Michel Camilo (album)

After creating an international stir with his prior albums, Why Not? and Suntan/In Trio, Camilo was offered a contract with Sony which led to this outstanding self-titled album. On this album, two line ups of Camilo's trio are featured (Camilo, Johnson, Weckl; Camilo, Goines, Rosenblatt) as well as the guest appearance of conga master Mongo Santamaria. All compositions on the albums were written by Camilo with the execption of Keny Dorham's Blue Bossa.

As with every album Camilo produce's, he composes a tune for his wife (and manager) Sandra. Here, he opens up with the thrilling Suite Sandrine Part I, the first movement in a jazz suite dedicated to his wife. One may notice Camilo is more conservative with his licks, but puts in the same amount of intesity as his prior two albums. He continues with haunting lyrisicm of his ballad Nostalgia and mid tempo Dreamlight before finally kicking it with the straight ahead New York Style jazz tune, Crossroads. Providing a bit of an interlude, Camilo records Sunset solo piano (in concert this piece ofen serves as an introduction to Suite Sandrine Part I). Yarey provides the turning point between the straigh ahead works and latin works on the album. When least expected, Camilo changes the groving thurning the piece from straight ahead to jazz (the latin section he would turn into his master piece From Within while the straight ahead section would remain the basis for the first movement of his classical concerto). He continues his Latin groove with Pra Voce and Blue Bossa. The former incorporates some brazilian elements while Camilo completely changes the standard Bossa Nova rhythm into salsa for the latter. As the concluding track, Camilo introduces Caribe for the first time (demolishing the piano with every trick including various octave sclaes in a row and of course hi double time octave jumps) which would later become his claim to fame tune and the one with which he ends he concerts.

Personnel
Michel Camilo - Piano

Marc Johnson* - Bass

Lincoln Goines** - Bass

Dave Weckl* - Drums

Joel Rosenblatt** - Drums

Guest artist:  Mongo Santamaria - Congas

Track List

 * 1) Suite Sandrine Part I*
 * 2) Nostalgia*
 * 3) Dreamlight*
 * 4) Crossroads*
 * 5) Sunset (Interlude/Suite Sandrine)
 * 6) Yarey**
 * 7) Pra Voce (For Tania Maria)**
 * 8) Blue Bossa (Keny Dorham)
 * 9) Caribe**