Eddie Palmieri - Live at Yoshi's in San Francisco 12.31.08.
New Year's Eve in San Francisco is always a night full exuberance and ecstatic abandon. This year, Yoshi's in SF, treated the community to six nights of Eddie Palmieri and La Perfecta II that culminated on New Year's Eve and brought in 2009 with a rollicking Comparsa.
Eddie, who turns 75 in December of 2009, is a consummate professional with a band that is well acquainted with his leadership and style. They are aware as well that they must give their best as an ensemble and as solosists. The first set began with "Bilongo," the Cuban classic with its renown coro of "Ki ki ri boo Mandinga." The band warmed up and loosen its chops as couples quickly drifted onto the dance floor.
On the mike on lead vocals for the evening was the debonair, Herman Olivera, whose soulful tenor voice is always swinging and on point. Eddie stood and occasionally sat on a configuration that included the Grand piano and a keyboard propped on top. Throughout the evening his loose and stream of consciousness improvisational flows were a highlight and a credit to his genius.
The rest of the band included Brian Lynch (trumpet), Doug Beavers & Jimmy Bosch (trombones), Karen Joseph (flute), Jose Claussell (timbales), Orlando Vega (congo), Johnny Rivero (congas), Luques Curtis (bass) and Nelson Gonzalez (tres guitar). “Tu, Tu, Ta, Ta” came next and wound up the crowd a little tighter. “Mi Jeva” came next and let Karen shine as she delivered sweet riffs wearing a long black gown and of course her trademark Afro hairdo.
Lil Johnny was full of surprises all night dropping in short and sweet solos with a solid slap and tone. “El Molestoso” was a highlight as we were showered by a cloudburst of moñas that poured out of the horn section. The pyramid and counterpoint effects furthered the euphoria already present on the dance floor as sweating and smiling patrons basked in Palmieri musical joy. “Cuidate Compay” belonged to tres virtuoso, Nelson Gonzalez, who got inspired and dug in for a superb solo. Alumbre dulce to the max! “Azucar” closed the first and left the crowd ready to refresh themselves.
Honestly, the second set was a blur as the band kicked off with “Malanga.” From there, it was an Eddie Palmieri love fest as the hits poured out like “Lazaro y su Microfono,” “Muñeca,” and “Oyelo que te conviene.” I partied so hard I had to pinch myself as Eddie went into “Auld Lang Syne” with a Merengue beat to bring in 2009. Palmieri is a true original and one of the true giants left of Salsa, Latin jazz and jazz. His son, Eddie Palmieri III, is doing a superb job keeping Eddie’s career on track as his manager and is currently working on releasing the first DVD for El Gran Eddie. I look forward to it as Eddie is a master pianist who has never stop giving the people his best.
