Venezuelan composer and pianist Silvano Monasterios brings together a rich sounding nonet of Troy Roberts/ts, Nestor Torres/fl, Alex Norris/tp-fh, Jeff Lederer/bcl-cl, Ricky Rodriguez/b, Luisito Quintero/perc, Jimmy MacBride/dr and Juan Diego Villalobos/vib for suite-like collection of originals. The focus here is on rich melodies and themes, with Moasterios the featured soloist for the most part, holding together the textured harmonies and clever directions. A staccato’d “The River (Opening)” includes offbeat directions under Lederer’s warm clarinet, while Torres’ feathery flute sways to the salsa’d “The River Between Us”. The woodwinds meld like a liquer on cake during the sweet “Dance On The Wire” , with Roberts’ tenor sighing during the reflective “Ambar’s Courage”. The leader gets to display his wares ona luminescent “Ambar” while he guides the horns with Rodriguez through a rich “Carmen Elena”. Deep waters.