Pianist Bill O'Connell has played with jazz greats such as Chet Baker and Sonny Rollins, but his musical predilection is Latin jazz. In 1977 he joined the Mongo Santamaria ensemble, which he continued to accompany for two years. From 1982 he played with flutist Dave Valentin with whom he still regularly tours. He also has enough time left for session work and making his own CDs. Rhapsody In Blue
… contains seven own pieces and three standards that O'Connell flawlessly converts to Latin jazz. He feels most at home when he can solo over Latin grooves, but can also make his piano howl during sentimental ballads. He is accompanied by a particularly powerful ensemble. The driven rhythm section of drummer Steve Barrios and bassists Luques Curtis and David Finck provides the perfect foundation for O'Connell's powerful playing and the solid notes of Steve Slagle's saxophone. Here and there latin jazz is alternated with swing. (AD)more
