While best known as one of the most important percussionists today, Alex Acuna rarely releases anything where he’s in charge, so this album is a delight. He’s best known for his work on the “classic” edition of Weather Report, and that Heavy Weather feel is present with his team of Otmario Ruiz/p, John Pena/b, Lorenzo Ferrero/sax, Ramon Stagnaro/g, Michael Stever/tp and Giovanna Clayton/cel in mix and match fashion.
Pena taps into his inner Jaco Pastorius with tenorist Ferrero on the hip fusion of “In Town” while the team sizzles on the dreamy “Regalo” with Acuna percolating like Cuban coffee. Gorgeous nylon strings drape the festive “Malencia” with pretty conversations between Ferraro’s soprano and Stagnaro take place on the lovely “Divina”. Stever leads the conga line on the salsa’d “Aletin Aletun” while his tenor is tasty on the rumbling “One Finger Snap”. As with most great leaders, Acuna is felt but never overpowering, serving the music for our ears, and the listener will be grateful. You know an album is good when you want to see these guys perform it in concert. Any So Cal gigs on the horizon?