Michel Camilo Trio: Newport Jazz Festival 2009

Before he was an award winning Latin jazz artist, Michel Camilo was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra in his native Dominican Republic. That was at age 16. Camilo is 55 now, and he's evolved a good deal as an artist since then. He's still quite active as a classical performer, conductor and composer of chamber and symphonic works. But he's better known as a fiery, new-school Latin jazz pianist, with nearly 20 albums out under his own name.

His latest album, Spirit Of The Moment, returns Camilo to the trio format with which he's made a name for himself. Buffeted by the interplay of Cuban-born bassist Charles Flores and drummer Dafnis Prieto, whose takes on tropical rhythms are often implied and abstracted, Camilo took on a host of originals and well-known standards. That mix of vibrancy, virtuosity and modernity is likely to be on display at Newport's main stage on Sunday.

Set List

"See You Later"

"My Secret Place"

"Piece of Cake"

"Repercussions"

"Poinciana"

"Descarga for Tito"

"A Night In Tunisia" (with Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone)

Personnel

Cliff Almond, drums

Charles Flores, bass

Michel Camilo, piano