Lots of percussive grooves are felt on the collection of originals and covers presented by the septet Afro Bop Alliance on this release. The rhythm team of Joe McCarthy/dr-perc, Harry Appelman/p and Tom Baldwin/b gets an extra exotic flavor with the clever addition of Victor Provost’s steel pans, which increases the steamy flavor on pieces like “Ziggy the Crooner” and “Minor Details” the latter made even more enticing with the wordless vocals provided by Sara Jones. A clever latin spin on Wayne Shorter’s “This is For Albert” is spiced with toying with various rhythms, the same idea making Horace Silver’s “Barbara” a mix of salsa and Monk. Paquito D’Rivera brings his airy clarinet to the fore on a back and forth conversation with the rhythm section. Ricocheting percussion brings up the blood pressure on “The Jinx” and the sauntering “Three For Juju” which stillhas room for some nice tenor work by Luis Hernandez. Impressive and expressive.
Zoho Music