This CD couldn’t have arrived at a better time. When Northern Germany is in the hands of Jack Frost afro-cuban music is always a reliable way to bring a little sunshine into your life and warm you from the inside.
Luis Mario Ochoa was born and raised in Havana,Cuba, where he was introduced to music by his father Luis Ochoa Sr., singer, guitarist and founding member of the Trio Voces De Oro.
At the age of 11 he began full time music studies in Havana and after 13 years of intense studies, he graduated with an honors B.A. in classical guitar from The University of Havana’s Institute Superior of Arts.
In 1990 Luis Mario relocated to Toronto, Canada. Two years later he formed his band Cimarrón. But it wasn’t until 1995 that the band released their first album A La Cubana. La Fiesta followed in 2000 which makes the new album Cimmarrón only their third release. Unfortunately I don’t know their first two albums but judging from the quality of the latest release it was worth the wait.
Luis Mario Ochoa and his band have a refreshing sound combining latin jazz, son, mambo, guaguancó, bolero and other afro-cuban music styles with half of the songs being original tunes. For this album the nine piece band is joined by special guests like Paquito D’Rivera, Guido Basso and Luis’ father Luis Ochoa, Sr.
Mr. Ochoa, Sr. appears on the turgid Alma Con Alma, a beautiful slow bolero with string section that stays on the right side of the thin line between the right pathos and shmaltz.
The album’s opener Luis Mario’s own composition Como Penélope is a fast son with a hot brass section and nice trumpet solos by Alexis Baró. Luis Mario hardly can do no wrong with his other originals like the inspiring instrumental Afro-Cuban Chant or Mestizos, an interesting song that starts and ends with flamenco-like handclaps and features some groovy Latin Jazz inbetween. “I composed this piece trying to reflect my own multi-ethnic background” Luis Mario says.
The slow mambo Bacuranao is another instrumental highlight as is the rendition of Henry Mancini’s Days Of Wine And Roses (originally from Blake Edwards’ movie of the same name). Great to hear Paquito D’Rivera on clarinet on his own song To Brenda With Love, which gets covered as a swinging samba here.
The only song that failed to impress me is the cover of Old Devil Moon. I really can’t argue with the fine muscial arrangement, it’s Luis Mario’s “spanglish” that distracts me. I really wish he would’ve sung this tune in Spanish. But nine very good songs out of ten isn’t a bad score. So if you’re into Latin Jazz this is a great worthwhile album. Hopefully Luis Mario Ochoa and his band Cimarrón won’t let us wait another five or six years for the next album.

Tracklisting of Cimarrón: 1. Como Penélope/ 2. To Brenda with Love/ 3. Lamento Cubano/ 4. Days of Wine and Roses/ 5. Afro-Cuban Chant/ 6. Alma Con Alma/ 7. Mestizos/ 8. Old Devil Moon/ 9. Bacuranao/ 10. Declaración de Amor | released 2006 Cuban Music Productions

For more infos visit cubanmusicproductions.com and cdbaby.

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