PM Records ~ Patato

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Reprise	CLICK TO LISTEN TO ALL SONG CLIPS FOR FREE
Patato's Night Dance		$1.29
Les Mujeres Favoritas de Patato		$1.30
Cha-cha-cha por Aqui		$1.34
Mosquito		$1.29
Como un Bolero		$1.36
Le Pomme de Terre		$1.29
Stage Life		$1.34
Equinox		$1.34
Ballade Melancholie		$1.30

We did the show with Patato Valdes at House of Blues. Odara backed him up, using our material and some open improvision tunes where he took extended solos. He was amazing. 80 years young. Played his $(#$*! off, and even did some singing, which was GREAT! The audience was also great, it was a good night for Patato and we all felt very fortunate to have been able to share it with him.

You would have enjoyed hearing Patato, let me tell you! He used a stick in one hand and kept the other hand bare. Four drums. Tuned just right. He played a few "tunes" on them, and got all manner of different timbres by striking the skins in different places with the hard mallet and the relatively soft (actually I would imagine those hands aren't soft at all) fingers and palm. It was pretty amazing to hear, and even more amazing to view. Someone should have taken video.

I have never had the pleasure of seeing Patato live. He was great and a fun dancer to watch as well. The energy of the band was great.

El Hombre
Carlos Patato Valdes | Mambo Maniacs
By Russ Musto | All About Jazz

Carlos Patato Valdes is arguably the most melodic of all congueros. The inventor of the tuned conga drum, he sings on his instrument like no other percussionist, so it comes as no surprise that this delightful date consists of some particularly lyrical Latin jazz. Leading an ensemble that features flutist Oriente Lopez (star of Charlie Haden’s Latin Grammy-winning Land of the Sun), multi-reedist Phil Vieux (an Eddie Palmieri alumnus), pianist Edsel Gomez, bassist Joe Santiago, and percussionist Steve Berrios, plus various invited guests, Valdes plays the role of tasteful accompanist, guiding the group through the album’s music.

Guitarist Edgardo Miranda and timbalero Marlon Simon join the band on Gomez’s opening “Patato’s Night Dance,” a swinging straightahead salsa outing. Joe Gonzalez’s bongos and José Clausell’s timbales give a classic flavor to Vieux’s pretty “Las Mujeres Favoritas de Patato.” Lopez’s “Mosquito” is another appealing Latin jazz outing featuring Gomez’s piano and the composer’s flute. Lopez’ “Cha-cha-cha Por Aqui” begins with one of Patato’s patented tuneful conga introductions before the band comes in with the attractive melody.

Paquito D’Rivera’s dramatic “Como Un Bolero,” the date’s most beautiful piece, spotlights Lopez’s flute, Vieux’s clarinet, and Gomez’s piano dancing slowing with the relaxed rhythms of Valdes and bongocero Pablito Rosario. Gregoire Maret’s harmonica is featured with Lopez’s flute and Vieux’s tenor on the saxophonist’s “Le Pomme de Terre,” a midtempo outing driven by Valdes’ conga and Gonzales’ bongo and bell. Vieux’s brooding clarinet introduces Gomez’ “Stage Life,” an exotic line with some unexpected twists and a surprise ending.

Flutist Dave Valentin makes a guest appearance on “Equinox” and adds some excitement to the proceedings with a talking flute solo. Valdes’ conga work is exquisite throughout the rendition of the Coltrane classic, which also features Gomez’s piano and Vieux’s tenor. Vieux’s “Ballade Melancholie” is another beautiful ballad featuring Lopez on flute, Maret on harmonica, and the composer on bass clarinet.

PMR-025 "El Hombre" © 2004

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