The River
Self-Released, 2025
8/10
The Venezuelan composer and pianist Silvan monasterios brings his technical and soulful ideas to these 7 cultured tracks that recruit several players.
The title track is in the lead off position and welcomes Jimmy MacBride’s playful drums and Troy Roberts’ soaring sax amid Monasterios’ animated keys, and “Dance On The Wire” follows with Luisito Quintero’s frisky percussion adding much energy to the rhythmic landscape.
In the middle, the radiant “Carmen Elena” uses excellent mallet work via Juan Diego Villalobos’ vibes and Jeff Lederer’s skilled clarinet for the album’s best, while “Ambar” is piano focused and intimate with much beauty courtesy of Monasterios’ meticulous playing.
The final track, “The River Between Us”, then enlists Nestor Torres’ lively flute that complements the intricate rhythm section, sax bouts and, of course, the colorful keys.
Monasterois certainly retains the spirit of his home country here, where timeless jazz qualities and much richness populate every moment of this worldly affair.
Travels well with: Jackson Potter- Small Things; Geoffrey Dean Quartet- Conceptions