Chico O'Farrill: the writer

Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 00:24 Written by Tom Krehbiel Wednesday, 06 September 1995 14:53

Latin jazz patriarch Chico O'Farrill says "I'm a big band writer" and sets forth ten charts full of Pure Emotion to demonstrate that premise to anyone's satisfaction.

The centerpiece of the disc is a 12 minute set of "Variations on a Well-Known Theme." The theme is "La Cucaracha," rather thin material, but O'Farrill presents it in a variety of guises from Kentonesque bombast to Mancini movie music to suave Ellingtonia and of course full Latin treatment replete with vocal choir. It's intentionally overdone and fun for a few listenings.

The other pieces impress in more durable ways.