A Letter To The Earth
Orenda, 2024
9/10
Listen to A Letter To The Earth
The drummer and composer Ivanna Cuesta makes an impression with this debut album, where Kris Davis, Ben Solomon, Max Ridley and Pauli Camou accompany her for the free improvisation and electronic ideas.
“Chaos” leads the 6 tracks with Davis’ mesmerizing keys that are met with Solomon’s bright sax and, of course, Cuesta’s frisky drumming, and “Humans Vs Humans” follows with the soulful sax and playful keys surrounded by acrobatic drumming.
The title track lands at the halfway point and swirls with a rare intimacy of beauty and grace, while “On Going Cycles” benefits much from Ridley’s atmospheric bass that populates the cautious introspection.
The final track and only one with vocals is “Este Lugar”, where Camou’s fluid voice populates the dreaminess and lush climate that fades out with a colorful mood.
The effort is inspired by the urgency of climate change, and Cuesta uses her formative years in the Dominican Republic to fuel these artistic jazz gems.
Travels well with: Allan Harris- Live At Blue Llama Jazz Club; Doug Beavers- Luna