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Alex Conde: Descarga for Bud

By Mark Sullivan
October 21, 2021
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Pianist, composer and arranger

Alex Conde

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Conde has a unique identity; he is a flamenco musician who combines flamenco with his jazz background. After the broad Latin fusion of Origins (Uprising/Ropeadope, 2018), Conde has returned to a focus on classic bebop. Like Descarga For Monk (Zoho Music, 2015), the pianist revisits a foundational bebop pianist. And the recording sessions took place in Oakland, with an ensemble which duplicates many of the players on the Monk sessions.

Pianist

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell may be even more revered as a pianist than

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk; certainly his style was more widely emulated. But he is not as highly regarded as a composer, and Conde's program shines a welcome light on several lesser-known tunes, while also including more commonly played highlights such as "Parisian Thoroughfare," "Tempus Fugit" and "Celia." The arrangements re-imagine the songs underlaid with Latin dance rhythms, listed as subtitles in the track list.

For the core band, Conde is joined by percussionist

John Santos

percussion
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">John Santos, double bassist

Jeff Chambers

bass, acoustic
1955 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Chambers and drummer

Colin Douglas

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Colin Douglas (augmented by additional percussionist

Sergio Martinez

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Sergio Martinez)—a grouping similar to the Monk session. These arrangements benefit from an expanded ensemble on several tracks, beginning with trumpeter

Mike Olmos

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Olmos on the opener "The Fruit," a sprightly tune not often played which benefits from the buleria rhythm. Guitarist

Jose Luis de la Paz

guitar, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Jose Luis de la Paz amplifies the flamenco feel on "Oblivion," and adds even more to "Parisian Thoroughfare" with two overdubbed guitars and a solo.

Jeff Narell

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Narell's steel pan contributes a unique color to "Wall," which is given an appropriate Calypso treatment.

Above all else, there is a powerful synthesis between Conde's flamenco-influenced arrangements and Powell's foundational bebop language. It is bebop and flamenco, and has an energy all of its own. Flamenco and bebop fans should both take note.

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Track Listing

The Fruit (Buler��a); Oblivion (Tangos); Bouncing with Bud (Alegr��a); Dusk in Saudi (Sole��); Wail (Calypso); Parisian Thoroughfare (Buler��a al golpe); Hallucinations (Latin/Jazz); Tempus Fugit (Rumba); Celia (Buler��a).

Personnel

Alex Conde

piano

John Santos

percussion

Jeff Chambers

bass, acoustic

Sergio Martinez

percussion

Mike Olmos

trumpet

Jeff Narell

percussion

Jose Luis de la Paz

guitar, acoustic

Additional Instrumentation

Alex Conde: piano/arrangements; John Santos: congas, bongos (2, 5, 7, 8); Jeff Chambers: double bass; Sergio Mart��nez: cajon, djembe (1, 2, 3, 4, 6 & 9); Mike Olmos: trumpet (1, 8); Jeff Narell: steel pan (5); Jose Luis de la Paz: guitar (2, 6).

Album information

Title: Descarga for Bud | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Sedajazz Records

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