Live at the Blue Note

AMG Review of Live at the Blue Note

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Live at the Blue Note is really a two-fer since it has a CD and a DVD of the same performance. Arturo Sandoval, one of the great trumpeters, leads his high-powered septet on a variety of diverse material. The uptempo op original "The Real McBop" introduces the audience to the strong solo playing of pianist Phil Magallanes, tenor saxophonist Felipe Lamoglia, Sandoval, and guitarist Rene Toledo. "Eastern Blues" and "Blues for Diz" together form a long and continuous segment that, after the solos, features Sandoval showing off his virtuoso scatting. Sandoval switches to piano for his allad "A Lovely One" and "Surena," which has some rich Cuban melodies before becoming "All the Things You Are." Sandoval plays muted trumpet on the R&B allad "If I Ain't Got You" and finally sings and indulges in some heated playing during "Rhythm of Our World," which gets the audience dancing. The DVD is better than the CD because the visual aspect adds to the music and there are a few short interviews included as bonus material.