CD Review: Mark Towns: Flamenco Jazz Latino (Salongo Records)
By Lee Prosser for JazzReview.com
Style: Latin Jazz / Latin Funk
Musicians: Mark Towns, guitar. Various guest artists.
Review: FLAMENCO JAZZ LATINO is a knockout of a Latin CD featuring the guitar stylings of gifted Mark Towns, with guests Hubert Laws playing flute with Rainel Pino on piano in the unique song, “Wind on the Mountain,” and Kirk Whalum playing tenor saxophone on “Medley: The Way / La Via.” A showcase for the guitar work of Mark Towns!
The 12 selections include “Touch,” “Like the Wind,” “After the Rain,” and “Salamanca,” among others. A highly melodic CD, this collection is enjoyable and should find new listeners for the always imaginative work of Mark Towns.
What sets this CD apart from others is its fresh imagination and handling of different Latin rhythms, such as the “guajira” rhythm found in “Sabrosa” highlighted with great skill by Rainel Pino on piano, Mark Towns on electric Spanish guitar, Jorge Cro-Cro Orta on congas, timbales, cowbell, guiro, and the talented Anibal Ambert on bass. For those who enjoy jazz in a Latino mode, Mark Towns’ FLAMENCO JAZZ LATINO
will give hours of enjoyable listening enjoyment!!!!