Time: 67:21
Size: 154.2 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front
[ 5:07] 1. Bomba Oscura
[ 8:53] 2. Sky Floor
[ 6:45] 3. Portrait Wandering
[ 7:11] 4. Portrait Of A Woman
[ 0:58] 5. Portrait Among The Clouds
[ 9:58] 6. New Recruit
[ 8:51] 7. Pensando En Agua
[ 8:00] 8. Devotion
[11:33] 9. Looking For
In jazz terms Puerto Rico has certainly punched above its weight, producing Juan Tizol—a mainstay of Duke Ellington's bands in the 1930s and 1940s, Eddie Gomez and Manolo Badrena—who came to prominence in the 1960s/1970s through their respective associations with pianist Bill Evans and Weather Report—and latterly David Sanchez. Lesser known—though perhaps that's soon to change—is guitarist Rafael Rosa, whose enticing debut reveals a composer and technician of some sophistication.
Carlos Maldonado's barril—a lower pitched Afro-Puerto Rican cousin of the Cuban conga—introduces the lively "Bomba Oscura." Maldonado's variations on the sicá rhythm percolate beneath the driving rhythms of drummer Joel Mateo, bassist John Benitez and the chordal impetus of pianist Carlos Homs. Homs, Rosa and saxophonist Edmar Colon release penetrating solos either side of the Pat Metheny-esque head. Puerto Rican musicians all, their Latin credentials are exceptional, collectively having played with Tito Puente, Chucho Valdes, Eddie Palmieri and Miguel Zenon, amongst many others. It's the most overtly Latin-influenced track and a pulsating ride.
However, a Latin-jazz descarga Portrait is not. With the exception of the miniature "Portrait: Among the Clouds"—a fleeting, ruminative union of guitar and saxophone—Rosa leads the New York-based quintet through well-crafted originals of contemporary hue, whose vibes are more Manhattan than San Juan.
Guest musicians Jean-Michel Pilc and Kenny Werner shine on two separate tunes: on "Pensando en Agua" Pilc spars with Colon's soprano saxophone on a sinewy free-form intro evocative of Wayne Shorter's long-standing quartet. Dan Martinez' bass ostinato and a melodious guitar motif provide ballast, paving the way for highly lyrical solos, first from Rosa and then Pilc. Werner's customary elegance, comping nous and improvisational flare color the episodic "Looking For." The title of Rosa's spoken-word poem sets the tone for the music that follows; a softly yearning quality runs like a thread through the contiguous solos of Rosa, tenor saxophonist Milton Barreto and Werner— the song gradually dissipating in gentle reverie.
Rosa's significant technical facility is matched by his emotive phrasing, where every note counts. The strength and lyricism in his writing, however, is placed in relief by the excellent musicians who contribute much to a genuinely impressive debut. Portrait announces not only the arrival of a noteworthy talent in Rosa, but of a wonderfully convincing quintet too, one that hopefully has legs to run.
Rafael Rosa: guitar; Carlos Homs: piano (1-4, 6, 8); Edmar Colon: saxophones: (1-5, 7-8); Joel Mateo: drums (1-4, 6-9); John Benitez: bass (1-4); Carlos Maldonado: barril (1); Melanie Lozano: vocals (3-4); Michael Rodriguez: trumpet (6); Dan Martinez: bass (6-9); Jean Michel Pilc: piano (7); Kenny Werner: piano (9); Milton Barreto: saxophone (9).
Carlos Maldonado's barril—a lower pitched Afro-Puerto Rican cousin of the Cuban conga—introduces the lively "Bomba Oscura." Maldonado's variations on the sicá rhythm percolate beneath the driving rhythms of drummer Joel Mateo, bassist John Benitez and the chordal impetus of pianist Carlos Homs. Homs, Rosa and saxophonist Edmar Colon release penetrating solos either side of the Pat Metheny-esque head. Puerto Rican musicians all, their Latin credentials are exceptional, collectively having played with Tito Puente, Chucho Valdes, Eddie Palmieri and Miguel Zenon, amongst many others. It's the most overtly Latin-influenced track and a pulsating ride.
However, a Latin-jazz descarga Portrait is not. With the exception of the miniature "Portrait: Among the Clouds"—a fleeting, ruminative union of guitar and saxophone—Rosa leads the New York-based quintet through well-crafted originals of contemporary hue, whose vibes are more Manhattan than San Juan.
Guest musicians Jean-Michel Pilc and Kenny Werner shine on two separate tunes: on "Pensando en Agua" Pilc spars with Colon's soprano saxophone on a sinewy free-form intro evocative of Wayne Shorter's long-standing quartet. Dan Martinez' bass ostinato and a melodious guitar motif provide ballast, paving the way for highly lyrical solos, first from Rosa and then Pilc. Werner's customary elegance, comping nous and improvisational flare color the episodic "Looking For." The title of Rosa's spoken-word poem sets the tone for the music that follows; a softly yearning quality runs like a thread through the contiguous solos of Rosa, tenor saxophonist Milton Barreto and Werner— the song gradually dissipating in gentle reverie.
Rosa's significant technical facility is matched by his emotive phrasing, where every note counts. The strength and lyricism in his writing, however, is placed in relief by the excellent musicians who contribute much to a genuinely impressive debut. Portrait announces not only the arrival of a noteworthy talent in Rosa, but of a wonderfully convincing quintet too, one that hopefully has legs to run.
Rafael Rosa: guitar; Carlos Homs: piano (1-4, 6, 8); Edmar Colon: saxophones: (1-5, 7-8); Joel Mateo: drums (1-4, 6-9); John Benitez: bass (1-4); Carlos Maldonado: barril (1); Melanie Lozano: vocals (3-4); Michael Rodriguez: trumpet (6); Dan Martinez: bass (6-9); Jean Michel Pilc: piano (7); Kenny Werner: piano (9); Milton Barreto: saxophone (9).
Portrait