Trumpeter and composer Kali Rodriguez-Pena mixes traditional Cuban sounds with modern hard bop on this exciting album with his core team of Kazemde George/ts, Gabriel Chakarji/p-key, Bam Bam Rodriguez/b, Zack O’Farrill/dr Victor Pable Garcia/perc along with guests Gina D’Soto-Jeremy Bosch/voc and Aruan Ortiz/p.
There’s a rich allegiance to vintage grooves a la Horace Silver and Art Blakey as on the swinging “La Historia de Erendira” and the pulsating “A Student Is Not A Disciple” with the rhythm section digging deep rivulets. The extra spice of Afro Cuban flavors adds to the electric bass p ulse and trumpet solo on the standard “Like Someone In Love” while the vocal folk language takes you to a serene village as the leader’s muted horn serenades on “Drume Mobila”. With an open horn, Rodriguez cries out like a Blue Note Lee Morgan over the Afro Cuban percolations of “Se Acabo” and scintillates during “Las Memorias de Las Calles”. Polished brass ready for cruising down Calle Ocho.