Arturo Sandoval - Marianela

As a fellow trumpeter and Jazz enthusiast myself, I take pride in listening to the greatest of the greats that were able to make that hunk of brass sing. You've got your founding fathers of jazz trumpeting (Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, etc.) who I enjoy listening too and learning from. There's the commercialists (Maynard Ferguson, Al Hirt, Doc Severinsen and such) who despite all the harsh criticism they endured throughout their careers, due to the fact that they mainly appealed to a particular audience, they were still very much influential to young, aspiring musicians like myself growing up during those time periods and even today.

But of course you have the trumpet gurus of today. Your Wynton Marsalis'. Your Jon Faddis'. The James Morrison's. All musical magicians. All of which have rang my eardrums with such eloquent musical phrases that have further intensified my love for Jazz.

The zesty Arturo Sandoval is another jazz savant of today's Mount Rushmore of trumpet players. Sandoval is known for his sizzling Latin tunes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIWXYrK3Dis it's called "Funky Cha Cha," and it is without a doubt the definition of sexy!) and his flamboyant antics in his performances.

However, for this post I'll be discussing a somewhat more subtle piece by boisterous Sandoval called "Marianela" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDg0tnU2rlo). Unlike his more pop-oriented tunes, Sandoval's piece this time is less up-beat and jiving, but more mellow, silky, and romantic.

The song is in your standard 4/4 time signature. The tune's tempo overall is best described as largo (broad), but not a loud, belting broad... at least not up until the final solo melody.  It best encompasses a ternary form (ABA'). The piece begins with some sort of electronic instrument accompanied by a piano (song texture) and ends in the same fashion with a slightly different melody at the end. Both melodies are played at mezzo piano, adding to the already smooth, gentle melody created. Each and every time I hear those to melodies, it always strikes a chord inside me because of the singing quality to it.

Listening to the song as a whole, I feel as if Sandoval is playing for someone who he is deeply affectionate towards. In addition, it seems that the structure of the song resembles the lust for this person; the passion for this certain individual is bubbling and brewing for such a long time until finally Sandoval can no longer contain his devotion as it bursts from within. The first two solos are played by what seems to be some sort of flugelhorn. The sound coming from those instruments are very mellow and tranquil and are played at mezzo piano. Unlike the first melody (0:34), which is comprised of simpler phrases, the second melody's phrases are more elongated, with an abundance of sixteenth notes (1:53). In my opinion, the second melody has a more velvety texture to it. The texture of these solos are polyphony because of the piano playing the chords, the string instruments playing their own musical lines and the light percussion in the background of the main melody.

The climatic point of the piece is the grand glissando leading into the blaring trumpet solo represents the volcanic eruption of Sandoval's undeniable adoration (3:05). The fact that he is now playing at a higher volume of fortissimo and screeching more in the upper register continues to exemplify the rays of amour and love beaming out of Sandoval's soul.

Whenever I feel down and need to find something that will pick me up, I usually turn to music. "Marianela" in particular is a heart-raising, spirit-lifting tune that helps calm my nerves and soothe my sorrows at a moment's notice. Take a listen, and enjoy the music!