Conrad Herwig Presents the Latin Side of Miles

Half Note Records will release a new disc from trombonist Conrad Herwig tomorrow titled Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side of Miles Davis. As the title suggests, Herwig has dressed trumpeter Miles Davis’ seminal modal-jazz album Kind of Blue in Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. This is the second time Herwig has recast the works of a jazz legend in the Latin mold on record. He first tried it out on the 1996 album The Latin Side of John Coltrane.

The new album documents live performances at New York’s Blue Note from March 6-8, 2003. Herwig is joined by trumpeter Brian Lynch, reedist Paquito D’Rivera, flutist Dave Valentin, pianist Edsel Gomez, bassist John Benitiz, drummer Robby Ameen, baritone saxophonist Mario Rivera and percussionist Richie Flores. In Addition to the five Kind of Blue tunes, Herwig adds an arrangement of Davis’ “Petits Machins.” Davis’ version of that tune can be heard on The Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-68: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (Columbia/Legacy).

Those local to New York can catch the band that recorded the album (minus D’Rivera and with Ronnie Cuber replacing Mario Rivera on bari sax), at the Blue Note this week. Herwig and Co. will perform there, playing music from the CD, from March 16-21, with sets at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. nightly. Visit www.bluenote.net for ticket info.

Track list for Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side of Miles Davis:

So What

Freddie Freeloader

Blue in Green

All Blues

Flamenco Sketches

Petits Machins

Originally Published March 15, 2004