Orquesta Alto Maiz
"The Salsa Band"
live at montreux
Live at Montreux

Salsa? In Iowa? Historically, there never has been much going on in the Salsa/Latin jazz world between New York and the West Coast. That's all changing, however. The sounds of guaguanco and bembé are springing up all over the country, and in no place do they sound better than they do in Iowa - eastern Iowa, to be exact - where Bob Washut's Orquesta Alto Maiz has everyone snapping their fingers in clave.

Praise for Live at Montreux

Alto Maiz's new CD, "Live at Montreux," has been on my CD player non-stop for several days. Although I've enjoyed their previous recordings, there is nothing like a live performance to bring out the pure joy this band projects with its happy blend of traidicional y neuvo. Whether playing Washut's original "Coalescencia," or their own special adaption of Ruben Blades' classic "Pedro Navaja," Alto Maiz swings hard (and in clave). Today, Iowa - tomorrow, the world.

Mark Levine
Jazz & Latin Jazz recording artist, author and educator

Tracks

and Marcha Panamá --(Galimany/Maduro, arr: Ed East) and Kinkamanché --(Eddie Palmieri, arr: Ed East) and Si Puedo --(Salvador Salgodo/Ed East and Coalescencia --(Bob Washut) and) Ahora --(Charlie Otwell, adap. Bob Washut) and Caravan --(Juan Tizol, adap. Bob Washut) and Pedro Navaja --(Ruben Blades, adap. Ed East) and Summertime --(George Gershwin, arr: Bob Washut) and Bye-Ya --(Thelonious Monk, adap.Bob Washut)