Relatively obscure late eighties latin/jazz-funk release from New York born Puerto Rican pianist Hilton Ruiz which, fascinatingly, features Sam Rivers on saxophone. Offerings not consummately free-form became a rarity for Rivers after the late 1960s, so it is very refreshing to hear him lend his huge talents to this slightly kitsch, if very well executed, straight ahead album. In fact this is not the only Ruiz album Rivers appears on alongside trombonist Dick Griffin, so perhaps the three were good friends. Rivers even contributes a composition here ('Bluz'). The effect of Rivers' galactic musical intelligence is something like a peacock among the pigeons, which is not to play down the contribution of the other musicians here: aside from Rivers' presence, Rodney Jones' ballsy electric guitar licks are great, as is Ruiz's prodigious piano playing and his arrangement of standards like Billy Strayhorn's 'Lush Life' and Lee Morgan's 'The Sidewinder' (the former appeared only on the CD release of the album).
Performers: Hilton Ruiz (pi), Lew Soloff (tp), Dick Griffin (tb), Sam Rivers (t/s-sx), Rodney Jones (gt), Francisco Centeno (e-bs), Robby Ameen (dr), Monog Santamaria (cg), Steve Berrios (timbales/pc)
1. The Sidewinder
2. Goin' Back To New Orleans
3. Bluz
4. Aged In Soul
5. All My Love Is Yours
6. Soca Serenade
7. Why Don't You Steal My Blues
8. Lush Life
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