Album: Funk Tango *

Song Title

Time

Pere

What About That!

Revirado

Contradanza

Milonga 10

Final Waltz

Funk Tango

Mariela's Dream

Yumba-Caravan, La

10)

Como un Bolero

11)

Giant Steps

Album: Funk Tango *

Song Title

Time

Pere

What About That!

Revirado

Contradanza

Milonga 10

Final Waltz

Funk Tango

Mariela's Dream

Yumba-Caravan, La

10)

Como un Bolero

11)

Giant Steps

Performer Notes

Paquito D'Rivera: Paquito D'Rivera (alto saxophone); Hector Del Curto (bandoneon); Diego Urcola (trumpet); Ed Simon, Fernando Otero, Alon Yavnai (piano); Oscar Stagnaro (bass guitar); Mark Walker (drums); Pablo Stagnaro (cajon drums); Pernell Saturnino (percussion).
Personnel: Paquito D'Rivera (clarinet, alto saxophone); Hector del Curto (bandoneon); Diego Urcola (trumpet, valve trombone); Fernando Otero, Eddie Simon, Alon Yavnai (piano); Mark Walker (drums); Pernell Saturnino (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Paquito D'Rivera.
Recording information: Knoop Studios (10/24/2006/10/25/2006).
Arranger: Oscar Stagnaro.
The great Paquito d'Rivera does it again with 2007's FUNK TANGO. Contrary to what the title implies, the compositions on this set are neither tango-steeped nor explicitly funky. Instead, d'Rivera leads a top-shelf ensemble through post-bop, Afro-Cuban jazz, and Brazilian forms, and other styles plucked from the jazz vocabulary to be tasted, tested, and re-combined at will. The appearance of a tune by tango master Astor Piazolloa, and the title track by pianist Alon Yavnai (who performs it as a duet with d'Rivera) made good on the album's name. D'Rivera, as always, is riveting on both saxophone and clarinet.

Professional Reviews

Down Beat (p.68) - "[A] fine, tightly wrought CD....A solid snapshot of where he sees himself today."

JazzTimes (p.94) - "D'Rivera is on fire throughout on both his instruments. Urcola impresses in a Miles-flavored style on trumpet as well as his debut on valve trombone."