Rendezvous (Michel Camilo album)

In this exciting album, Camilo brings back Anthony Jackson on contrabass guitar and Dave Weckl on drums. This is the last recording with the orginal trio, before Camilo admits Horacio Hernandez into the band after Weckl moves on. Camilo arranges versions of Caravan, a jazz standard byJuan Tizol), and El Realejo, a Flamenco Latin jazz tune.  This is considered one of his most presitgious albums as it provided another Camilo standard that would be played at most of his concerts for many years to come, From Within.

Tropical Jam starts of the album with a caribbean flavored beat provided by Weckl. Gospel heavily influences this piece and can be seen peaking behind the curtain while the Latin beat mostly dominates. Caravan is uniquely done. Camilo takes it slow, but the piece is still driven by Jackson's ominious bass playing and Weckl following Camilo's lead every step of the way. El Realejo picks up the pace but continues with the same intesity. This piece showcase a new Camilo which would be used forever there after. This is probably one of his most complex licks that is so amazingly stupefying that one cannot even describe it in words. The title track, provides a lax mood at the beginning, but Camilo finds a way to spice it up and jam his way back to the melody. As One, as the titile suggests, is supurb because of the way the three musicians support each other even if the song may be a modal bluesy piece. Weckl is allowed a solo on this track and can be heard quoting a rhthym from Chick Corea's "Spain" if one listens closely. Remembrance, is a ballad that would eventually become the second movement for his Concerto for piano and Orchestra. Blacky derives it's inspriation from Chick Corea's style of playing. The solo section is incredible simply because of the structure and the build Camilo puts into the piece. It finally ends with Dave Weckl soloing while Camilo and Jackson play the melody. Albertina, is a funk piece included by Camilo deriving inspiration from Oscar Peterson, although he does make the piece more modern like than Oscar would have done it. To conclude the album, is his masterpiece ''From Within. ''While starting off ballad like, the piece turns into a salsa where Camilo shows off all his talents combining funk and Latin elements before a montuno section overwhich Dave Weckl solos for the last time with Camilo in the studio.

Personnel
Michel Camilo - Piano

Anthony Jackson - Bass

Dave Weckl - Drums

Track Listings

 * 1) Tropical Jam
 * 2) Caravan
 * 3) El Realejo
 * 4) Rendezvous
 * 5) As One
 * 6) Remembrance
 * 7) Blacky
 * 8) Albertina
 * 9) From Within