Exciting mixes of tropical jazz and rock are stirred together by Canadian guitarist and composer Alvaro Rojas and his energetic team of Meredith Bates/vi, Peggy Lee/cel, Chris Gestrin/p-key, James Meger/b, Sam cartwright/dr, Liam MacDonald/perc, Elis Thorn/harp, Sam Davidson/cl-bcl and guest vocalist Susana Baca.
The mix of strings and percussion creates a a hip gypsy feel on pieces like the exotic “Little Bell” and the kinetic title piece, with a fervent mix of caravan violin swirls percolating percussion and searing guitar work. A rich scenario is painted as Gestrin’s thoughtful piano melds with Davidson’s deep bass clarinet on the trudging “I Know I Know” while the team gets earthy on the rain forested “Hum Hum”. Strings yearn with passion as they bow and sway on “Shelter” while the team rocks out on the dark drive of “Harmonium” and the fusiony “Year of the Dog”. The moods can change in these songs as quickly as the mood of a Latin lover, making for exciting adventures.