Eddie Palmieri: In Flight

The violin is not commonly featured in Latin jazz groups led by Eddie Palmieri or others, being more typically found in charanga bands such as Cuba's inimitable Orquestra Aragón. However, after Regina Carter's sensational guest performances on two tracks of Palmieri's Listen Here! CD, the pianist would undoubtedly have welcomed the talented violinist into his group permanently if she were available and so inclined.

"In Flight" is a jaunty theme played by Carter's ingratiating violin over a swaying salsa pulse. Her sweeping solo is a bountiful feast of appealing lyricism, zesty rhythmic variations, and catchy riffs, with the horn section's punctuations only escalating the dancing mood. The team of Brian Lynch and Donald Harrison succeeds her with a seamless trumpet/alto exchange of concise assertive declarations, enhanced by Palmieri's goading montuno and the interaction between Hernández's drums and Hidalgo's congas. When Carter reenters, she somehow heats up this already boiling atmosphere, horn riffs again accentuating her unrestrained, technically polished lines. This is a superb Latin jazz track, expertly and spiritedly arranged by Palmieri and his trombonist Doug Beavers. But Regina Carter steals the show.