Basin Street Records
2001
Vol. 3: New Congo Square
About This Album
This is the third album from Los Hombres Calientes, and the first since the departure of the group's most famous member, drummer Jason Marsalis. His absence is conspicuous from the first glance at the album cover, which is graced only by the two remaining hombres, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and percussionist Bill Summers. In small print reads, "Introducing Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez," the new drummer, who needs no introduction to serious jazz fans, as he's become one of the most sought-after Latin and straight-ahead players on the scene. Because Los Hombres Calientes earned such tremendous critical acclaim with their previous record, a personnel change could be seen as threatening to their momentum. But Hernandez does a superb job filling the void left by Marsalis. Marsalis' departure, in addition, seems to foster more spotlight time for Mayfield, both as a player and composer. (It bears mentioning that Mayfield's writing for this group is more creative and independent-minded than the acoustic jazz he's released thus far under his own name.) The group's music has grown more ambitious, encompassing a wide variety of Latin and Caribbean influences as well as the heritage of its New Orleans home base.
Track List (try tracks 3,7,16,17 and 18)

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