We recieved an e-mail from Carlos Jimenez about his new contemporary jazz & Latin Jazz CD, “Thoughts” (Pensamientos). The release features; Carlos Jimenez, flute, composer, & producer, Vince Cherico, drums, Ruben Rodriguez, bass and Fidel Cuellar, piano.We were introduced to Mr. Jimenez last week when we posted an article regarding the annual citywide Make Music New York Festival and Real Men Health Initiative on June 21st, in Harlem on 145th Street and Amsterdam Avenue’s new Heritage Hieghts Village.
Here’s a review by Edward Blanco for E Jazz News on CD Baby.com:
“Jazz flautist Carlos Jimenez from Yonkers New York produces his latest musical project with his new “Thoughts” CD comprised of eleven new and original compositions firmly grounded in the smooth jazz tradition and containing strong elements of Latin Jazz, a genre with which Jimenez is closely associated. Sounding a bit like flautist Dave Valentin, Jimenez displays his ample chops on the flute leading a quartet which includes bassist Ruben Rodriguez, drummer Vince Cherico and Fidel Cuellar on the piano. The album opens up with a couple of smooth jazz tunes in “Carlitos My Son” and “Bluedo” featuring Cuellar on the keyboards as Jimenez makes the flute sing to high pitched notes. On “Storm of Love” the music begins with the sounds of falling rain leading to a Rodriguez bass solo picked up by the flautist on a tender run of his own in one of the down tempo numbers here. Jimenez’s Latin jazz pedigree comes shining through on such cuts as “No Te Apures (Don’t Worry),” “For You & Me,” and the title piece, “Thoughts” while “Look At The Sky” is a hard-driving groove showcasing the drumming prowess of Cherico in a decidedly percussive slant. Other nice highlights include “Swift,” the burner “Life is Great” and the light jazz finale of “Yours For Sure.” A natural blend of light smooth jazz and Latin jazz rhythms is sure to propel Carlos Jimenez’s “Thoughts” to the top of the smooth jazz charts in time. Jimenez proves once again that he is a force to be reckoned with in today’s jazz world and this recording pronounces this fact.”
