Wilson and Alroy's Record Reviews. 1996.
Powerhouse acoustic Jazz with a strong Latin component, the band clearly inspired by Eddie Palmieri (there's even a tune called "Palmieri's Mood" featuring his cohort Brian Lynch) but is far from derivative. Pianist Rick Germanson shows extraordinary invention and range, pounding the keys into oblivion on the swinging (title track), but playing tenderly on the Jazz standard "When I Fall In Love", bassist Jim Paolo likewise is equally at home providing a Slow, Funky foundation ob Horace Silver's "Safary" or leaping all over the fretboard on"Palmieri's Mood". Trumpeter Mike Plog wrote most of the originals (includinf the lovely "Ballad for Lynn") and plays compact, melodic, solos, and drummer David bayles backs everything up with a disarming light touch. In fact, the band member making the smallest audible contribution is the leader/producer,percussionist Diaz, whose work on Congas is solid but unsurprising. Then again, why show off when your band is this solid? Endlesly listenable; one hopes the Quintet is still working and recording together.

 "Diaz Quintet unique" by Bryan Zoran.1999.
The Luis Diaz Quintet put together quite a show at "The Jazz Estate" on saturday, October 17. The band was cooking from the very first note. Mike Plog had some great arrangments and the musicians made the most of them. Plog, arranger/trumpet/flugelhorn, has come a long way. The subtleties and maturity in his playing have made him a very fine musician. Steve Einersen on piano, provided inspiration for the audience and the other members of the quintet throughout his solo work and his accompaniment. The Bass, played by Jeff Hamann, has always something to say on his instrument and this quintet gives him plenty to talk about. Dave Bayles has taken his drumming to new heights. Always a solid timekeeper, he has developed an impresive arsenal for soloing. Luis Diaz is a joy to hear and see. His uplifting musical personality permeates throughout the group. On one particular solo during the first set, he had the entire room captivated, meserized by his stamina and amazing technique. The great thing about this quintet is that everybody is an excellent soloist. Together they create something special and unique.

Tom Sorowicz for "Midwest Jazz".1998.
The Tune "On The Edge' is hard-charging, steamy hard bop of the Blue Note variety-swell writing by trumpeter Mike Plog. "Heat Included" sounds like a West Coast style Cal Tjader or Poncho Sanchez groove. "Safari" remains as exotic, catchy and evocative as when hard bop saint Horace Silver first recorded the tune. And when it morphs into a Salsa beat showcase, four minutes into the piece, the transition is seamless and soulful - no doubt the cosmopolitan Mr. Silver would approve. Milwaukee native Brian Lynch is a perfect guest star for this project, given his top-flight training experiences in both the Latin Jazz and hard bop camps - playing with Eddie Palmieri and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, respectevly. Lynch has also toured with the venerable Phil Woods, and while Plog's an exellent hornman himself, the intensity and the heat level goes up a few notches when Lynch cuts loose on "Palmier's Mood". No showboat as a leader, Diaz saves his most compelling congero flourishes for the rather relentless closer "Papa Flaco," which also features great splashy work by tap drummer David Bayles. "Papa Flaco" packs the punch of such timeless Dizzy Gillespie - Chano Pozo classics as "A night in Tunisia and "Manteca". Bravo Senor Diaz!

 Elmer Gonzales for "Latin Beat Magazine".1997.
El conguero Luis Diaz, Puertorriqueno, radicado en Milwaukee, presenta su debut discografico en la modalidad del Jazz Afrocaribeno. Aqui participan Mike Plog en la trompeta, Rick Germanson en el piano, el bajista Jim Paolo y el baterista David Bayles. Cuenta ademas con Brian Lynch como trompetista invitado. El CD, con un tiempo de 54:26, presenta ocho piezas en las que se destacan el sonido afinado y la gracia de la trompeta de Mike Plog quien demuestra buenos fraseos jazisticos muy apropiados al Jazz caribeno. El pianista Germanson realiza buena labor como acompanante y solista manteniendo una buena dosis del lenguage del Jazz. El CD sobresale por el buen balance que se logra entre los ritmos Afro-cubanos y el Jazz. Tiene sabor, swing y el acoplamiento que se logra cuando un grupo logra mantenerse ocupado con los mismos integrantes. Aunque los arreglos tienden ser un algo predescibles, el sonido del grupo no provoca cansansio auditivo. Sobresalen las piesas Ballad For Lynn, Palmieri's Mood de Brian Lynch y On The Edge en ritmo de rumba-guaguanco. un encomiable trabajo por parte de la agrupacion mas caliente de Wisconsin.