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London and NYC Club and Concert Listings Album Review: Francisco Aguabella - Ochimini (Cubop) Reviewer: Oliver Scott Ah, it seems like yesterday. I was living abroad, and a kind and wise friend posted me a tape of Japan’s United Future Organisation appearing as guests and playing records on Gilles Peterson’s radio show, then on Kiss FM. It was all good, but what stood out a proverbial country mile was this beyond amazing Latin jazz vocal number called Desire by one Francisico Aguabella. And now, nearly ten years later, that song still kills me. It really does. The seventies album that song appeared on, Hitting Hard, was then reissued by the Ubiquity label. It also contains a wicked version of Edu Lobo’s Casa Forte. And in a happy turn of events, Mr Aguabella (a percussionist from Matanzas, Cuba but based in the States since 1957) promptly signed to Cubop – Ubiquity’s latin arm – where he has been releasing quality albums ever since. This record, Ochimini, is his fifth for the label, and is a lively little number, believe you me. Aguabella is universally feted as one of the original dons of Cuban music, and his conga and percussion work throughout is outstanding – inventive yet rock-steady and really driving the tunes forward. The songs tackled vary from straight-ahead Latin jazz to old school rhumba, and all are invigorating and entertaining. I’ll take a Mojito with Ochimini please, and don’t hold back on the rum. Funky Cha is just that: John Belzaguy’s dope bassline makes this really cook, and it has that whole seventies Nu-Yorican thing going on, sounding like the soundtrack to some lost East Harlem Latin-expoltation film. I’d have to check with the copyright people, but I’m sure Cole Porter’s Love for Sale must be the most covered song of all time. But there’s certainly room for a few more, especially if they’re as good as this spicy number. Nuestra Era features great solos on saxophone and trombone by Justo Almario and Jules Powell respectively, whilst OBA and a version of Arturo Sandoval’s Tumbaito keep things bubbling over nicely. Guajira Candela, by the legendary Eddie Palmieri is exciting and fresh, the slow cha cha version of Makin’ Whooppee could have been on the soundtrack to Breakfast at Tiffanys, and Te Olvide finishes the album off in fine swinging style. If January’s chills start getting a bit trying, and you fancy spicing things up a bit, then ‘Ochmini’ could be just the answer - think of it as the musical equivalent of the spray that makes the ice on a car windscreen disappear. Or if you’re a fan of any sort of Latin music, and want to support the people still out there making it – and if not, why not? – pick it up. And you could do worse than buying Hitting Hard whilst you’re at it! RELATED LINKS: Ubiquity - Cubop's mother label More on Francisco Aguabella - on the Ubiquity site Buy [Re:jazz] (re:mix) at Amazon UK (CD)  |  US (CD) RELEASE DATE: Tuesday 20 January 2004 (UK/US) PUBLISHED: Sunday 4 January 2004 To send us music for potential inclusion, email us at promos@knowtheledge.net More Reviews EMAIL UPDATES! Do you want to receive Know The Ledge update emails? Click here to sign up!	::: RELATED LINKS Ubiquity - Cubop's mother label More on Francisco Aguabella - on the Ubiquity site Buy [Re:jazz] (re:mix) at Amazon UK (CD)  |  US (CD) More Reviews