Not a greatest-hits album (like he was shooting for hits) nor a thoroughgoing anthology of Paquito D'Rivera's Columbia period (only the first five of his seven albums are covered), the word "taste" is an intriguing choice, though at 74 minutes the CD is a bit more than just a taste. But then, since Sony has done a real number on his catalog by not reissuing those first five albums, A Taste is all that CD buyers can sample from Paquito's first American recordings. Up to a point listeners receive a pretty good idea as to what the commotion was initially about, starting from the time two years after D'Rivera's defection from Cuba when he was primarily a joyous, shouting Latin bopper with a hot hand on the alto sax. The CD concentrates upon smaller-group sessions, leaving off at the point where Paquito was starting to incorporate larger groups and more eclectic wanderings into his music. Two of the more memorable tracks are the poignant "Song to My Son" (recorded when Paquito's wife and son were still left behind in Cuba) and the robust, Dizzy-inspired humor of "Just Kidding." Watch out for some booboos in the track credits, such as the listing of Hilton Ruiz on acoustic bass instead of piano on "Miami" and omitting mention of Toots Thielemans on "Brussels in the Rain," which was merely written for the Belgian harmonica virtuoso in the first place. - Richard S. Ginell
Tracks
01. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislaw Kaper/Ned Washington)
02. Song To My Son (Paquito D'Rivera)
03. Miami (J. Marquez)
04. Como Fue (Ernesto Duarte)
05. Manteca (Walter Fuller/Dizzy Gillespie)
06. Claudia (Chucho Valdés)
07. Just Kidding (Michel Camilo)
08. Brussels In The Rain (Paquito D'Rivera)
09. Monk-Tuno (Paquito D'Rivera)
10. Zanaith (Chucho Valdés)
11. Song For Maura (Paquito D'Rivera)
12. Why Not (Michel Camilo)
PAQUITO D'RIVERA alto saxophone
RUSSELL BLAKE bass (1)
IGNACIO BERROA drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)
HILTON RUIZ piano (1, 3, 5, 6)
EDDIE GOMEZ bass (2, 5, 6)
JORGE DALTO piano (2)
JEFF FULLER bass (3)
DAVE WECKL drums (4, 12)
PORTINHO electric bass (4) drums (7)
CHUCHO MARTINEZ GIL maracas (4)
SAMMY FIGUEROA percussion (4, 7, 12)
MICHEL CAMILO piano (4, 7, 12)
MANOLO BADRENA timbales, percussion (4, 12)
CLAUDIO RODITI trumpet, flugelhorn (4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
DANIEL PONCE percussion (5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)
JOSE NETO acoustic guitar (7)
LINCOLN GOINES electric bass (7, 12)
SERGIO BRANDAO electric bass (7)
DANIEL FREIBERG keyboards (7)
RAYMOND PEREZ percussion (7)
ISIDRO BOBADILLIS tambora (7)
STEVE BAILEY bass (8, 9, 10)
CARLOS FRANZETTI keyboards (10)
CHUCHO MARTINEZ maracas, cuatro (4, 12)
Recorded 1981-1985
Columbia Legacy - CK 57717