Mambo Tango

'Although Argentinean-born jazz pianist Carlos Franzetti is well-versed in both South American and Cuban styles, don't think of Mambo Tango as strictly a Latin recording. Sticking exclusively to solo piano for this session, his take of Have You Met Miss Jones could easily be mistaken for one of the neo-bop players who emerged during the 1980s and 1990s, with inventive improvisations against a walking irregular bassline. It is surprising that relatively few pianists have recorded Gary McFarland's moving Gary's Waltz, a favorite of the late Bill Evans, who played and recorded it numerous times. But Franzetti's approach is less dramatic and alters the melody in a subtle, infectious way that is far removed from Evans' interpretation. He also tackles Evans' popular Waltz for Debbie, shading it with an Erroll Garner-like bouncing rhythm for a time against his dazzling improvising in the upper keyboard. Franzetti's originals are equally of interest. His delightful Mambo Tango combines the two styles in a masterful performance, while Milonga del Adios is a bittersweet Latin ballad that deserves to have lyrics. To wrap this top-notch album, Carlos Franzetti offers a tantalizing, deliberate setting of Duke Ellington's I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good). Highly recommended'. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide