Wilson and Alroy's Record Reviews 1996.
Powerhouse acoustic Jazz with a strong Latin component, the band clearly inspired by Eddie Palmieri (there's even a tune called "Palmieri's Mood" featuring his cohort Brian Lynch) but is far from derivative. Pianist Rick Germanson shows extraordinary invention and range, pounding the keys into oblivion on the swinging (title track), but playing tenderly on the Jazz standard "When I Fall In Love", bassist Jim Paolo likewise is equally at home providing a Slow, Funky foundation ob Horace Silver's "Safari" or leaping all over the fretboard on"Palmieri's Mood". Trumpeter Mike Plog wrote most of the originals (including the lovely "Ballad for Lynn") and plays compact, melodic, solos, and drummer David Bayles backs everything up with a disarming light touch. In fact, the band member making the smallest audible contribution is the leader/producer,percussionist Diaz, whose work on Congas is solid but unsurprising. Then again, why show off when your band is this solid? Endlessly listenable
Tom Sorowicz for "Midwest Jazz Magazine" 1998.
The Tune "On The Edge' is hard-charging, steamy hard bop of the Blue Note variety-swell writing by trumpeter Mike Plog. "Heat Included" sounds like a West Coast style Cal Tjader or Poncho Sanchez groove. "Safari" remains as exotic, catchy and evocative as when hard bop saint Horace Silver first recorded the tune. And when it morphs into a Salsa beat showcase, four minutes into the piece, the transition is seamless and soulful - no doubt the cosmopolitan Mr. Silver would approve. Milwaukee native Brian Lynch is a perfect guest star for this project, given his top-flight training experiences in both the Latin Jazz and hard bop camps - playing with Eddie Palmieri and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, respectevley. Lynch has also toured with the venerable Phil Woods, and while Plog's an excellent hornman himself, the intensity and the heat level goes up a few notches when Lynch cuts loose on "Palmier's Mood". No showboat as a leader, Diaz saves his most compelling conguero flourishes for the rather relentless closer "Papa Flaco," which also features great splashy work by tap drummer David Bayles. "Papa Flaco" packs the punch of such timeless Dizzy Gillespie - Chano Pozo classics as "A night in Tunisia and "Manteca". Bravo Senor Diaz!
Elmer Gonzalez for Latin Beat Magazine 1997.
EI conguero Luis Diaz, Puertorriquefio radicado en Milwaukee, presenta su debut discogratico en la modalidad del jazz atrocaribeno. Aquf participan Mike Plog en la trompeta, Rick Germason en el piano, el bajista Jim Paolo y el baterista David Bayles. Cuenta adernas con Brian Lynch como trompetista invitado. EI CD,con un tiempo de 54:26,presenta ocho piezas en las que se destaca el sonido afinado y la gracia de la trompeta de Mike Plog quien demuestra buenos fraseos jazisticos muy apropiados al jazz caribeno. EI pianista Germason realiza una buena labor como acompanante y solista manteniendo una buena dosis del lenguage del jazz. EI CD sobresale por el buen balance que se logra entre los ritmos afrocubanos y el jazz. Tiene sabor, swing y el acoplamiento que se logra cuando un grupo logra mantenerse ocupado con los mismos integrantes. Aunque los arreglos tienden ser poco predescibles, el sonido del grupo no provoca cansancio auditivo. Sobresalen las piezas Ballad For ivnn, Palmieri's Mood de Brian Linch y On The Edge en ritmo de rumba guaguanco. Un encomiable trabajo par parte de la aqrupacion mas caliente de Wisconsin. (EG)
