Reviews: Latin Beat Sept/Oct 2006 Pick Of The Month This is one of those rare CDs that only comes around every couple of years, that gives one goose bumps on the first spin and reaffirms your faith in righteous music. Explosive and unpredictable compositions rock the listener from beginning to end. A fresh audio experience keaves one with a sense of musical fulfillment. Overproof is a Latin jazz power trio led by drummer extraordinaire Robby Ameen (of Ruben Blades' Seis de Solar and Son del Solar fame), featuring the eclectic sounds of Cuban guitarist Octavio Kotan and Nuyorican bassist Ruben Rodriguez. Ameen's hardcore rolling drums and percussive sounds are anchored by the precision bass lines of Rodriguez, setting the musical canvas for Kotan's colorful, lyrical, and surrealistic guitar interpretations. With no boundaries, the band incorporates Latin, rock, jazz and funk elements into a seldom-heard fusion of sounds. While nine out of the eleven tracks on the CD are original kotan compositions, with one score by Ameen, the trio more than ably covers the Lennon-McCartney classic "Come Together" (featuring the guest vocal talents of Xiomara Laugart, also featured on the track "Danzon Pink Gum). Other highlights on this recording include the tracks "89 Days", "Guaguanco Without Wine", Kotico's Song", and "Hotel Lobby Samba." - Rudy Mangual Also received 4 stars in Spain's national newspaper El Pais OVERPROOF Octavio Kotan, Electric Guitar Rubén Rodriguez, Electric Bass Robby Ameen, Drums Overproof is a latin-jazz based power trio who have recently released their debut recording on the Japanese EWE label and Spanish SONIFOLK label, entitled "3 Guys Walk Into A Bar". The band was originally formed as a collective by drummer Robby Ameen featuring Cuban Octavio Kotan on guitar and Nuyorican Ruben Rodriguez on bass. The band incorporates latin timba, rock, jazz, and funk elements into one hard-hitting sound which is truly unique in today’s ever growing eclectic world of music. ROBBY AMEEN Robby Ameen was the original drummer in Ruben Blades’ Seis del Solar and spent over 15 years touring and recording with the band. He has recorded extensively over the years with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Paul Simon, Eddie Palmieri to David Byrne. He has also maintained a close relationship with renowned flautist Dave Valentin and worked on almost all of the projects of composer-producer Kip Hanrahan, both of whom he has been touring and recording with for over twenty years. For the past several years, Robby has also been a member of ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce’s band. Robby also currently co-leads the "el Negro & Robby Band" with fellow drummer Horacio "el Negro" Hernandez; together they have made three records and toured worldwide. Robby is also co-author with Lincoln Goines of the best-selling instructional book and CD: Funkifying the Clave: Afro Cuban Grooves for Bass and Drums, which has sold over 35,000 copies worldwide. Robby is an active clinician, performing at Modern Drummer Day, Montreal Drum Festival, NAMM and PAS shows, to name a few, as well as internationally. His website is: www.robbyameen.com OCTAVIO KOTAN The son of one of Cuba’s most legendary guitarists and tresistas, Octavio Kotan’s remarkable career reflects the richness of the three cities he has made home during his lifetime: Havana, Madrid, and currently, New York City. While in Cuba, Octavio played and arranged for many of the most influential bands on the island, including Los Van Van, Irakere, and The Tropicana Orchestra. He was also an original member of one of Cuba’s first groundbreaking "Timba" style bands led by singer Isaac Delgado. After moving to Spain, Octavio played and arranged for such artists as Juan Carlos Calderon, Joaquin Sabina, Massiel, and fellow Cubans Gema y Pavel, to name a few. Since moving to New York, he became a member of Andy Gonzalez’s Orchestra Libre, arranged and played for Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Big Band, and has recently been touring with Bebo Valdes’ All Star Latin Big Band. Octavio is also the composer of most of Overproof’s songs. RUBEN RODRIGUEZ Bassist Ruben Rodriguez has played on over 250 records. He has recorded with practically every major Salsa artist of the last twenty years, including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, ,Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, and Isaac Delgado, to name a few. He has been the bassist of choice for famed producer Sergio George, and is credited with having helped create the modern New York Salsa sound, particularly through his work with Marc Anthony and having been musical director for the innovative band DLG. Ruben is also a veteran of the jazz and R & B scene having recorded and toured extensively with Dave Valentin, Grover Washington Jr., and Roberta Flack. Ruben is currently the bassist for the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and also for the Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra.