The "STORY" behind the music of VIDA RICA...: The majority of Vida Rica hints strongly at the heritage of Enrique, which permeates his "voice", whether it be via the tuba, his scatting, or piano playing. The passionate, earthy and ethnic mixture of [+]The "STORY" behind the music of VIDA RICA...: The majority of Vida Rica hints strongly at the heritage of Enrique, which permeates his "voice", whether it be via the tuba, his scatting, or piano playing. The passionate, earthy and ethnic mixture of his own background sings strong (Argentina, Spain, Southern Russia, Mexico, Native American, and Israel). Joining him on this CD is the stellar talent of "Sly", whose abilities at the piano are intuitive, and full of risk, while his tuba playing ranges from be-bop to Funk bass lines. Yisrael Voraita is an ancient Chasidic melody played over a Latin Songo-like groove with numerous and seamless transitions in style, as you will also hear on other selections. Unique in this selection is Hank's multi-phonics which create a mysterious ambience. Quemado, a seductive Gypsy-like Tango, opens with the statement (sung in Spanish) "...the challenge of passionate love...is to understand your own soul." During this original song, there are three sung stanzas. The first describes Passionate Love as delicious and dangerous; the second one "Logical Love" is described as not very passionate, and states that an empassioned soul cannot live without trying to find true love. The third stanza states, "True Love... is like having the sun inside your mouth...it must be released and allowed to grow into a beautiful life. And when your life is full of this kind of love, this is what it sounds like" Each vocal stanza is then answered by an instrumental or vocal solo which transcends the poetry. Touch, an original R&B song, features Hank's sultry lyrics and the fat dark bass lines of Sly. Fe, another original song, was a five minute piece when Hank first performed it at the 1997 ITEC in Riva del Garda, Italy to the great joy of humanity consuming Pizza and Grapa in their Piazza! Today, Fe (Spanish for "Faith" in general) has become an epic journey which is a musical description of the Joy of Life, the challenges of Life, and the passion which can be imbedded in both. Unique in this song is the muted piano and the scatting through the tuba mouthpiece. The remaining selections remain passionate, unique and energetic arrangements of well known Latin Jazz and Jazz works. Vida Rica, also the title of the CD, translates to "The Go
|
 |