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Grammy-winning New York drummer Robby Ameen has had an established recording and touring career stretching from Dizzy Gillespie to Paul Simon over the last four decades, highlighted by a 20-year run in the band Latin icon Ruben Blades. Although he is of Lebanese origin, Ameen is best known for the unique and powerful Afro-Cuban jazz style he has developed and displayed on hundreds of recordings, including many with Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, and Conrad Herwig’s Latin Side All-Stars. “Diluvio” marks Robby’s 3rd release as a composer, arranger and band leader, teaming with Herwig, Troy Roberts, Bill O’Connell, Edsel Gomez and Lincoln Goines.
A greatly in-demand Brazilian drummer who has been in the U.S. for over 30 years, Vanderlei Pereira’s mastery of rhythms, superb technique, and versatility have uplifted a countless number of sessions. Since moving to New York, he’s appeared and recorded with many musical greats, including Toots Thielemans, Tito Puente, Arturo O’Farrill, Claudio Roditi, Romero Lubambo, Hendrik Meurkens, and George Colligan, among many others. “Vision for Rhythm” is the recording debut of Pereira’s group, Blindfold Test, featuring fresh material, rich melodies and infectious rhythms.
Also this week, Robby Krieger, the legendary guitarist and songwriter for The Doors, unveils a Zappa-tinged jazz album, “The Ritual Begins at Sundown”;
the Posi-Tone Swingtet, which includes Michael Dease, Theo Hill and Rudy Royston, celebrates Posi-Tone Records 25th anniversary as a label with “One for 25”;
and drummer Paul Shaw, an alumnus of the U.S. Air Force Falconaires Big Band who has also worked with Donald Harrison, Bill Watrous, Oscar Brown, Jr. and others, offers up “Moment of Clarity.”