Tl Combined Press June 15

Bach in Havana

Tiempo Libre | Sony Classical (2009) By Chris M. Slawecki Comments

This title provides a pun on the enclosed concept, through which Tiempo Libre, led by pianist and co-producer Jorge Gomez, connects the rhythms and melodies of Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz with the venerated melodies and harmonies of Johann Sebastian Bach. "What's interesting to me is that we revere Bach for his musical genius," explains Gomez. "But the fact that he was composing works for his contemporaries as a "popular" artist while also creating deeply religious compositions, and that he was fascinated by dance rhythms, makes him an even more powerful inspiration for me." Bach in Havana celebrates genius, melodic or rhythmic, in every corner you look. The opening "Tu Conga Bach" cooks up a hot polyrhythmic conga from its first percussion flash fire. The horns and Gomez's piano create a rhythmic undertow by tossing the melody of "Fuga" (based on Sonata in D Minor, BVW.964) back and forth, like cresting ocean waves. It's hard to convey how "Minuet in G," this Latin adornment of one of Bach's most famous and honored melodies, sounds both profoundly respectful and yet so different. Laying out piano notes like spreading a plush carpet before the ensemble, Gomez transforms the 3/4 minuet standard time into a feverish, compelling 4/4 guanganco that leaps and bounds through a musical kaleidoscope of vocals, congas, trumpet and saxophone. Percussion and piano merge into a single voice in "Clave in C Minor" (Prelude No. 2 in C Minor), an intensely dynamic whirl of melody made indistinguishable from rhythm that grows even more powerful when the horns jump shotgun on this same groove. It culminates with the genuinely sacred music of "Kyrie" (Mass in B Minor), which opens with a vocal choir and strings in a reverential mood unbroken when the percussion, piano, and other instruments join the procession. Gomez's piano part is breathtakingly gorgeous, distilling Cuban passion and romantic classicism into one single essence. Bach in Havana is so good, so expertly conceived and executed, that it's almost ridiculous. Tiempo Libre at All About Jazz. Visit Tiempo Libre on the web. Track listing: Tu Conga Bach (conga); Fuga (Sonata in D Minor, BVW. 964, Fuga-Allegro, cha-chacha); Air on a G String (bolero); Clave in C Minor (Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, guaguanco); Gavotte from French Suite No. 5 in G Major (son); Mi Orisha (6/8 bata) (French Suite No. 2 in C Minor French); Minuet in G (guaguanco); Olas de Yemaya (C Major Prelude from WTC Book 1, batá); Baqueto con Bajo (Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, danzon); Timbach (D Major Prelude, WTC Book 1, timba); Kyrie (Mass in B Minor Mass, bata).

Personnel: Jorge Gomez: music director; arranger; keyboards; background vocals; Joaquin "El Kid" Diaz: lead vocals; Leandro González: congas, background vocals; Tebelio "Tony" Fonte: electric bass, background vocals; Cristobal Ferrer Garcia: trumpet; Hilario Bell: percussion, timbales; Luis "Rosca" Beltran Castillo: tenor saxophone; Yosvanny Terry: saxophone; Paquito D'Rivera: saxophone, clarinet. Style: Latin/World Published: June 11, 2009

thegoodlife books

summer beach reads

We asked Megan and Andrew Foley, siblings and co-owners of Sarasota News and Books, for their seasonal picks

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new

downtown debut New places to shop, eat and play in Downtown Disney + O r l a n d o

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Duma Key by Stephen King

Blood Island

>> Set on an island

by H. Terrell Griffin 

The Girl Who Played with Fire

>> On a quest to find his

by Stieg Larsson

ex-wife’s missing step-

>> Set in Europe and

Edgar Freemantle, who

by Laurence Leamer

daughter, Matt Royal

the Caribbean, this se-

is recovering from a

>> Get an insider peek

(now in his third Griffin

quel to the best-selling

divorce and the dev-

into the private lives of

novel) is catapulted from

The Girl with the Dragon

astating loss of an arm

the Palm Beach elite.

Longboat Key, where

Tattoo features the

from a construction-

The author gained ac-

a string of murders are

unforgettable computer-

site accident. While on

cess (and trust) of

taking place, to Key

hacker heroine going

the island, Freemantle

many of the glossy

West. Here he discov-

AWOL with a former

discovers he has a pas-

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ers nearby Blood Island,

flame after becoming a

sion for drawing (and is

dishes on their divorce,

the headquarters of a

suspect in several mur-

actually pretty good at

alcoholism and affairs

religious cult scheming

ders. At times grisly

it), but it turns out that

through vignettes. The

to wreak havoc on the

with a touch of goth,

his pictures foreshad-

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world. The case of the

this truly original crime

ow real events or even

gossip column, and we

missing girl goes much

series is a hit in Europe.

cause them to happen.

just love it.

deeper than expected.

— Kls

just off Florida’s west coast, King’s latest novel tells the story of

Madness Under the Royal Palms

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Tren-D is what Mickey fashionistas have been waiting for: a ladies boutique with bedazzling chandeliers and chic clothes, luggage and sunglasses from designers like Kidada Jones. + On kiosks throughout Designa-Tee, die-hard fans can create custom shirts with their fave characters.

E AT At T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, ancient reptiles roar to life among faux ice caves and volcanoes as diners enjoy aptly named gigantosaurus burgers during meteor showers that take place every 20 minutes. + Explore the flavors of North, Central and South America, including a headspinning 37 types of tequila, at Paradiso 37.

PL AY Float 300 feet in the air (and see all of Disney World in one day) on the yellow tethered Characters of Flight balloon decorated with characters like Mary Poppins. disneyworld.com — KLS

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music you will love The guys of Miami-based Latin band Tiempo Libre are an infectious, rambunctious and unbelievably attractive bunch. The Grammy nominees’ new release, Bach in Havana, innovatively blends their classical training with the timba, son and salsa rhythms that fill venues from Florida to New York’s Lincoln Center. We just love ’em. tiempolibremusic.com 1 6 floridatravellife.com + july/august

Performing ocean-side in Daytona Beach

Photography paul love (4), amy mikler

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NEW TIMES Friday Night: Tiempo Libre at La Casa de Tula By CrossFade in Concert Review, Local Music Tuesday, Jun. 2 2009 @ 08:25AM

photo by Jose Davila Tiempo Libre Friday, May 27, 2009 La Casa de Tula Night Club, Calle Ocho, Miami Better Than: Any other salsa night anywhere in town. The Review: For those who really know their salsa steps there was only one place to be last Friday. And that spot, of course, was the Tiempo Libre record release party at the Casa de Tula Nightclub on Calle Ocho. The hard-hitting Tiempo Libre is one of Miami's most accomplished tropical orchestras. The world - touring, two - time - Grammy - nominated band has been mixing the best of vintage Cuban-style mambo with hot tropical Caribbean rhythms to worldwide acclaim. Their CD release party was the perfect time to catch them at the top of their game inside the alwaysred-hot Casa de Tula, the cool but steamy Calle Ocho Latin hotspot. The crowd inside the packed club was a mixture of old-school salsa hipsters and young urbanites. Everyone was in high spirits, and the in-house DJ kept things moving with a cool mix of tropical Top 40, bachata, and of course, some pumping reggaeton.

At around 11 p.m., Tiempo Libre took to the tiny stage, turning the full-to-capacity club into a mini carnival. Staring with classics from their first album (the Grammy-nominated Arroz con Mango) like "Se Formo La Rumba," the orchestra energized their fans. The small set-up also made songs like the lovely "Ven Pa Miami" into intimate moments. Lead singer Joaquin Diaz, who is an astonishingly solid performer, thrilled and mesmerized the audience with his jovial, warm approach. With their true and tested songs from the first album out of the way, Tiempo Libre moved on to their material from Bach In Havana, their new record based on Johann Sebastian Bach classical music standards.The new numbers, with names such as "Minuet in G" and "Timbach," focus the well-known Bach compositions over Cuban grooves like timba, guaguanco, and the cha-cha-cha. And judging by the audience's reaction, the group's new direction is a hit. Throughout the Bach-induced numbers the elegantly dressed crowd danced and spun to Tiempo Libre's new classical-Cuban hybrid. As the band finished its first set (the musicians would come back at 1 a.m. for an encore presentation), it was clear why Tiempo Libre is so beloved all around the world. They genuinely represent the best of the Afro-Cuban musical heritage, while at the same time adding new flavors and ideas into their rhythms. -- Jose Davila