A rare OC appearance for Catina, and welcoming back Otmaro, who is considered THE giant among piano giants in Los Angeles!
Catina DeLuna - vocals, Otmaro Ruiz - piano and arrangements, Chris Wabich - drums, Larry Koonse - guitar, Edwin Livingston - bass
When I’m introduced to any music, I have one main desire: to hear something that I haven’t heard before. But I don’t want “NEW” just for the sake of “New.” It has to be rooted in something. Something deep and excellent. Then, it needs to go somewhere.
Earlier this year, I heard the band you will hear on this CD, “Lado B,” for the first time. I looked at the stage, and I saw musicians whom I knew and admired: Larry Koonse, Otmaro Ruiz and Aaron Serfaty. I was sure that depth and excellence would be taken care of. Then, when they began to play Otmaro’s thrilling arrangement of “Double Rainbow,” I knew that the something “New” was also here – in spades.
It isn’t easy to take these songs on a journey that makes them sound fresh as rain water but still
reminds you of the music that has drawn generations of Americans to “The Great ‘Brazillian’
Songbook.” But Lado B does just that.
Singer/Pianist Catina DeLuna had the original vision of this project, as well as being responsible for the band’s name “Lado B” which is Portuguese for “Side B” – that is; the flip side of the LP where some unnoticed gems may be found. I wasn’t surprised to find out that she is a voice-over actress in her native Portuguese. Her ability to story-tell is apparent throughout. Listen to her on “Contrato de Separacao,” “Lamentos” or a classic-sounding version of “Fotografia” (with Catina herself at the piano). But I think she shines most when she is “one of the boys,” nailing unison lines throughout the project with piano, guitar, accordion or flute… or trading a haunting improvisation with Larry Koonse at the end of “Estrela Azul” (a previously unrecorded beauty).
And this is as it should be, because the “featured artist” here is the ensemble, a living, breathing unit, caressing these arrangements with musicality and gorgeous playing by all involved. Bob
Sheppard’s stunning flute lines, Edwin Livingston’s flawless work on bass and Aaron Serfaty’s unfailing taste, tradition and groove on drums. And then there is Larry Koonse who offers one breathtaking, impossibly lyrical guitar solo after another.
So, yes, this is a group effort for sure, but most of all, my hat is off to Otmaro Ruiz. I’ve known for years that Otmaro is one of our truly great jazz pianists, but here he also shows his skills as producer and arranger. His inclusion of Nick Mancini on Marimba and percussionists Clarice Cast and Alex Acuña, and his lush use of vocal chorus on several songs, show a musician rooted in excellence and the best of Brazillian tradition. But then… there is the something new. The arrangements provide a huge dynamic range and listening I was reminded of everything from Pat Metheny to Gretchen Parlato to Billy Childs to Joao Gilberto. Finally there’s his daring take on: “Garota de Ipanema” (“Girl From
Ipanema”). He reharmonizes, changes meter and modulates. Some might be taken aback, but come ON people: did we REALLY need another version the same old way?? If you’re gonna go out on a limb, THAT’s the song to do it on. Bravo Otmaro. And Bravo “Lado B.”
– Tierney Sutton, Los Angeles, CA, April 2015
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/catinadeluna
Admission includes light snacks, soda, and water. Wine is available by donation