Dom Um Romão - Hotmosphere (1976)

More pop than hot, this mixed bag from Brazilian drummer and percussionist Dom Um Romão ranges from singalong Carnival tunes to more substantial tracks featuring superior arranging and solo work. A veteran of the Latin, pop, and jazz scenes, Romao's extensive CV includes work with Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 and an early edition of Weather Report. Hotmosphere is in the Latin pop vein of the Mendes group, rather than a missing chapter from the days of Weather Report's I Sing the Body Electric. While Romao is the titular leader, his role on this 1976 release is more of an ensemble member than featured artist. It's Célia Vaz's arrangements for a crack lineup of session players that are the main interest. The high points are the four or five arrangements that gracefully interweave the horns with the sensuously pulsing voices of Sivuca, Julie Janeiro, and Gloria Oliveira. The charts also work in some intriguing Oregon-like passages for cello and soprano sax, and set up strong solos from Mauricio Smith on soprano sax and flute, Dom Salvador on piano, and from trumpeter Claudio Roditi, who brings some hard bop fire to the date. Sivuca's several solos where he vocalizes in unison with his uncredited accordion will be, at best, an acquired taste for listeners. Many, though, will find his piercing nasal tone annoying. ~ by Jim Todd, AMG.

Pablo Records, 2310-777, 1976
Original Jazz Classics, OJCCD-977-2, 1998
Recorded 12^th, 13^th January and 17^th & 23^rd February, 1976 At RCA Recording Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Dom Um Romão - Drums
Alan Rubin, Claudio Roditi - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jack Jeffries, Tom Malone - Trombone
Ronnie Cuber, Sonny Fortune - Saxophone
Mauricio Smith - Soprano Saxophone
Lou Del Gatto, Mauricio Smith - Clarinet, Flute
Dom Salvador - Piano
Ricardo Peixoto, Sivuca - Acoustic Guitar
Ron Carter - Acoustic Bass
Juan "Tito" Russo - Electric Bass
Pat Dixon, Ulysses Kirksey - Cello
Steve Kroon - Percussion, Congas
Glória Oliveira, Julie Janiero, Sivuca - Backing Vocals
Célia Vaz - Conductor, Arranger 

Tracks:
A1. Escravos De Jo {Milton Nascimento} (4:06)
A2. Mistura Fina {Luiz Bandeira} (3:10)
A3. Caravan {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol} (5:14)
A4. Spring {Ricardo Peixoto} (3:33)
A5. Pra Que Chorar {Baden Powell} (4:44)
B1. Amor Em Jacuma {Dom Um Romão, Luiz Ramalho} (5:28)
B2. Cisco Two {Célia Vaz} (4:10)
B3. Tumbalelê {Francisco Neto, Jarbas Reis, Milton Neves} (3:21)
B4. Piparapara {Claudio Roditi} (3:53)
B5. Chovendo Na Roseira {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (3:16) 

Total Time: 40:55

Credits:
Producer - Dom Um Romão
Engineer - Bob Simpson
Remastering - Kirk Felton
Cover, Design, Layout - Norman Granz
Photography - Monica Botkay
Liner Notes - Christine Jacobsen

Robin Kenyatta - Nomusa (1975) [vinyl>flac]

When I interviewed him in 1974, Robin Kenyatta allowed that, for him, "jazz has always been about stomping your feet or clapping your hands; it's always been about being happy. I don't mean I just want to work in discotheques or play for dancers, but I want the feeling to be there. People should feel like dancing, feel like being happy. That's the feeling I always try to keep in my mind." Nomusa isn't a heavy, get-down dancing album. It's a light, pirouetting, on-your-toes-and-into-the-air dancing album. And feelings, happy feelings, are definitely what it's about. ~ Bob Palmer.

Muse Records, MR 5062, 1975

Recorded 28^th January, 1975 at Blue Rock Studios, New York

Musicians:

Robin Kenyatta - Alto Saxophone, Soprano & Alto Saxes (#A1)

Xaba Ndikho - Piano (#A1)

Dom Salvador - Piano, Organ (#A1)

Stafford James - Bass

Joe Chambers - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Nomusa {Xaba Ndikho} (9:33)

A2. Warm Valley {Duke Ellington} (7:35)

B1. Slow Boat To China {Frank Loesser} (6:29)

B2. Afternoon Outing {John Handy} (5:35)

B3. Prettyside Avenue {John Handy} (6:19)

Note:

#B1 is a duet between Robin Kenyatta and Dom Salvador with each musician overdubbing a second part.

Credits:

Producer - Michael Cuscuna

Recording Engineer - Eddie Korvin

Jacket Photo and Design - Leandro Katz

Liner Notes - Bob Palmer

Also Released as:

Robin Kenyatta - Warm Valley

American Jazz & Blues History, Vol. 56

Tobacco Road [B/2556]

Germany

------------------------

Happy Bird B/90091 (1975)

Germany

Dom Um Romão - Spirit Of The Times (1975) [vinyl>re-rip,true flac]

For Spirit of the Times Romao contributes two more stunning percussion monologues, “Ginga Gingou” and “Cosinha.” As he states in Robert Palmer's expertly-penned liners, the street music of Brazil as practiced by the samba schools (not schools per se, but groups of percussionists) is really reflective of the African influence on the blacks of Brazil. Short of making your own field recordings during carnival time in Rio, Romao's recreations celebrate a festive spirit that's the next best thing. There's a more organic feel throughout to these selections too, although electronic elements, such as Joe Beck's wah-wah guitar, fit tastefully into the mix. Acting as a worthy microcosm of Brazilian fusion from the '70s, these recordings should serve the uninitiated well in that they're meaty but undeniably tuneful and enticing. Following on the heels of a recent renaissance in Brazilian music, particularly overseas and in Japan, Romao's Muse recordings have aged well and will be sure to please those individuals with a taste for the exotic and an open mind. ~ Chris Hovan, http://www.allaboutjazz.com.

Wicked Brazil album with the fusion tracks 'Wait On The Corner', 'The Angels' & 'Kitchen'. ~ http://www.rushhour.nl

An incredible set of Brazilian jazz - one of the few albums that percussionist Dom Um Romao recorded as a leader, and sublime all the way through! The record's got a wonderful blend of funky fusion and Brazilian percussion - and features a group from two continents that includes Sivuca on organ, Dom Salvador on electric piano, Joe Beck on guitar, Jerry Dodgion on alto sax, Lloyd McNeill on flute, and Mauricio Smith on tenor, soprano, and flute. Includes the percussion jammer "Shake (Ginga Gingou)", the modal groover "Wait on the Corner", and the lively scatting tune "The Angels" – but the whole album's great, and other tracks include "The Salvation Army", "Kitchen", and "Lamento Negro". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Muse Records, MR 5049, 1975

Recorded 6^th June & 21^st November, 1973

Musicians:

Dom Um Romão - Drums, Percussion

Dom Salvador - Piano, Electric Piano

Joe Beck - Electric Guitar

Lloyd McNeill - Flute

Sivuca - Organ, Piano, Guitar

Amauri Tristao - Acoustic Guitar

Jerry Dodgion - Alto Saxophone, Flute

Mauricio Smith - Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Flute

Frank Tusa - Bass

Portinho - Percussion

Track Listing:

A1. Shakin' [Ginga Gingou] {Dom Um Romão} (3:01)

A2. Wait On The Corner {Humberto Teixeira, Sivuca} (6:18)

A3. Lamento Negro {Dom Um Romão} (3:59)

B1. Highway {Amauri Tristao} (4:25)

B2. The Angels {Dom Salvador} (4:03)

B3. The Salvation Army {Dom Salvador} (4:05)

B4. Kitchen [Cosinha] {Dom Um Romão} (2:48)

Credits:

Producer - Dom Um Romão, Joe Fields

Recording Engineer - Michael Delugg

Album Design - Ron Warwell

Liner Notes - Bob Palmer

Dom Um Romão - Dom Um Romão (1973) [vinyl>re-rip,true flac]

An unbelievably fantastic album, and perhaps the greatest one that Dom Um Romão ever did. Dom recorded this one in America with a blend of Brazilian and New York musicians - creating an incredible sound that's unlike anything else one can think of. Includes the spare spacey groover "Dom's Tune", the lively dancer "Cinnamon Flower", the jazzy "Family Talk", a great version of "Ponteio", and a take on Sivuca's "Adeus Maria Fulô" with João Donato on electric harpsichord. ~ @ Dusty Groove Inc..

This LP was probably one of my first introductions to Brazilian music when I bought it in the early 80s after hearing Braun Blek Blu - it completely blew me away. I couldn't believe this could be the work of just one man, his drum kit, a cow bell and vocals!!! And what an LP to get-a storming version of Ponteio and each track a killer in its own right. But of course - it also features the great João Donato! Orgyinrhythm

Muse Records, MR 5013, 1974

Recorded 6^th June & 21^st November, 1973

Musicians:

Dom Um Romão - Drums, Percussion

Dom Salvador - Electric Piano, Piano

Lloyd McNeil - Flute

Joe Beck - Electric Guitar

João Donato - Harpsichord, Piano

Sivuca - Organ, Piano, Guitar

Amauri Tristao - Acoustic Guitar

Jerry Dodgion - Alto Saxophone, Flute

Mauricio Smith - Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Flute

Richard Kimball - Synthesizer

Jimmy Bossey - Trombone

William Campbell, Jr. - Trumpet

Frank Tusa - Bass

Stanley Clarke - Bass

Eric Gravatt - Congas

Portintio - Percussion

Track Listing:

A1. Dom's Tune {Dom Um Romão} (8:43)

A2. Cinnamon Flower [Cravo E Canela] {Milton Nascimento} (4:53)

A3. Family Talk {Dom Um Romão} (5:42)

B1. Ponteio {Edu Lobo, Ruy Guerra} (6:07)

B2. Braun-Blek-Blu {Dom Um Romão} (4:40)

B3. Adeus Maria Fulô {Sivuca, Humberto Teixeira} (8:03)

Credits:

Producer - Dom Um Romão, Joe Fields

Recording Engineer - Michael DeLugg

Liner Notes - Gary Giddins

Azar Lawrence - Summer Solstice

On his second album on Prestige there is even more powerful tenor and soprano work because there are fewer soloists and no singers. There is a Brazilian overtone and a spiritual jazz undertone (and sometimes vice-versa) that puts this album into a world of it's own except perhaps for the short lived acoustic Weather Report. Both of these albums grow on you with repeated listening (for example I barely notice the vocals on Bridge anymore) but this one kind of opens up and reveals more and more depth. This guy was one baaad ass player!

from Dusty Groove
"A beautiful album of spiritual soul and Brazilian influenced jazz from Azar Lawrence – ... Lawrence is a stellar sax player with a sound that's a bit like Gary Bartz, which means that he fits in perfectly with the Fantasy-era Prestige Records sound – but the sounds on this set are uncommonly rich and globally influenced. The set's predominantly acoustic, with lots of modal grooves in kind of a Strata East vein – and angular post-Coltrane playing that's very similar to Bartz's work on the Libra album from his early days. Players include Raul De Souza on trombone, Ron Carter on bass, Billy Hart on drums, Dom Salvador, who is really allowed to shine on piano on a few tracks, and drummer & percussionist Guilherme Franco, who brings a world of wonderful percussion on a couple of numbers. Titles include "Highway", "From The Point of Love", "Novo Ano", and "From The Point Of Light".