Ralph Irizarry & Timbalaye: It's Time!

[Gentle Giant]

This will start out as an incomplete review, since I'm in the middle of my first listening, but I had to get this out there because it's blowing me away.

I'm not the world's biggest latin jazz fan, although I own several titles and very much enjoyed recent latin releases by Chris Washburne, Don Byron, Harvie S's Havana Mañana, Tom Harrell's Art of Rhythm, etc. But a friend just slipped this into my hand and I'm overwhelmed by the power, energy, and sheer musicality of this music. Here's the lineup:

Ralph Irizarry**********Leader, Timbal Kit, Clave
Roberto Quintero****Congas, Bongo, Percussion
Waldo Chávez*******Electric Bass
Luis Perdomo*********Acoustic Piano, Hammond D3 Organ
Alex Norris************Trumpet*
Bob Franceschini*****Tenor & Soprano Saxes
Ozzie Meléndez*******Trombone
*
Special Guests
Raul Agraz***********Trumpet
Andrea Brachfeld****Flute
Mike Stern************Guitar
Felipe Luciano*******Spoken Words

The album opens with a real barnstormer, The Jockey. It's amazing that there's no actual drummer because the relentless beat drives this baby home. Ralph and Roberto have things well in hand and Waldo proves himself a nimble bassist, taking short rapid solos between sections. Luis does some solid jazz comping and takes a beautifully paced solo. Bob blows a crisp tenor.

Palabra Rebelde feels like an old-time big band latin dance number, with marching drums, nuanced trombone and trumpet work, and jaunty piano parts.

On Car Horns, by saxist Bob, Mike Stern unleashes torrid solos, while muted horns mimic the title sounds. With Luis pumping on the B3 and Bob doing some fierce honking, this tune has an undercurrent of hot urban funk.

Now I'm in the middle of No Puede Haber Tristeza (which I think means "you don't have to be sad"), which features great flute and trumpet (guest Raul) solos. This alternates effectively between hard-driving percussion-heavy sections, with the more flowing and lyrical solo sections.

More later. This CD is only available from Ralph's
website.

[Gentle Giant]

Here's background on the dude:

Ralph Irizarry,*recognized worldwide as an excellent percussionist, first*fell in love with the timbal at an early age*when*his father coincidentally brought home a set received as payment for a debt. A self-taught musician, Irizarry has developed a highly efficient and personalized style of playing while leaving an enduring mark on*the artists with whom he has collaborated. His love for the instrument evolved into a full-fledged passion that has fueled his career since 1970.*Irizarry admits, without reservation, that*this passion has been all consuming since he was a youngster, and is the same passion that he infuses now into his music.

Born in New York’s Spanish Harlem, Ralph Irizarry’s family first moved to Brooklyn and then briefly to Queens, before finally relocating in Puerto Rico in 1970. There, he spent three years immersed in music and gained the knowledge and experience that eventually granted him the opportunity to join Ponce’s La Terrífica, as well as sitting in with such prestigious aggregations as El Gran Combo and Sonora Ponceña.

In 1974, Ralph Irizarry returned to New York City to pursue a career as a professional musician. After playing with local groups for almost four years, his break finally came when Ray Barretto invited him to join his top-rated orchestra.* Shortly afterward, they were in studio recording the first of six productions. In April of 1983, Rubén Blades sought out Irizarry to join in the formation of Seís Del Solar. This association lasted for fourteen years and consisted of intense performing and traveling as well as the production of eight recordings. After Blades left and with his encouragement, the group continued performing and recorded two Latin jazz albums.

* Ralph Irizarry is a much sought-after studio musician who has played on countless jingles, film and television scores. In addition, he has performed, recorded and toured with the likes of Harry Belafonte, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Paquito D’Rivera, Juan Luis Guerra, Earl Klug, Israel López “Cachao”, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon and many others.* Irizarry has also appeared on the Johnny Carson Show and the David Letterman Show, as well as Don Francisco’s Sabado Gigante and Raul Velasco’s Siempre en Domingo.* Irizarry has been featured in the major motion film The Mambo Kings and documentaries such as Belafonte’s Routes of Rhythm, Cachao’s Como Mi Rítmo No Hay Dos and The Life of Rubén Blades.

In 1996, Ralph Irizarry created his own Latin jazz project –Timbalaye-- a septet with a different instrumental format: Latin percussion instruments instead of the typical drum set, as well as a fresh innovative sound. Timbalaye’s repertoire combines cotemporary jazz sounds with rhythmic elements from all over Latin America and Africa, as well as Cuba and Puerto Rico.* Two years after the group’s inception their first release, Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye, hit the market to critics’ acclaim. Best Kept Secret, their second, produced equal results in 2000.* Now, Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye have completed the latest --It's Time!-- to be released in the fall of 2003.

[Gentle Giant]

I know what you're thinking: Who the blank is Ralph Irizarry and why should I care?

The only answer I can give is that this is one smokin' CD and if you have any interest at all in latin jazz, or just like to hear a tight band kick some booty, you should check 'em out. The CD is for sale at their website for only $13.99, too

I want to point out a track called Ay New York, Tu Sabes, which features Felipe Luciano on spoken words on a track by Joaquin Betancourt. Similar to Don Byron's poet friend Sadiq on his albums, Luciano weaves his words through the fiber of the music so it's an organic whole. The prose explores the ethnic life of the city and the general state of diversity and tolerance in society. Sample line: "We who eat falafels and figs, mofungo and egg creams, and black-eyed peas stand transfixed for a minute, finally realizing there are people who don't like us, don't want to be us, and believe that God is on their side, too."

On the Road features a jagged, pulsing horn theme, steady undercurrent piano rhythm, percussion insanity, and a ferocious tenor solo.

Crikey, people, go to the website and take a listen!

[Gentle Giant]

Again, I know what you're thinking: this guy must make a buck off each Ralph Irizarry CD sold. Not true! I don't know the guy, never even heard of him before hearing this CD. But it's just amazing, and no one's reading the thread just because they never heard of him. But once you take a listen, you'll be hooked. I guarantee it.

[Chazro]

Wazzup GG!

Welcome to my world!! I am a Latin Jazz fanatic and have tried to drum up interest around these parts for years to no avail! Basically I gave up. Your reaction to the Irizarry disc is typical of anyone's reaction when they give El Jazz Latino a listen, usually they freak!! Anyhow........I saw Ralph and his band twice within 3 days here in Atlanta, if you EVER get a chance don't miss this smokin' band in concert, they really tear it up. I have all 3 of his releases and IMHO his latest is his weakest. It's still a great record mind you, but suffers in camparison to the 1st 2. Before going solo he was a member of Ruben Blades band, Seis Del Solar, they recorded a few records that sound like the genesis of what he's doing now, smokas one and all!! Irizarry's one of the top 5 timbales players on the planet and hardly anyone knows who he is, really a shame. This was the thought process to the title of his 2nd release, 'Best Kept Secret'. He felt he and his band were exactly that, it's commendable that he fights the good fight to keep the band goin'! Anyhow, let me know if you're interested and I'll post a few other titles that you're sure to enjoy. VAYA!!

[Gentle Giant]

Well, if his latest is his weakest, and the others must be just plain insane, because while I'm not a huge latin jazz fan, I do enjoy it, but It's Time really knocked my head off. Temendous energy and interplay. There's not much of a scene or demand here in Boston for this music, but if he ever comes around I'll definitely make it a priority to check him out.