After successfully "Latinizing" the music of jazz legends John Coltrane and Miles Davis, CONRAD HERWIG turns his attention to saxophonist Wayne Shorter, one of the most important jazz composers of the past half-century. The result is a fiery excursion into the world of Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Joining Herwig and his "Latin Side" band are two special guests - pianist pioneer Eddie Palmieri, and trumpeter Brian Lynch. Together they lend a spirit and authority unmatched among salsa aggregates. Featured tunes include "Footprints," "Masqualero," and "Adam's Apple." This is the latest installment in Conrad Herwig's winning series, "The Latin Side of…" Recorded live at the Blue Note in New York, it spotlights the iconic greatness of Wayne Shorter and Eddie Palmieri, as well as Herwig's progressive arrangements.

“The goal of Delirium Blues is to re-examine various takes on the blues, from the Mississippi Delta and Texas to the urban funk of Memphis and Detroit, all from a jazz perspective. To that end, Mr. Werner and producer Jeff Levenson (who is recording the project for release on the Blue Note's label, Half Note Records) have assembled a crack team of four horns and four rhythm players, all of whom are equally versed in the intricacies of bebop and the fundamentals of American roots music. The singer, the Texas-born Roseanna Vitro, is also an astute choice because, unlike most contemporary jazz vocalists who make every third tune an obligatory bossa nova, Ms. Vitro has consistently shown blues leanings, and I would rather hear her doing this music than, say, the Rodgers & Hart songbook. Although she sings on every number, this is not a project designed merely to spotlight her as a star singer; the most effective of Mr. Werner's charts are those that use her essentially as another soloist in the ensemble, much as Billie Holiday's classic recordings of the late '30s did. This music isn't about the nuances of the lyrics, but about the overall feeling and the sonic quality of the voice itself.”

- Will Friedwald, NY Sun