio 3:51
Astor Piazzolla
4 Adios Nonino 7:17
Astor Piazzolla
5 Stella by Starlight 3:29
Ned Washington
6 Twilight Glow 5:13
Michel Camilo
7 A Los Nietos 4:36
Tomatito
8 La Tarde 2:02
Tomatito
9 La Fiesta 6:00
Chick Corea
10 From Within 6:21
Michel Camilo
11 Amor de Conuco 4:08
Juan Luis Guerra
Credits 
Alto Vocals – Juan Luis Guerra
Flamenco Guitar – Tomatito
Piano – Michel Camilo

MICHEL CAMILO & TOMATITO 

[2006] Spain Again / Universal / FLAC / scans

O Púbis da Rosa

GIOVANNI HIDALGO - Hands of Rhythm [1997]

Could a collaborative effort between Dominican piano virtuoso Michel Camilio and Giovanni Hidalgo, who is commonly known as the finest living conguero, possibly live up to the expectations? The answer Hands of Rhythm offers is nothing short of "All that and them some, baby." The beautiful thing about hearing both Camilo and Hidalgo in a rare duo format is that unlike larger band contexts, their genius does not compete for sonic space with anyone. Every note, every stroke is clearly audible, and crystal clear. Almost as fantastic as the instrumental performance was the repertoire chosen. In fact, the overall flavor is not what one might expect from two players known well for blistering speed. A haunting, sensitive rendition of "Footprints" and the reminiscent "En Mi Viejo San Juan" are welcome surprises from a percussion lead duo. "Softly as in the Morning" and "Blue Monk" are swinging from start to finish. With these jazzy selections, the bossa nova-at-its-best "If You Knew," and the merengue "Papa Boco," Hands of Rhythm shies away from the clave-driven music that made these two men famous. And yet, they prove themselves as adept in any one idiom as the other. Hidalgo and Camilo make up for their small numbers with both taste and sheer brilliance. Hands of Rhythm is required listening for both these musician's loyal fan bases, and the Latin jazz listening public alike.  by Evan C. Gutierrez  
Tracklist 
1  And Sammy Walked In  5:53
Michel Camilo
2  Footprints  5:07
Wayne Shorter
3  Amo Esta Isla  4:22
Pablo Milanés
4  Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise  4:15
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg 
5  My Soul Beat  4:10
Giovanni Hidalgo
6  Papa Boco  4:50
Manuel Sanchez Acosta / Acosta Chapuseaux / Jose Ernesto Chapuseaux 
7  Blue Monk  3:47
Thelonious Monk
8  If You Knew...  5:14
Michel Camilo

9  En Mi Viejo San Juan  4:05 

Noel Estrada

10  Hello And Goodbye  6:17
Michel Camilo

11  Hands In Motion  3:02 

Giovanni Hidalgo
Credits
Michel Camilo : Arranger, Composer, Guest Artist, Performer, Piano, Primary Artist, Producer 
Giovanni Hidalgo : Arranger, Art Direction, Bongos, Chimes, Composer, Congas, Cowbell, Cymbals, Floor Tom, Guiro, Jawbone, Pandereta, Primary Artist, Producer, Timbales, Wood Block 

GIOVANNI HIDALGO - Hands of Rhythm

 [1997] RRM / CBR320 / scans

O Púbis da Rosa

MICHEL CAMILO & TOMATITO - Spain Forever [2016] Universal [24-96]

Tracklist

1 Água E Vinho 5:57 

Egberto Gismonti 

2 Our Spanish Love Song 4:37 

Charlie Haden 

3 Oblivion 6:12 

Astor Piazzolla 

4 Gnossiennes No.1 5:59 

Erik Satie 

5 Cinema Paradiso 3:11 

Ennio Morricone 

6 Love Theme Cinema Paradiso 4:24 

Ennio Morricone 

7 Nuages 6:17 

Django Reinhardt 

8 Carnival (Manha De Carnaval) 5:55 

Luiz Bonfá 

9 About You 2:36 

Michel Camilo 

10 Armando's Rhumba 3:41 

Chick Corea 

Credits

Flamenco Guitar – Tomatito

Piano – Michel Camilo

 MICHEL CAMILO & TOMATITO - Spain Forever 

[2016] Universal [24bit-96khz] FLAC / scans

O Púbis da Rosa