How many albums with Peruvian pan pipes do you have that aren’t filled with traditional folk music? I’m willing to bet that this one by Damian Draghici is going to be your first. He takes the unwieldy instrument, teams up with some of the finest jazzers around like Russell Ferrante/key,Mitch Forman- Larry Koonse/g, Dave Weckl-Vinnie Colaiuta/dr, Alan Broadbent/p, and Stanley Clarke-Tom Kennedy/dr and delivers some fascinating jazz material with a new and exotic sound.
With the bopping brass of Arturo Sandoval, Draghici holds his own on “Donna Lee” while a take of”Giant Steps” with Eddie Daniels sitting in snaps and sizzles in its complexity. Strings mix wit Luciana Souza’s rich voice on “Madinha” and the pipes blow with joy along with Frank Gambale’s electric guitar on “Curumin.” The breathy notes are able to go legato or staccato, as they pop on “More Than Yesterday” and glide on “ Waltz For Debbie.” The material sounds anything but a gimmick as “Ceora” melds Chris Botti’s open horn with the rich open spaces of the South American winds. A reading of Chick Corea’s “Spain” is a perfect meld, with Bill Cantos’ voice and the mix of drums and percussion creating a wondrous setting for Ferrante and Draghici to canter like stallions. This is a joy to behold, both for its unique sound, but also on its own two feet.
Century Jazz Records