3rd Annual Chicago Latin Jazz Festival

Humboldt Park Boathouse, Friday, June 17, 2009

Eddie Ramos

Heitor Garcia

Lina Marie

Photos by James Walker

The third annual Latin Jazz Festival, co-sponsered by the Chicago Park District and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, was held on one of the coldest summer days in recent memory, yet true die-hard jazz fans did not let that deter them from packing the Humboldt Park Boathouse to capacity. And why not, when three of Chicago's hottest Latin-influenced ensembles kept things warm all night long with some steamy sounds that kept many in the audience up on their feet and dancing to these infectious beats.

The night started with sounds of Brazil as only Paulinho Garcia and his quartet can produce. Paulinho, one half of "Two for Brazil" (with Greg Fishman), is considered by many to be Chicago's ambassador to his native country.Garcia was joined onstage by his brother Heitor, bassist Bret Bentley, multi-reedist Steve Eisen and percussionist Geraldo de Oliveira.

Many of Paulinho's tunes were originals tajken from his recent CD, entitled "My Very Life." In addition, he paid homage to Dizzy Gillespie with Night in Tunisia, as well as the king of Bossa Nova, Antonio Carlos Jobim. Throughout the set, Eisen thrilled the crowd with some fine sax solos, while Paulinho's scatting seemed to delight those present.

Perhaps the liveliest of the three groups was John Rodrigues and Inspiracion Latina. This group consisted of Rodriguez on trombone, Victor Garcia on trumpet, Francisco Merced on piano, Osvaldo Merced on congas, Bret Bentley on bass, Jean Christophe Leroy on drums, David Velez on bongoes and Eddie Ramos on sax, with special guest vocalist Juan Rodriguez.

These cats wasted little time warming up the frigid crowd and kept the action hot throughout their set. Although this was the first time for this writer to review the group, it certainly won't be the last. Most of the ensemble members had outstanding extended solos during this portion of the program.

This exceptional night of Latin Jazz was concluded with the Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble (CALJE), led by keyboardist Darwin Noguera and trumpeter Victor Garcia. This group highlighted last summer's Made in Chicago Jazz series at Millenium Park with one of the year's top concerts.

The sixteen-piece band featured vocalists Renier Rosario and Lina Marie (Garcia's wife), in addition to one of Chicago's finest trumpeters, Tito Carillo. Of course, long-time collaborators, Garcia and Noguera, showcased their skills to the pleasure of the crowd. These two work so well together, and recently, Garcia took part in Noguera's Evolution Quartet's critically-acclaimed Chicago Sessions CD entitled The Gardener.

What an evening!!!!! It was such a pleasure seeing an array of children , women and men of all races assembled under the roof of the Humboldt Park Boathouse to bask in some of Chicago's finest Latin Jazz musicians. Let's hope that next year the weather will be more cooperative.