Bill O'Connell ....

BILL O’CONNELL and The Latin Jazz Allstars

Sunday, August 2nd

Featuring

Bill O'Connell - piano

Steve Slagle - sax

Conrad Herwig - trombone

Luques Curtis - bass

Richie Barshay - drums

Roman Diaz - congas

Melvis Santa - vocals/percussion

Birdland, 315 West 44th Street NYC - between 8th and 9th Avenues

www.birdlandjazz.com

From: Jim Eigo
Jazz Promo Services
272 State Route 94 South #1, Warwick, NY 10990-3363
Skype: jazzpromo
jim@jazzpromoservices.com
www.jazzpromoservices.com

Steve Slagle & Bill O'Connell

The Power of Two

by Steve Slagle & Bill O'Connell

© Copyright - Steve Slagle & Bill O'Connell / Panorama Records (888295245753)

This music is Slagle's latest on sax and flute with the renowned piano man Bill O'Connell and their collective takes on pianists past and present....... including a tribute to the late great Kenny Drew Jr.

Pianist and composer Bill O'Connell's "Imagine"

The title track from pianist and composer Bill O'Connell's Imagine CD on Savant Records featuring Bill O’Connell-piano, Conrad Herwig-trombone, Steve Slagle soprano and alto saxophones, Luques Curtis-bass, Richie Barshay-drums, Richie Flores percussion. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypggusi0e1g&feature=youtu.be

Bill O'Connell and The Latin Jazz Allstars at Birdland

From: Jazz Promo Services
Press Contact: Jim Eigo, jim@jazzpromoservices.com
Bill O'Connell and the Latin Jazz All-Stars Bill O’Connell is a native New Yorker who has played with many of the greats in the worlds of jazz and latin-jazz . In 1977, he joined the legendary congero, Mongo SantaMaria, writing and performing with him for over 2 years. Following that he worked with Chet Baker and jazz legend Sonny Rollins. In 1982, he joined Latin jazz flutist Dave Valentin, and they have been touring the world together ever since.

Bill, an internationally recognized composer, has had his original compositions on CD’s by Mongo SantaMaria, Emily Remler, Charles Fambrough, and on virtually every recording made by flutist Dave Valentin. He has also performed with Astrud Gilberto, Jon Lucien, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, Conrad Herwig and The Latin Side and many others. Bill’s most recent recordings are “Rhapsody in Blue” on the Challenge label and “Triple Play Plus Three” on the ZOHO label which received a 4 star review in Downbeat.

Bobby Ramirez writes in the Latinjazzclub “ There is no doubt this jazz cat (Bill O’Connell) has game; more like fire-breathing musical passion tempered with immense intellectual dominance of Jazz and Latin music that may be good enough to rival some of the great Latin Jazz pianists of the last quarter century: Chucho Valdes, George Dalto, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and others.”

Bill O'Connell - piano
Steve Slagle - sax
Conrad Herwig - trombone
Adam Cruz - drums
Ruben Rodriguez - bass
Richie Flores - congas

Birdland
315 West 44th Street, NYC
between 8th and 9th Aves

Bill O'Connell - Rhapsody in Blue

By Ken Franckling

Pianist Bill O’Connell has spent most of his 30-year-plus career in the Latin jazz arena (Mongo Santamaria, Dave Valentin, Gato Barbieri, the Fort Apache Band, Conrad Herwig’s “Latin Side” projects, etc.) and it has served him well. The Latin rhythms and vitality are a strong part of his music, including this fine CD. The core band, with Luques Curtis or David Finck on bass, Steve Berrios on drums and Steve Slagle on sax, is augmented by percussionist Richie Flores, vibes player Dave Samuels and trombonist Herwig on several tracks.

One of the most intriguing is the sometimes laid-back, sometimes fiery Latin lilt given to George Gershwin’s classic “Rhapsody in Blue.” There’s a lot to like here, including seven O’Connell originals. Check it out. Then repeat. I’m betting you will, because it’s that strong.

From: http://jazztimes.com/sections/albums/articles/26935-rhapsody-in-blue-bill-o-connell