Raves for Spirit of the Moment

“Depending on what track you’re listening to, “Spirit of the Moment” (Telarc) is presenting one of three big ideas. There’s Latin jazz as we know it. There’s jazz as we know it that is unmistakably informed by the cultural backgrounds of his new trio: a Dominican pianist (Michel Camilo), a Cuban bassist (Charles Flores) and a Cuban drummer (Dafnis Prieto). And there is the contemplative, rubato ballad, which reflects no particular identity or place. Each idea could generate a whole album, and it would be good to hear this fleet band make any of those records.”
New York Times

“‘My Secret Place’ features a striking rubato opening leading into a lovingly played Camilo ballad, pensive and introspective. Bill Evans would have applauded this performance…absorbing…”
JazzTimes

“Camilo performs all this with a frequently stunning virtuosity that’s become a given for this gifted artist. He’s ably abetted on this highly recommended effort by a Cuban-born rhythm section featuring longtime associate Charles Flores on bass and newcomer Dafnis Prieto on drums.”
All About Jazz-New york

“This is an energized working trio, performed with an intensity that only Camilo is capable of producing.”
All About Jazz-LA

“After twenty years of developing his chops as a trio player, pianist Michel Camilo took a few years off to do other things -- a solo album titled Solo and a lovely orchestral homage to George Gershwin were two results of that break. With Spirit of the Moment he returns to the trio format, and he sounds refreshed and happy to be back. As always, his style is powerfully energetic and at times ideas seem to be flying out from under his fingers almost more quickly than he can fully process them. But with the help of a crack rhythm team (drummer Dafnis Prieto and bassist Charles Flores) he manages to keep his feet on the ground and generate lots of inspiring moments. Notable among them are an all-too-brief rendition of the John Coltrane classic "Giant Steps" that sounds almost like "Flight of the Bumblebee", a lovely version of Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti", and the aptly titled "Hurry Up and Wait", a jittery and edgy uptempo original with a Latin feel. Despite his obvious affinity for faster material, Camilo also shines on the ballads: he delivers sweetly lyrical renditions of "My Secret Place" and "A Place in Time", both of them originals. Highly recommended.”
All-Music Guide

“Michel Camilo is one of kind when it comes to piano jazz explorations, and his unique playing style is all his own. For those new to Michel Camilo, this is a fine introduction. For those who enjoy the piano stylings of Michel Camilo, this is another lovely delight to savor and enjoy. Highly recommended.”
JazzReview.com

“So what do you do after putting out a solo disc, followed by a full orchestral recording of "Rhapsody in Blue"? Pianist Michel Camilo splits the difference and puts out a hard hitting trio release with "Spirit of the Moment."
JazzWeekly.com

“Michel Camilo is a brilliant, surprising pianist in any context from mainstream jazz to classical and Afro-Latin…Camilo excels at frenetic, soothing lines, and can slowly develop a song or accelerate through it. Flores and Prieto prove ideal companions, able to make quick adjustments within compositions or develop separate directions without breaking a song’s overall mood. Spirit of the Moment is vibrant and explosive fare that balances traditional jazz with explosive Latin elements.”
Nashville City Paper

“Camilo, a Grammy and two-time Latin Grammy Award winner and native of Santo Domingo, captures the fleeting spirit of the moment with his expressive, explosive trio. With its chamber-like intimacy, freedom and existential edge, the trio format permits Camilo to improvise swinging, seamless music that crosses all musical boundaries whether jazz, classical, bebop, blues, modal, Afro-Cuban, flamenco, Puerto Rican or Dominican.”
Hartford Courant

“In a return to his Grammy winning form, Camilo returns to a straight ahead trio format focusing on mostly originals with a few Miles related signature pieces thrown in…The music flows nicely and this smart jazzbo simply tees it up and hits it right down the middle. Contemporary jazz piano fans have a new winner on their hands here.”
Midwest Record

“Michel Camilo, Spirit of the Moment (Telarc). A personal "milestone" and a "classic," the pianist from the Dominican Republic calls his own disc, which may be a wee bit of hyperbole and solipsism but not that much. If this were your disc, you'd be bursting your buttons with pride, too. It's a delicious jazz piano trio record by a pianist with the chops to record Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" (which he did and won a Latin Grammy) but with a Caribbean rhythmic sense so infectious Dizzy Gillespie would have thrown a party for him. Camilo's new drummer Dafnis Prieto is from Cuba, and what he and bassist Chuck Flores and Camilo conjure up is a piano-plus-rhythm fiesta sometimes to the Nth power (hear what they do to Miles Davis' "Nardis"). Camilo can be a hard-swinging post-Tyner keyboard gobbler of Don Pullen ferocity (hear "Repercussions") but he can also be a keyboard percussionist of festive good cheer. This is state of the art mainstream jazz mega-piano and meta-piano, circa 2007.”
Buffalo News

“Our featured album this week on radioiojazz... I have always written of my love for the piano trio... the tracks of this album succeed in putting the stamp on the uniqueness of Michel Camilo's artistic stylings. Prieto brings his own style that is different from hernandez of 'live at the blue note'.. but the joy for me came while listening to the familiar phrasings and style of Camilo as it has further developed since the past four years.”
Radioiojazz.com

“An unmistakable and sophisticated Caribbean flavor permeates this lively session—no doubt fueled in part by Cuba-born bassist Charles Flores effortless command of rhythm. The seven-minute epic ‘Repercussions’ swings hardest, with Flores and drummer Dafnis Prieto mind-melding as Camilo dances with smooth aplomb on piano.”
Bass Guitar

“Pianist and composer Michel Camilo makes a triumphant return to the jazz trio setting with Spirit of the Moment. Together with drummer Dafnis Prieto and bass player Charles Flores, Camilo has crafted an engaging work that is chock-full of interesting moments. The album consists of three distinct chapters, each one made up of four tunes. The ballad "My Secret Place" counterbalances "A Place In Time" and both tracks are in the key of A minor. Here is an album that exemplifies spontaneity at its best.”
Rolling Out Urban Style Weekly

“Pianist Camilo returns to the trio format, which clearly energizes him. The CD's 12 tracks meld blues, Latin and modern piano jazz with lively, toe-tapping rhythms.”
Newark Star-Ledger