Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge

Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge: Hey, It

by Jim Santella
October 1, 2000

Mark Levine’s straight-ahead piano trio adds conguero Michael Shapiro for a Latin tinge. Yes, the quartet’s name comes from Jelly Roll Morton’s historical comment that our earliest jazz included elements from Central and South American cultures. After all, the geography of New Orleans aided in the mixing of many cultures.

So Latin tinge it is. And it’s as obvious here as it is in most jazz circles. Take out the congas and there’s still a Latin beat. Levine includes in ...