Mundoagua
Zoho, 2025
8/10
The always impressive composer, bandleader and pianist Arturo O’Farrill returns with a commissioned body of work that includes 3 involved pieces that address some of the global crises we are currently dealing with.
The title track opens with 3 movements, where Adam O’Farrill, Rachel Therrien, Seneca Black and Bryan Davis’ trumpets lead the climate before Larry Bustamante’s animated bari sax and O’Farrill’s skilled keys enter the exciting and radiant, worldly jazz mood.
In the middle, “Blue Palestine” comes in four parts that showcase Ricardo Rodriguez’s skilled bass, Patricia Brennan’s distinct vibes and O’Farrill’s inimitable trumpet prowess via the meticulous and textured song craft.
“Dia De Los Muertos” finishes out the record with 3 segments that are quite colorful and put Abdulrahman Amer’s trombone and Rachel Therrien’s trumpet to good use amid the world music ideas that are as unpredictable as they are memorable.
This is O’Farrill’s 5th outing with the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, and like everything before it, it’s an inventive and globally embraceable version of jazz that will likely garner him even more well deserved accolades.
Travels well with: Arturo O’Farrill- Virtual Birdland; Livio Almeida- Brasilia Sessions