String along with some creative sounds…
Tomoko Omura plays 5-string violin as she melds traditional Japanese themes with modern jazz nuances with her team of Jeff Miles/g, Glenn Zaleski/p, pablo Menares/b and Jay Sawyer/dr on this intriguing album. There’s a mix of classical violin on Omura’s opening solo to the dramatic “Bow’s Dance” while her strings plead with rich emotion on the lovley “Tomie’s Blues” and get moody on her heartfelt vibrato during the reflective “Melancholy Of A Crane”. Sawyer lays down a funereal pulse for the more traditional folk sound of “Come Firefly” with Zaleski teaming with Menares for an introspective and intricate “Urashima Suite” with the most complete “jazz” tune reflected in the post bopping “To Ryan Se”. Fusion doesn’t mean you have to plugging in to something electric.
Venezuelan violinist Ali’ Bello creates exciting and intricate sounds with his core team of Gabriel Chakarji/key, Gabriel Vivas/b, Ismael Baiz/dr and Manuel Marquez/perc along with a collection of guest percussionists and soloists throughout. Jaleel Shaw’s soprano sax fascinates on the lyrical “Heartbeat” and his tenor glides through the galloping rhythms on the assertive “Bello’s Blues”. Bellos himself is wondrous as he teams with Chakarji’s keys on the wondrous “Caracas”, and when he teams with fellow fiddler Regina Carter on the sensuous “Song To Marina”, the heavens open in beauty. Jeff Lederer brings a folksy clarinet to team up with Vivas on “Jojo” along with Jorge Glem’s village cuatro, which he features on the upbeat and frenetic “Cepa”. All of the arrangements have multiple movements and directions, with Bello directing traffic with his muscular bow. Exciting flavors.