(World Fusion, Afro-Cuban Jazz) Cuban Roots - Cuban Roots Revisited - 1999, APE (image+.cue), lossless

by Steve Huey
Cuban Roots is a Latin jazz ensemble whose members include Mark Weinstein, Dan Weinstein, Francisco Aguabella, Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez, Omar Sosa, and John Santos. Their debut album, Cuban Roots Revisited, appeared in 1999.

his album is partly tribute and partly modern remake of Mark Weinstein’s 1967 “Cuban Roots” (released in 1968 by Musicor), experimental recording of Afro-Cuban jazz in the finest sense of the word. It’s been the first jazz recording with pure Afro Cuban drumming (both sacred and secular) as a background; the great late Julito Collazo (1925-2004), babalawo (Santería priest) and olú batá (consecrated batá drummer for ceremonies), has blessed and led the drumming. (Cuban drummers had refused to play sacred rhythms in the secular jazz context until his permission.) CuBop’s first intention was to reissue this album but it was impossible because of damaged master tape and inaccessibility of the rights; so producer Michael McFadin proposed a remake instead.
New arrangements were made by Mark and his nephew trombonist/violinist Dan Weinstein. In 1967 Mark has played trombone; here he played flutes. Chick Corea who has played piano on 1967 session was substituted by the other great, Omar Sosa. Drums (Lázaro Galarraga, José de León Jr., John Santos, Humberto “Nengue” Hernández) were led by Collazo’s friend and colleague, the great late Francisco Aguabella (1925-2010), olú batá himself. Bass lines were recorded by Eddie Resto or Carlitos del Puerto (son of Irakere’s bassman).
The Beatles’ “Michelle” from the original album is omitted (it’s been made as rumba abierta - an obvious attempt to follow the fashion); new opening and closing numbers (both called “Eléggua”), and “Mirala que linda viene”, traditional conga habanera, are added. The basic principle remains the same: jazzy interpretation of both secular (Rumba, Conga) and sacred or secret (Nañigo, Iyesá) Afro Cuban rhythms.

Cuban Roots: Dan Weinstein (bass trumpet, trombone, violin); Arturo Velasco (trombone); Steve Ferguson (bass trombone); Mark Weinstein (flute, alto flute); Omar Sosa (piano); Eddie Resto, Carlitos del Puerto (bass); John Santos (congas, achere, guiro, chekere, kata, bombo, bell); Lazaro Galarraga (congas, bata, clave, quinto, bombo, bells); Jose De Leon (congas, snare, bata, clave, bells); Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (congas, timbales, clave, bells); Francisco Aguabella (congas, bata, quinto)