RENEGADE QUEENS

SALSA FROM THE BAY – A COLLECTION OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SALSA AND LATIN JAZZ

Patois Records

This album makes a powerful statement about the Northern California Bay Area’s vibrant Latin jazz scene.  “Renegade Queens” captures the impact that female musicians have had on the Bay Area Latin music soundscape.  This is a double set release, featuring female artists who you may not always be familiar with including percussionist Bobi Cespedes who opens Disc #1 with “We Were Born to Drum.”  This tune features the powerful lead vocals of Christelle Durandy with the back-up voices of Sandy and Natalie Cressman.  This spirited big band mambo production sets the tone for a unique celebration of women in Salsa and Latin Jazz. It features a swinging arrangement by Dr. Wayne Wallace played by an entirely female band.

This music is infectious. It makes me want to dance.  It is said that the Salsa dance capitol of South America is Cali, Columbia.  Xiomara Torres is part of a youthful, blossoming talent pool of females carrying on the Latin traditional music of Columbia with a pop twist.  She was once part of the all-female group known as “Las Guaracheras.”  A tune called “Take the RR Train” features the flute of the first female instrumentalist in the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Mary Fettig. Her roots are steeped in big band jazz and Brazilian music.  I love the way her flute skips over this plush production and brings joy to this arrangement. Chico Pinheiro adds sparkle with his electric guitar solo and Marcos Silva is impressive on piano.

“La Lagrima” that translates to ‘the tear’ is a Venezuela traditional song, delivered by Maria Marquez, a Caracas-born singer.  With rich percussion driving the arrangement, this tune slows the rhythm down from the three up-tempo productions to a sensuous ballad. It features Venezuelan percussionist, Gustavo Ovalles adding a double-time-feel to the production. This is followed by a female group made up of “The Blazing Redheads.”  They appeared on the scene around 1989, seven talented women and gifted instrumentalists who blend Latin music with funk and fusion.  They offer their original composition, “Cosmo” to this production.

Also featured on this double set of awesome Latin Jazz are the following extraordinary females: Chilian folk singer and guitarist,  Lichi Fuentes; jazz singer Jackie Ryan recorded with the Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet, and the revolutionary Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea nicknamed La Doña (the woman in charge). Also featured are Sandy Cressman, a musical ambassador for Brazilian music; outstanding percussionist, Carolyn Brandy, acclaimed violinist Sandi Poindexter, tenor sax player Jean Fineberg, trumpeter Marina Garza who leads the all-woman band Orquestra D’Soul, the satin smooth vocals of Maria Marquez. and trombonist Natalie Cressman.  This project is rich with women in Latin jazz. They offer a two-volume compact-disc set that will both engage you, entertain you and make you want to dance!

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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