Día Precioso!
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
The composer Ron Rieder brings us Afro-Cuban jazz, sambas, mambos and tango, where the 8 tracks are fleshed out by an excellent cast.
The animated climate of “Blue Skies” opens with Yaure Muniz’s bright trumpet and Mark Walker’s frisky drums adding much adventurousness, and “Beautiful Day” follows with Alain Mallet’s soft piano amid Greg Hopkins’ rich trumpet prowess.
In the middle is where “Dizzy Hechizo” arrives, and it enlists Fernando Brandao’s soaring flute and Fernando Huergo’s lively bass, while “Birthday Song” is an indeed a festive moment via Ricardo Monzon’s playful percussion and Mike Tucker’s radiant tenor sax.
“Funday” and “Volver a Amar” exit the listen. The former is a gentle moment thanks to Claudio Ragazzi’s intimate guitar that builds into a layered album highlight, and the latter recruits Alex Roitman’s bandoneon and Queralt Girant’s cello for the elegant and cultured finish.
A very colorful and melodic offering, Rieder and company know their way around a worldly jazz tune you won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Unity Quartet- Samba Of Sorts; Jake Hertzog- Ozark Concerto