Welcome to Miami! This release, Dr. Ed Calle Presents Mamblue, a stunning two-CD tribute to the city of Miami, Florida and its cultural history (Mojito Records), is a tour-de-force of big-band swing, Afro-Cuban action, mambo, bolero and cha-cha. Dr. Ed Calle played sax, wrote all 25 tracks, arranged, orchestrated and produced. To that end, he rounded up some master musicians to positively wail.
The legendary Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval leads a cast of musical characters from the bands or sessions of no less than Sonny Rollins, Eddie Palmiere, Natalie Cole, Prince, Celia Cruz, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Celine Dio, Barry Gibb, Rihanna, Gloria Estefan and Jaco Pastorious.
"Arepa Bop" pays homage to Dizzy Gillespie and it's here where Calle's Venezuelan heritage shines. "Calming Blue" is an exercise in what they call "bolero-cha." Track after track features blistering solos done Maynard Ferguson-style, challenging dancers to keep up. From "Rice And Beans" (a must if you visit the city) to "Biscayne Bay" (another must), Calle reaches all the local destinations. He even solos ferociously on "Urban Island." "San Sebastian" is a loving remembrance of another exotic port-of-call that litters his own personal history. Then there's "Cortadito" (a small Cuban coffee), and "Mambo Wambo," which has the violin of Federico Brito going crazy. "Sidewinder" strays into rock, "Moonlight" gets misty and "Sidewinder" thrills while "Autumn" chills.
Leaving no stone unturned, Calle -- a tenured professor of Music Business and Production at Miami Dade -- also recruited the Miami Saxophone Quartet, the Miami Symphonic Strings as well as Palo, an exciting funk band that people who party on South Beach sure know. He's appeared on sax, flute, clarinet, keyboards or vocals on over 1,200 albums and 8,500 singles. He's worked with everybody who was ever born. (At least it seems that way.) Consider this Mamblue project his crowning achievement.
