Triangulo (album)

One of the most important jazz musicians to emerge in the past decade, Camilo marks his move to Telarc with "Triangulo", his most adventurous yet accessible recording to date. After his last trio album, Thru My Eyes, Camilo chose to keep Horcio "El Negro" Hernandez on drums to take Dave Weckl's spot. This addition to the band gives Camilo a more authentic latin sound. Camilo is also more reserved in this album than his 90s counterpart but still keeps up his intensity.

Piece of Cake is a salsa and cha-cha crossover. As the title states, Camilo plays this piece through effortlessly, but not carelessly. Here, we can immediately see the sublty of Camilo's playing and the latin background produced by Hernandez. The trio takes on Ernesto Lecuona's La Comparsa, a Latin jazz standard. Camilo modernizes the piece from its original form adding in novel chords with Anthony Jackson rocking the Afro-cubano bass line. Chano Dominguez’s Mr. C.I. is brought to life with Camilo's virtuosity. Hernandez provides the militaristic falmenco rhythm while Camilo pounds away. Afterthought is a ballad written by Camilo. This is quite different from most of his ballads because of the flavors Hernandez puts into it which would be different from what Dave Weckl would have done.  Anthony’s Blues is written of course for Anthony Jackon. While the form at first maybe hard to follow, if one keep track of time and the cuts one can figure out where Camilo is in the piece. THe band then does a mellow take on  Dizzy Gillespie’s “Con Alma” for a tempo change followed by another Latin standard Las Dos Lorettas  Camilo takes a rocking solo and takes the piece out with the head and Anthony Jackson's Bass solo. Just Like You is similar to Afterthought, in respect to Hernandez playing. Descarga for Tito (Puente) begins with a montuno in 5/4. Hernandez comes in playing (somehow) a 5/4 clave. Jackson comes in with a bass line before the melody hits. This song is all out Camilo and is non stop action until the last 5/4 counterpart of the Oye Como Va rhythm. dotcom-bustion (with lower case letters accroding to the album) is simply a jam in 7/4 just to end the album.

When talents as formidable as Michel Camilo, Anthony Jackson and Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez get together to make music, it’s an event. Their distinct voices converge on Triangulo, a scintillating musical conversation between three masters whose versatility seems to have no limits.

Personnel
Michel Camilo - Piano

Anthony Jackson - Contrabass Guitar

Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez