Pete Escovedo: E Street

Timbalero/percussionist and bandleader Escovedo assembles an impressive, sizeable line up of musicians on E Street, including some of the Bay Area’s best Latin jazz players; Melecio Magdaluyo, saxes and flute, Bill Ortiz, trumpet, Wayne Wallace, trombone, and Paul Van Wageningen, drums. “Boomerang” features guest saxophonist Gerald Albright. Pete’s offspring, Sheila E., provides vocals on the Earth, Wind & Fire tune, “Fantasy.” There’s also the presence of saxophonist John Handy, trumpeter Robbie Kwock, and pianist/vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery to contend with, and this is still only a partial summary of who is on this release. The opener, a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star,” has fiery, Santana-like guitar by Ray Obiedo. The percussion is superior throughout, shoring up even those tunes that come perilously close to easy listening. Clean, precise arrangements command attention, especially so on “Like a Volcano” and “La Familia.” Despite a tendency towards excessively smooth jazz, the tunes “Waterfall” and “Lord Remember Me,” for example, this is a finely crafted, polished release.

Originally Published June 1, 1997