Tomas_Esperanza

Home Page: tomas_esperanza
Member Since: Jun 06, 2006
Rank: 618
Average Vote Received: Correct (3.59, 34 votes)
last 10 days: Correct (3.67, 12 votes)
Rated 504 releases, average: 3.17
Location: Bristol, UK
Profile: BACKGROUND Senior Tomas Esperanza is a Bristolian musician and is presently based in south Bristol, UK. He has been part of the local music scene since he started playing bass at the age of sixteen in 1989. He has participated in many local bands since then, gigging regularly and gaining much experience rehearsing, recording, and performing. Venues played include many of the clubs, pubs and bars in and around the South-West of Britain and, most of the major local festivals, including:- Glastonbury (Jazz/World stage), Bristol Community Festival., Frome festival, Bath Fringe, Easton Community Carnival, St. Paul's Carnival, etc. STYLES Tom's bass playing covers a wide range of styles including:- Rock, Brazilian, Funk, Reggae, Country, Hip-Hop, D&B, Salsa (urban & folkloric), and also includes some Jazz and Classical. This eclectic mix reflects the broad listening tastes, and enthusiasm for good music in general, of a musician who is always keen to learn and explore! SKILLS As an experienced bassist Tom has previously run several ensembles gaining valuable experience as a band leader, composer, arranger and organizer (management, promotion, fixer etc!). Bands run have included Dub & Roots Reggae ensembles and Jazz-Funk outfits. Reading and writing skills are reasonably good, developed since 1998. Charts are usually produced with Sibelius 4. Full ensemble arrangements are sometimes produced, if needed. KUDOS Snr Esperanza is proud to have garnered a reputation among many of the local latin-playing musos as a latin specialist, having previously run a large Salsa ensemble for several years, and also run a salsa workshop at Alma Studios. ACTIVITY Typically Tom is working with several active bands, either gigging, rehearsing or recording, and is a participant of several "slower burning" projects, as well as taking the occasional gig as a dep. Being ever-interested in gaining more experiences through playing music, Snr Esperanza is usually keen to participate in new musical projects.

Reviews:

Mad Professor - Dub Me Crazy Part 4 (Escape To The Asylum Of Dub) - 06-Sep-07 06:21 AM
Contrary to some opinions, I suggest that the "Dub Me Crazy" series (of which I own all, in one format or another) improves chronologically for the first five albums. That said, they are all classic and collectable - but I would select this one over the first three.

Track A1) "Rasta Chase" is a strong "riddim" with a catchy bass line and interesting afrocentric pattern on the drums.

Track A2) "White House Race" is an even "dubbier" version of the previous track "Rasta Chase".

Track A6) "Kingston Flight 303" stands out as being even more ambient / atmospheric than the other material, is a nice change of mood.

The remaining tracks offer less individuality, but are still a good sample of the whole series.

This also is the last album in the series that appears to contain entirely live drums throughout. From "part 5" onwards we hear much more synth drums and sequences.

Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay - 05-Sep-07 11:24 AM
Classic Album, due to track 1!

The title track Red Clay is now considered a "standard" by jazz musicians worldwide. It has been covered many times.

Many versions are good, but this version is to me the definitive recording of Red Clay. It offers wonderfully musical solos from each instrumentalist, highlighting the top class line-up.

An exception tune.

The rest of the LP is good quality jazz and reasonably listen-able, but not nearly as inspiring IMO.

Various - Street Sounds Hip Hop Electro 11 - 07-Jun-06 07:00 AM
I'm sure there are countless thirty-somethings who fondly remember the early era of the Electro series, many of whom will have stopped collecting them after a few years as times changed and the series ceased to be as fresh as it once was. No doubt in my mind the late eighties where a bit naff regarding the incorporation of electro/hip-hop within the mainstream. It just wasn't underground or original anymore. But that said, In 1986 I still enjoyed the series right up till HipHop/Electro 15. By 1987 it was done. Although Electro 11 was perhaps the beggining of the end of a good thang - it was, for a while, my personal favourite as it has some pretty hard hitting tunes on there.