The Whole Music Experience

World/Jazz   Mulatu Astatke Sketches of Ethiopia   Jazz Village When I first started listening to world music, I heard a few Ethiopian jazz and sacred music recordings. Right away, I felt enticed by the exotic modes, scales, and polyphonic rhythms.   The music of Ethiopia possesses a distinct sound even when it’s melded to jazz, funk, and Latin music.   And it’s not the easiest music to describe either!   Pianist/Vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke gives listeners a music puzzle to solve and I even looked up traditional Ethiopian instruments featured on the recording (the Ethiopian flute, washint, traditional lyre, krar and the 1-string fiddle, masinco).   While the wildly delicious Sketches of Ethiopia falls into exoticism, any listener of world music will recognize echoes of Nigerian funk, American soul, Cuban beats and Ethiopian jazz because it’s all here and then some. The opener, Azmari warms up the ears with polyphonic beats, exotic ...

World/ Jazz   Carmen Souza Kachupada   Galileo Music Cape Verdean-Portuguese vocalist (and songwriter) Carmen Souza returns with Kachupada .  Exploring jazz and African Diaspora musical styles, Souza pushes musical boundaries singing in a voice that could claim soul sister-ship with American folksinger Victoria Williams.  She opens with the effervescent Manhã l de Dezembro followed by an accordion-laced Donna Lee (American jazz given a French swing makeover).  How do you even begin to describe the third track, Luta (Fight) , other than pan-Africa meets Brazil and Cuba?  Souza sings with syncopation along with poly phonic percussion, savory flute, and beatnik bass lines. As eclectic as the musical portion sounds, Souza possesses an otherworldly voice that when it grounds itself becomes deliciously earthy.  The arrangements by Souza and her producer Theo Pas’cal surprise, tease, and tickle our ears.  Souza’s version of My F...

World/Latin Grupo Cha Cha   This is the Life Independent Mixed Latin music bands have caught my attention in recent years, including Seattle’s Picoso (with women horn players) and now, Grupo Cha Cha from Chicago which performs flute-centered Caribbean and Brazilian dance music.   This is the Life opens with Charlie Otwell’s Peruchin which ripples with passion.   Flutist Lise Gilly (band leader) radiates on this track, with tight Afro-Latin percussion, salsa-piano (Darwin Noguera), and the other musicians creating luscious grooves.   Anyone who fancies Latin music will gravitate towards this independent release and why not support independent musicians? The title track recalls Cal Tjader and Havana Flute Summit which falls in neatly into Latin jazz with Victor Garcia soloing on trumpet and Adrian Ruiz on electric piano (organ).   The musicians shift rhythmically three quarters of the way with the flute taking the lead.   On Que Te P...

Jazz / World    Ray Sandoval   Próxima Parada Independent In an age of fusion food and music, Ray Sandoval, guitarist-composer records flamenco-tinged Latin jazz with folk-world elements also on his canvas.   His fifth outing, Próxima Parada even fits into the crossover new age category in the same vein of Strunz and Farah or Jesse Cook, if those musicians took the Cuban rustic route.   Actually, beyond the borders of genres, Sandoval composes and performs straight forward music with strong melodic hooks, and percussionist Satin Singh adds some tight Latin grooves.   The songs offer a warm relaxing vibe, while having enough vibrancy to not end up buried in audio wallpaper.   And if you need something livelier, listen to the track I Do . All the tunes were penned by Sandoval except a Latinized version of Thelonious Monk’s ‘ Round Midnight .   Most of the songs here would ignite a romantic evening, just listen to Sakura Sky ...

Mario Romano Quartet Valentina Alma Records Opening with the chestnut, Night in Tunisia , Mario Romano Quartet brings a “Latin tinge” to the debut album, Valentina . It’s hard to imagine that a man who runs a construction company in Toronto, Mario Romano also possesses an extraordinary gift as a pianist. In fact, the press notes cite that Romano waited 40 years before following through on his passion for music. In a way that ‘s a shame, given that jazz audiences waited 4 decades to enjoy Romano’s musical gift.   But on the other hand, he brings maturity, grace, and elegance to his debut album. Sometimes we just have to wait. Romano’s Latin-style piano playing is immersed in Pat LaBarbera’s stunning tenor saxophone, Mark Kelso’s syncopated drumming; and held down by Roberto Occhipinti’s bass. The four musicians travel through mostly jazz standards such as Dizzy Gillespie’s Night in Tunisia , the Beatles’ Norwegian Wood , Jacques Pervert Autumn Leaves (perfect timin...

Hilario Duran Trio Motion Alma Records Roberto Occhipinti A bend in the river Alma Records I love Latin jazz piano and after listening to Cuban-born Hilario Duran’s Motion several times, I’d have to say Duran is among the crème of crème of Latin pianist. I immediately heard the connection to Cuban jazz players a trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and reedman Paquito D’Rivera and pianist Chucho Valdes (all Cubanos associated with Duran). While Duran usually composes for big bands, he’s right at home with his trio which features Roberto Occhipinti on bass and Mark Kelso on drums. And dang, this music gets the blood pumping from the get-go. It grabs listeners and holds them hostage for the duration of the 8 tracks. Aptly titled, Motion never stops moving. These musicians work up a sweat, delving into complicated rhythms with aplomb. I’m reminded of another trio led by pianist Michel Camilo, another musician that recalls the Energizer Bunny. Conversation with a Lunatic flies ...