Bill O’Connell: And The Afro Caribbean Ensemble

Pianist leader O’Connell was a member of Mongo Santamaria’s band in the 1970s and since that time has worked regularly in Latin jazz with people such as Conrad Herwig’s Latin Slide and flautist David Valentin’s ensemble. Here he leads his own Latin-styled project with Herwig on trombone, Gary Smulyan adding baritone licks and a lively 10-piece group. The opening Wind Off The Hudson is an uptempo romp and is followed by an excursion into gospel territory with