Here’s some assertive and muscular music from the hands and pen of Chiemi Nakai, wh plays piano and keyboards in a variety of settings with Carlo De Rosa/b, drummers Joel Mateo, Juan Felipe Mayorga and Vince Cherico, a rotating team of percussionists and a horn section of Alejandro Aviles/as-fl and Justin Flylnn/ts. Nakai shows her formidable chops and prowess on rapid chasers such as her “Your Spirit IN The Sky With Hawks” and the bicep flexing “VOlver” with a mix of percolating percussion and Mari Koga’s nimble voice as a lead instrument. De Rosa’s bass creates some deep grooves during “I Weill Meet You Again” and teams with Nakai’s soulful keys and Flynn’s meaty tenor on the title piece.
Nakai shows creativity with the pen as well, taking “Monk’s Mood” and infusing in with an Afro Cuban feel supplemented by Aviles’ flute while the two pair up for a frisky Latin dance for her own “ Noce Especial.” Upbeat, up-tempo and up your alley.