Barretto, Ray
Sunnyside, 2003, CD
Instrument: Drums
Issue: 9.2
Jazz Ruler Type: Latin
Performance: 4
Sound: 4-
Score: 
O’s Notes: Ray takes off his hat in honor of a legend, Art Blakey, a man who brought us great music and birthed many great jazz musicians along the way with his continuously evolving band, The Jazz Messengers. Ray has evolved from a jazz sideman to master salsa player and back to jazz conga player and teacher today, much like Blakey. The music here contains a lot of Wayne Shorter’s compositions, all with Barretto’s Latin twist. Ray has a way of spicing up the mix without getting in the way. It feels just right.