Here’s a album that mixes modern sounds with spiced salsa. Pianist/keyboardist Manuel Valera leads a snappy team of Yosvany Terry/as-ss, Tom Guarna/g, Alex Sipiagin/tp-fh, Hans Glawischnig/b Ludwig Afonso/dr and Mauricia Herrera/perc through some exciting originals here. Lots of bopping themes dressed over percussion that simmers like a morning omelet on a frying pan on tunes such as “Descargando” and “Factors” that have mixed rhythms pushing solos by Sipaigin and Terry. Valera’s piano flows as well, with some luscious droplets from piano as well as Guarna’s guitar on “Pramble” that is as dainty as raindrops, while the leader uses his dancing keyboards on the saucy “Bantu.” Some wonderful harmonies meld together like mixtures in a cool drink on the softly grooving “Storyteller” while the rhythm team creates a breezy feel on “No Puedo Ser Feliz.” The whole session feels like a natural progression from what Dizzy Gillespie started a generation ago, mixing tradition with the future.
Criss Cross Jazz