Tete Montoliu, a native of the Catalonian region of Spain, was best-known for his interpretations of standards from the Great American Songbook; he was equally familiar with popular works by jazz greats.
This release has a different focus, emphasizing the works of Spanish composers.
His quartet includes bassist Manuel Elias, drummer Peer Wyboris and conga player Rogelio Juárez.
But Montoliu's style of playing is still steeped in bop, even if the rhythm has a Latin flavor.
His driving arrangement of Mario Clavell's "Somos" briefly detours into Kenny Dorham's "Blue Bossa," while "Mienteme" has a jaunty air, performed in waltz time to a Latin beat.
"Somos Novios" is also known in the U.S.
as "It's Impossible," yet the pianist's version is far more interesting than the usually hackneyed recordings by pop singers.
One song that may be Spanish in flavor but not origin is "Poinciana," which was a huge hit for Ahmad Jamal.
Montoliu's rendering of it has its own distinct flavor as he displays his formidable technique.
Recommended.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SomosMario Clavel | Tete Montoliu | Play | 04:22 | 9 MB | 24 MB |
| 2 | MiéntemeA. Domínguez | Tete Montoliu | Play | 05:13 | 11 MB | 23 MB |
| 3 | Sabrá DiosAlvaro Carrillo | Tete Montoliu | Play | 04:12 | 9 MB | 21 MB |
| 4 | Siboney | Tete Montoliu | Play | 03:45 | 8 MB | 20 MB |
| 5 | Somos NoviosArmando Manzanero | Tete Montoliu | Play | 05:12 | 11 MB | 25 MB |
| 6 | Piel Canela | Tete Montoliu | Play | 03:11 | 7 MB | 18 MB |
| 7 | PoncianaNat Simon | Tete Montoliu | Play | 04:30 | 10 MB | 24 MB |
| 8 | Por el amor de una mujer | Tete Montoliu | Play | 04:50 | 11 MB | 22 MB |
| 9 | Sabor a mi | Tete Montoliu | Play | 04:56 | 11 MB | 25 MB |
| 40 mins | 92 MB | |||||
| 40 mins | 206 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antonio Armet | Producer |
| 2 | Alvaro Carrillo | Composer |
| 3 | Mario Clavel | Composer |
| 4 | Danny Daniel | Composer |
| 5 | A. Domínguez | Composer |
| 6 | Armando Manzanero | Composer |
| 7 | Tete Montoliu | Primary Artist |
| 8 | Carlos Sampayo | Liner Notes |
| 9 | Nat Simon | Composer |
| 10 | Peer Wyboris | Drums |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |