Niebla
Clepsydra, 2026
9/10
This 5th album from the New York guitarist and composer Gabriel Vicéns sees the artist blending the rhythms of Afro-Puerto Rican folklore, modern jazz and avant-garde experimentation into a truly genre defying experience.
“El Fin de la Noche” opens with Vicéns’ light guitar guiding the 2 minutes of softness, and the title track follows with Roman Filiú’s bright sax amid the mesmerizing guitar line and E.J. Strickland’s busy drums.
“900-50-80” arrives in the middle and offers a bare presence that’s strategic and strong on tonality, while “Ramaje” spends 14+ minutes captivating us with its meticulous mood via the hypnotic guitar, crisp drums, animated sax and Rick Rosato’s playful bass.
Further still, “Stray Dogs” benefits from Vitor Gonçalves’ firm keys amid the scrappy and rhythmic dynamics, and “…y la Lluvia” exits with a prettiness surrounding the gentle gestures of just Vicéns’ guitar.
A meticulous effort that balances calm versus fuller settings, Vicéns again fleshes out a guitar focused jazz album that will resonate worldwide and that you could never listen to just once.
Travels well with: Gabriel Vicéns- Mural; Atlantic Road Trip- Watch As The Echo Falls