Vocalist Ermelinda Cuellar gives rich South American flavors to jazz standards as well as tunes from her own Peruvian heart on this alluringly exotic album. The mix of Darrell Lavigne/p, Anthony Caceres/b, Greg Petito/g, Jerre Jackson/dr, Sam Dinkins III-Marlon Simon/perc are supplemented by horns, strings and beyond, to meld Latin passions with post bop jazz.
The percussion percolates to Cuellar’s warm voice on a folksy read of “Poinciana” while Horace Silver’s “Song For My Father” oozes with a more traditional feel , and Horace Alexander Young’s flute flutters on an earthy take of “Agua de Beber/Water To Drink”. Most fun is the comparison of two worldviews of “Midnight Sun”, with the English version sauntering with spicy flavors, and the Spanish take taking you to the mountain villages of the Andes. Sweet salsa of “Tu, Mi Delirio” and a longing “Maria Lando” with Steven Barrett Sills’ cello add to the romantic of the Latin atmosphere. IS this band hitting the road?