Venezuelan percussionist Luis Tovar has made a plethora of recordings with a variety of musicians. This one, however, is quite clever and unique, as the ep of four tunes is the result of a collaboration with a dancer, Sabrina Naz. The atmospheres that Tovar creates with the team of Stephen Williams/sax, Andre Wickenheiser/tp, Rohan Nicolas/steelpan, Jon Day/p and Daniel Nava/b are filled with swinging ambience, serving as a sonic stage.
“Stoot” is a rich rubatto with agonizing tension between the tug of war from Tovar and WIckenheiser” while “Orisha Orbit” brings Caribbean flavors from the leader’s intro and the romantic horns. Ominous weather sounds give an urgency to “Storm” with Day contributing reflections that answer Wickenheiser’s declarations, while turbulent waters serve as an undercurrent for Williams’ tenor to long board over on “Simmer Up”. Storm is more than a fair weather friend