Carlos Jimenez: Arriving

CARLOS JIMENEZ Arriving (Crash Boat Records)

With Latin jazz now being righteously recognized worldwide as one of the legitimate expressions of music heard around the world, Puerto Rican flutist/composer/arranger/bandleader Carlos Jiménez debuts with Arriving. Mentored by veteran players Dave Valentín and Bobby Porcelli, Jiménez travels in a sea of mostly quiet storms, sailing through a repertoire of original scores, with the exception of the Miles Davis composition So What, brilliantly arranged by Jiménez that features him and Dave Valentín on flutes. Saxophonist Bobby Porcelli is featured on the title track and on My Allison (dedicated to Jiménez's wife). But the true hero here is pianist Hilton Ruiz, whose amazing talents come through in every selection, paving the way for Jimenez's melodies to come alive. Other winners here include the selections Flute & Violin featuring another guest musician, Lewis Kahn on violin, and ¿Qué Paso? (a 6/8 tempo heavily driven by Ruiz with interesting solos by Jiménez and bassist Geoff Brennan).

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