Arturo Sandoval Music

When I first bought this many years ago, I was quite surprised at how cheesy it sounded. I almost threw it away. At the time I was into hot big band and faster, higher, louder! What one expected from Sandoval. The other day this came on shuffle and I couldn't get over to change it right away. I honestly couldn't even remember what CD it was. About the third song in, I was mesmorized at the beautiful playing I was hearing. I really like this album now - for what it is - beautiful melodies and excellent solo trumpet/flugel. Sometimes the backup is annoying, but usually it is quite pretty and nice. I'm glad I didn't throw it away after all.

A big disapointment. I got the cd at an Arturo concert. A great, burnin' highnote concert. On the way home I tried listening to it but couldn't stand it. The only plus that I give the cd is that he plays the fluff-filled remakes very nicely. If you are looking for popular music remakes, this is the cd for you. If you are looking for standard Arturo, look elsewhere. I will never listen to this cd again.

Hey wut the heck is wrong with you. Elevator music? Since when has a triple G been elevator music? Maybe if the elevator was falling straight down i would agree with you.

The people who complain about this CD think that all AS can do is play jazz. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Sandoval, a true Renaissance musician, can play everything from classical to funk to jazz and everything inbetween. This CD is a loving tribute to his new country, which finally gave him citizenship after too many years of waiting.

If all you are looking for is stereotypes, don't look here. If your horizons are broad, this is a wonderful addition to your collection featuring one of the greatest trumpeters of all times. I've had the pleasure of sharing the stage with AS - what a super person he is.

This is the type of album that purists will probably not enjoy. If you always expect Arturo to do something like Flight To Freedom, Hot House, Straight Ahead, L.A. Meetings or Trumpet Evolution, you'll probably be disappointed with this one. If you like Arturo as a musician and not just a latin jazz trumpeter then this album is great to hear. Arturo plays beautiful, musical phrases on flugelhorn and trumpet. Americana is a tribute to the United States in a sense that he has just finally gained citizenship (after about eight or nine years). The songs here are popular songs of today's American culture. Arturo solos sweetly on a latinized version of Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are", and takes muted trumpet and plays Janet Jackson's awful "Come Back To Me" pretty well. Probably the most jazz-like tunes in this set are "Englishman In New York" (by Sting), "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green), "Isn't She Lovely" (Stevie Wonder) and "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie. The muted trumpet solo from Arturo on "Englishman In New York" is awesome, he keeps ascending and hits a Triple-G#, playing confidently throughout. I love "Let's Stay Together", it swings and pays tribute to the original beautifully. "All Night Long" is given the Cuban flavor and Arturo and the band really rip it on this song. Arturo shows off his brilliant showmanship on "Isn't She Lovely", and more beautiful ballad work on songs like "She's Out Of My Life" by Michael Jackson, although with plenty more.

If you're looking for Arturo in his normal form, buy one of the other albums I mentioned above. If you want a great, commercial-sounding Arturo album, this is it. Just because he is playing pop songs doesn't mean he isn't still playing with confidence and he still goes crazy. Not a must-buy, but a very solid album in its own right.

If you love Arturo you'll love this cd. It features some of his "theme" songs before he "super charged" them.

This is it, if you like Arturos old latin style from Cuba, this is it. This is a lot of big orchestras here, and some small bands. Not so much solos but still enough. I have all this on LP but cds got a bit better sound. A must for fans.... Also if you like Arturos old playing, check out Estrellas De Areito, Los Heroes from 1979, double cd available on this site....nice!!!

It took me ovet 10 years to find out who played this music and I'm glad I never gave up. Arturo can play the trumpet and make you feel like you are right there with him.

I play guitar and latin percussion, but I enjoy other instruments, this guy is in my humble opinion the best trumpet player out there. I have a few favorites: Maynard Ferguson, Luis Gasca, Miles, Bill Chase, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Victor Paz my old schoolmate Tommy Villarini, and Jesus Alemañy. But Arturo is tops. I just wish he would do more Latin stuff which is what I like best. Jesus Alemañy is probably my favorite in terms of style but all around Arturo is the man. This a great cd with a great lineup.

This was the 1st album I got introduced to him since hearing him play w/ the GRP All-Star Big Band, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie among others. Moments later I got introduced to him in general just to hear do his own thing on this CD which I may pick up ASAP. There's not much I gotta say about he sure is one of all-time labelmates in the trumpet genre, period. I luv the variation to the trumpet 'cuz that's my God. I'd wanted to meet him badly 'cuz he's does gotta a lotta skills, I mean a WHOLE lot. Make him put out more until the day he's retired. God bless your heart Arturo you're still the man.

And P.S.: He was a pioneer to his mentor and idol, the late Dizzy Gillespie (R.I.P.). If u see the movie "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story" w/ Andy Garcia as Arturo and Charles S. Dutton as Dizzy, you know is more like a semi-autobiographical scene to his life and times in the music area.

I have seen Arturo a few times and always enjoy him immensely, but I would have to say this CD is a bit too smooth in production and mixing. The songs are quite good though and I like the singing. Maybe he'll listen to Buena Vista Social club and take a hint that it doesn't have to be mixed and smoothed out so much as it takes away from the spontaneity and interaction between the players. He is a tremendous piano player as well, like REAL good... go figure.

De todas las producciones de Sandoval esta es mi preferida.Todas las canciones han sido perfectamente interpretadas e inclusive prefiero las versiones que Sandoval interpreta en este disco que las propias canciones originales.La cancion MarteBelona es mi preferida entre todas las canciones,tiene mucho sentimiento cubano.Pienso que de aqui a unos anos este disco se convertira en un clasico,asi como lo es hoy KIND OF BLUE. Arturo tu eres el "Miles Davis" del jazz latino. Muchas gracias por esta excelente musica.Felicidades.

On this GRP selection of 11 Afro-cuban jazz classics, Arturo and his excellent band (El Tren Latino or Latin train) are in dazzling form. The tracks range from slow ballads to up tempo scorchers such as track 2 (La Guarapachanga) on which the legendary Cuban singer, Celia Cruz duets with Oscar D'Leon. In El Tren Latino, Arturo has the perfect vehicle to showcase his awesome, high note hitting, Dizzy Gillespie-inspired trumpet technique. El Tren Latino consist of Kenny Anderson (saxophones), Otmaro Ruiz (piano), Aaron Serfaty (drums), Manuel "Egui" Castrillo (percussion) and David Enos (bass). For those fans who know what Arturo is capable of and who perhaps were disappointed (as I was) by other Sandoval offerings such as "Best of Arturo Sandoval" (Milan Latino, 1997), this effort should not disappoint. Prepare to be amazed.