Jazz Tango Fusion
Zoho, 2019
8/10
An Argentina native and saxophone virtuoso, the Grammy Nominee Julio Botti returns with electric guitar, Hammond B3 organ and Rhodes piano to help fuel these tango influenced tunes.
“Imagenes 676” starts the listen with both restraint and playfulness in the cultured jazz fusion fun, and this continues on with highlights like the organ friendly and breezy melodies of “Celtic Feast”, as well as the multifaceted dynamics of “Chin Chin”.
Although there isn’t a dud to be found here, “Milongueta”, with its tense drumming and soothing saxophones, is one of the album’s best where elegance and mystery are both in attendance.
Of the originals (the rest are Pablo Ziegler and Astor Piazzolla songs), “Tango Blues” is exceptionally rhythmic with plenty of blues, too, while “Upper West” recruits Latin-bop fun with an intricate solo from Botti.
Botti is aligned with Andrew Bird, Juampy Juarez (guitars), Eduardo Withrington (keys) and Tiego Michelin (drums), and though Botti’s soprano and tenor saxophone acrobatics are certainly the focal point, he’s in esteemed company on this expertly crafted affair.
Travels well with: Pablo Ziegler- Los Tangueros; Astor Piazzolla- Spain Again