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  | ROLAND ABREU / CUBAN LATIN JAZZ ~ ROOTS
V 018 (Barcode: 5903111377199) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020
This is the second album by Cuban (resident in Poland) bassist / composer Roland AbreuFind albums by this artist and his Cuban Latin JazzFind albums by this artist quartet, which also includes Ukrainian saxophonist Taras BakovskyiFind albums by this artist, pianist Pawel KukulaFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Dominik JaskeFind albums by this artist. Two additional Cuban percussionists: Nando Del RioFind albums by this artist and Elio Rodriguez LuisFind albums by this artist also take part in the recording. The album presents seven original compositions, all co-credited to the members of the quartet. The music was recorded at the splendid Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with a truly spectacular sound quality.
Cuban Jazz can not be played perfectly by musicians not originating from Cuba, and I am glad that this album presents music, which has obvious Cuban roots, but does not try to be strictly just Cuban Jazz. It offers a very successful amalgam between the Cuban rhythms and the Slavic lyricism represented by the rest of the quartet members, which works out very well, now for the second time in a row.
The compositions are all well structured and perfectly coherent; the melodic content is excellent, as are the arrangements spiced by the Cuban elements. Although the music is mostly on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, it is wonderfully entertaining and even spiced with a dash of exotic humor, which makes the album a true pleasure to listen to. But Jazz connoisseurs will be also able to enjoy the great saxophone and piano soloing, the wonderfully warm bass parts and the delightful polyrhythmic percussion "balagan".
Overall combining the fluent playing, nice tunes, exuberant rhythmic background and great sound quality, this album has a great entertaining value, without compromising the artistic qualities even one notch. This is one danceable piece of unadulterated pleasure, which is guaranteed to move your ass unless you are completely deaf.
| | Updated: 19/03/2020Posted: 19/03/2020 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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