Bennett Paster and Gregory Ryan: Grupo Yanqui (2002)

C. MICHAEL BAILEY,

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: May 1, 2002

Bennett Paster and Gregory Ryan: Grupo Yanqui

Some of the Best things are Self-Produced...

Grupo Yanqui (pronounced Group-o Yan key) is headed by the young New Yorkers Bennett Paster and Gregory Ryan. These guys play a brand of jazz that is very much in your head. It is erudite and inventive and very, very listenable. Gregory Ryan's "Miller Time" is a Lee Morgan "Cornbread" Hard Bop played with a Bobby Watson Latin flare. Other Latinesque tones come from Bennett Paster's "Mona Se Queda" and the standard "How Are Things in Gloccamora?" these fine young musicians are intent on producing a hip brand of Latin Jazz drawn through the high polish of an Anglo prism. Saxophonists Terry Cabrera and Chris Cheek carry the band from one song to the next, hoisted by Paster's full-fisted piano. Latin percussion is evident everywhere, providing the music with a salsa shiver. Grupo Yanqui is a fine start. It is about time this group be heard by a label.

Track Listing: Miller Time; Mona Se Queda; How Are Things In Gloccamora; Elna; Storytime; Fantasy;. Tema para Yosvany; May Eye; Que Venga el Dia; Oaktown Morning Blues; Cactus Mambo. (Total Playing Time: 70:41).

Personnel: Bennett Paster: Piano; Gregory Ryan: Bass; Rob Garcia: Drums; Yosvanny Terry Cabrera: Saxophone; Chris Cheek: Saxophone Dafnis Prieto: Percussion, Gilad, Percussion.

Style: Contemporary/Smooth