El Tiempo Latine
Aerocade, 2026
9/10
This 6th album from Ensemble For These Times, i.e. Nanette McGuinness, Chelsea Hollow, Lylia Guion, Megan Chartier, and Margaret Halbig, explores classical music penned by contemporary Latine voices, and it’s spread out over 2 discs.
“Buenos Aires en tres” opens with Chartier’s flowing cello and Halbig’s expressive piano guiding the elegance of the 3 chapters, and “Milontan” follows with the keys and strings interacting with emotion and tense moments of grace.
“Dos canciones argentinas” is where McGuinness’ voice shines amid the 2 colorful and heartfelt movements, while “Manhattan Serenades” exits disc 1 with the rumbling keys and Lylia Guion’s animated violin making for 3 lively segments.
“Sin vos (from Juana)” opens disc 2 and enlists Hollow’s soaring soprano alongside the intimate piano, where much power and beauty unfolds. The remainder of the back half is occupied by “The Unseen”, which pairs the diverse piano playing with Hollow’s adaptable voice that radiates across dense ideas, dreamy bouts and cinematic swells.
The ideas present span jazz, chamber, salsa and many places in between, where the 9 composers from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, and the U.S. are represented with tremendous eloquence, meticulousness and timelessness.
Travels well with: Meerenai Shim- The Audacity; Elizabeth Robinson- Aviary