Bossas And Boleros
Zoho, 2023
8/10
An album that pays homage to the music he was raised on in Yucatan, Mexico in the ‘60s, Gabriel Espinosa tips his hat to legends like Armando Manzanero, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Burt Bacharach across these 10 adventurous songs.
Kim Nazarian’s radiant pipes illuminate the beauty of the opening track, “New Year”, where Jay Ashby’s soulful trombone and Gustavo Amarante’s warm bass add much to the mood, and “Amelia” follows with a dreamy approach that welcomes Jim Seeley’s warm trumpet amid the soulful, romantic singing.
Further on, “Sing” features New York Voices and Itai Kriss’ elegant flute for the cozy jazz landscape, while “Pa Eugenio” places Enrique Toussaint on bass alongside Mauricio Zottareli’s agile drums to complement the mesmerizing scatting of the album’s best.
Near to the end, “22” bops and shakes thanks to Aviana Gedler’s lively backing vocals and cultured rhythm, and “No Me Platiques Mas” enlists Fred Hersch on piano for the swift and drum focused dynamics of the meticulous exit.
A listen that is textured superbly and glows with a very animated presence, Espinosa and company make the most of the worldly jazz effort.
Travels well with: Arturo O’Farrill- Virtual Birdland; Alfredo Rodriguez- The Little Dream