Back in the day, people going to their first Grateful Dead show were given this advice: “If you get bored, just watch the drums.” The spirit of that advice is applicable to flautist Mark Weinstein’s latest CD. Not that Timbasa is boring, far from it-if anything, this should be counted as the first great jazz party disc of 2010. But as great as Weinstein is here, his percussion section’s overall performance is off the charts.
On balance, “Milestones” is one of the more conservative pieces in trumpeter Miles Davis’ catalog. But put Cuban percussion masters like drummer Mauricio Herrera, conguero/co-producer Pedrito Martinez and bongo master Ogduardo Diaz behind this disc-opener, and things get tribal in a big hurry. Weinstein’s lines are absolutely thrilling as the piece builds momentum, and even though the group pulls back for Axel Tosca Laugart’s piano solo, the piece’s edge stays extremely sharp.
Weinstein may not have the accuracy of Dave Valentin or Herbie Mann, but he more than makes up for that with a relentless passion that runs through every piece on Timbasa. He stuffs Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” into a 7/4 time signature and makes it work, albeit with a terrific assist from Laugart. Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” doesn’t have to be stuffed, because it lends itself perfectly to the disc’s Cuban vibe, as does the Duke Ellington/Juan Tizol collaboration “Caravan” and Chucho Valdes’ calypso-on-steroids rave-up “A Ernesto.”
It’s not all covers, though. Weinstein’s “Just Another Guajira” offers sweethearts everywhere a chance to step onto the floor and let it all hang out. In addition to Martinez’ stellar work on congas, he contributes a title track that lets Herrera truly go to town, and Weinstein positively wails on Martinez’ second offering “Encuentro.”
While it’s good that jazz can be the most cerebral music around, it’s also a good thing to turn the mind off and let the mojo run things for a while. Timbasa is a satisfying reminder that sunshine, sandy beaches and Mojitos are on the other side of the snowstorms of winter.