Good things come in threes…
The threesome of Yago Vazquez/p, Pable Menares/b and Rodrigo Recabarren/dr bring together a collection of impressive originals on this nine song collection. Vazque’s touch is pretty over the rumbling drum on “Santiago” and glides with Menares for “ Terra”. The bass and drums give a soulful pulse to “Viaje” and Recabarrn’s brushes sooth on “Lazo”. Calm currents.
Saxist David Leon creates an unorthodox trio with drummer/percussionist Lesley Mok and DoYeon Kim playing the Korean traditional gayagum. The result is a collection of intuitive melding of sounds, as Leon shrieks out bird calls on “Ay-ya” and whistles through “A Night For Counting Stars”. Drumming and mouthpiece effects rumble on “”Secret Footshake” and exotic strings sounds get abstract on ”to speak in flowers”. A stew that needs a bit more stirring.
Pianist Mamiko Watanabe teams up with Billy Hart/dr and Santi Debriano/b for a strong post bop mix of originals and covers. She goes in clever directions on her own “Atomic Space” and has rich harmonies for the title tune. Her Read of “The Peacocks” shows restraint and reflection, and she calypso’s with the rest of the team without dropping a stitch on “Island Birdie”, bopping with ease on “The Scene Is Clean”. When’s she hitting LA?