Arturo Sandoval – A Time for Love

A Time for Love is certainly one of the more beautiful recordings released by Arturo Sandoval. The world-renowned GRAMMY winning trumpeter who is best known for his swinging Afro-Cuban jazz (CUBOP) and high registers brings out his romantic side via lovely ballads from the Great American Songbook and classical composers Ravel, Feure and Piazolla. Sandoval shares the spotlight with such great musicians as vocalist Monica Mancini, trumpeter Chris Botti, The Shelly Berg Trio and the great pianist Kenny Baron – all accompanied by an orchestra. 

All of the compositions are exquisite however, Ravel’s “Pavane For A Dead Princess,” his collaboration with trumpeter Chris Botti, is particularly beautiful and well-stylized. Monica Mancini also brings her inspired tranquility and finesse to the project not to mention her memorable vocals on “Oblivion,” Astor Piazolla’s masterful work. Sandoval is proficient and commanding throughout this project but when he sings “Estate” in Portuguese, and “Smile” in English, the versatility, passion and sincerity heard in his singing voice  is also rendered in his  trumpeting voice. “I Love You Porgy,” receives a successful update and this special rendition should persuade novices to strive for the same great  sonority that Sandoval relays in this song.

This melding of classical repertoire with jazz standards from the Great American Songbook is sure to please both classical and jazz aficionados. Kenny Baron’s pianism is not only delicate and dramatic when necessary, his underscoring of Sandoval’s trumpeting is exclusively Baron. He is The Baron. The pleasures of harmony, melody and lush orchestration all come together beautifully in A TIME FOR LOVE making it timeless and one of the best ballad recordings by a trumpeter since Roy Hargrove’s MOMENT TO MOMENT.

Reprinted with permission of…