Continuous
Three Pines, 2021
9/10
The Cuban pianist Miguel de Armas now resides in Canada, and he brings his heritage to a fascinating Afro Cuban/jazz hybrid, where March Decho, Michel Medrano Brindis and Diomer González make up the core of his band, though there’s many guests in attendance, too.
The title track starts the listen with no shortage of rhythm and energy as Yasmina Proveyer’s alluring pipes draw us in and Roberto Riverón’s bass and Elmer Ferrer’s guitar flow alongside Joel Cuesta’s congas, and “Couscous” follows with Armas’ proficient piano meshing well with Decho’s fluid bass lines.
Near to the middle, “Welcome Back From Varadero” is a percussively strong album highlight where Eliel Lazo’s mesmerizing congas are complemented by Brindis’ clever drumming and Armas’ keyboards, while “Eva Luna” welcomes strings from Elizabeth Rodriguez (violin) and Gabriela Ruiz (cello), as a dreamy orchestral quality enters. “Song For Bebo” then gets playful and upbeat, and includes Yaima Caballero on güiro and René Lavoie displaying soaring flute skills.
The last two tracks, “It Meant Something” and “Gone Too Soon”, don’t disappoint either. The former is full island grooves that benefit from Tyler Harris on alto sax and the latter dances around frisky melodies that places the Latin jazz prowess in the spotlight.
An album with a global spirit, Armas is nothing if not eclectic, and he puts his heart and soul into these rich, precisely layered, fusion gems.
Travels well with: L’abíme- L’abíme; Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra- Twisting Ways