Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion: Urban Nature

Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion: Urban Nature

By Edward Blanco
November 6, 2011
View read count

Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion: Urban Nature

Urban Nature blends elements of modern jazz fusion with percussive Latin jazz rhythms in a highly charged session from master percussionist Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion. The two previous recordings with this very same group, The Magician (Savant, 2007) and And Sammy Walked In (Savant, 2005), both garnished Grammy nominations for the Best Latin Jazz Album, and this follow-up sizzler deserves no less consideration. The Bronx-born bomber of percussion has long been a leading voice in the world of Latin jazz. Based in Miami since 2001, for this project Figueroa calls on Venezuelan maestros, pianist

Silvano Monasterios

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Silvano Monasterios and bassist

Gabriel Vivas

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Gabriel Vivas to provide the music.

The nine-piece repertoire leads off in explosive manner with the propulsive "Gufillo," featuring the pianist and trumpeter Alexander Pope Norris in support of Figueroa's percussive handiwork. Vivas introduces his own title track, an assertive number highlighting soprano saxophonist

John Michalak

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">John Michalak, with dicey cymbal splashes from drummer

Nomar Negroni

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Nomar Negroni and more from Monasterios. Pianist

Mike Orta

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Orta and saxophone great

Ed Calle

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Calle, grace the album as special guests on "Latin What?," a swift-paced Latin rhythm original from Orta.

The music withdraws gently on Monasterios' "Zuliana," a soft Latin ballad with voices from the pianist, Figueroa and accompanying Venezuelan percussion from Jose Gregorio Hernandez. The sounds of Salsa come alive on the most overt Latin piece of the album providing lots of shoulder-moving moments on "Cuco y Olga." The band returns to a more natural Latin jazz territory on the melody-rich "Cha Cha Pa' Ti," and delicate "Queen From The South."

Bookending the session with another hard-driving piece, "Funny Talk" ends the album with a pounding performance from Figueroa, propelling another fine set of hot Latin rhythms. When hearing Figueroa's music, comparisons to the great

Mongo Santamaria

percussion
1917 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Mongo Santamaria and conguero

Ray Barretto

congas
1929 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Barretto, are inevitable. And while a sampling of Urban Nature may serve to further this notion, Figueroa proves to have a distinguishing technique and voice of his own, making him the leading percussionist in Latin jazz today.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Gufillo; Urban Nature; Latin What?; Zuliana; 7th Door To Your Left; Cuco y Olga; Cha Cha Pa' Ti; Queen From The South; Funny Talk.

Personnel

Sammy Figueroa

percussion

Sammy Figueroa: percussion; Silvano Monasterios: piano; John Michalak: saxophones; Alexander Pope Norris: trumpet; Nomar Negroni: drums; Ed Calle: tenor saxophone (3); Mike Orta: piano (3, 6); Jose Gregorio Hernandez: Venezuelan percussion (4).

Album information

Title: Urban Nature | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Senators Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Tedeschi Trucks Band: Burlington...
< Previous

Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith J...
Next >

Sammy Figueroa Concerts

Feb 4 Wed

Diego Figueiredo & Friends - The Jazz Duets

Amaturo Theater
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.